FICCI FLO, under the leadership of National President, Ms. Puja Garg, hosted an insightful webinar, “Export Horizons: Textiles & Crafts,” discussing the current challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in exporting handicrafts, textiles, and home & lifestyle products. Experts from Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and Expo Bazaar shared insights on international market access, compliance, trend forecasting, and supply chain solutions. The webinar targeted entrepreneurs who export handloom and textile products, including home décor products, apparel, jewellery, artisanal gifts, and sustainable lifestyle products.
The virtual session featured the following esteemed panel of experts:
- Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Executive Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)
- Ms. Rohini Suri, Governing Body Member, Buying Agents Association (BAA)
- Mr. Sunil Kumar, Designer, EPCH
- Ms. Rachna Singh, Head – Sourcing, ExpoBazaar.
Mr. Rajesh Rawat explained the Indian textile and handicraft sector’s evolution since 1986, highlighting the need for product adaptation to meet global market demands and the importance of compliance with new regulations. He highlighted support for women exporters through EPCH-led trade fairs, labs, and training programs.
On the other hand, Ms. Rohini Suri outlined key requirements for starting an export business, including understanding fabrics, design development, exceeding buyer expectations, scalability, and meeting ESG and sustainability standards. Then, Mr. Sunil Kumar explained trend forecasting, its importance for product development, and presented themes from WGSN for upcoming seasons, linking them to materials and consumer trends.
Lastly, Ms. Rachna Singh introduced Expo Bazaar as an end-to-end supply chain solution for small exporters, detailing its warehousing, listing, and distribution services in the US, Europe, and the UK. The panelists emphasized the need for market diversification beyond traditional markets like the US and Europe, with efforts underway to explore new markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
The session was chaired by Ms. Swati Verma, Lead – Exports Initiative; Ms. Ritika Sarna, Co-Lead – Exports Initiative; Ms. Varuna Anand, Lead – Textile, Handloom & Handicrafts Initiative; and Ms. Ambar Pariddi Sahai, Co-Lead – Textile, Handloom & Handicrafts Initiative.