India's growing appeal as a global apparel sourcing hub has been reinforced by arecent report from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), which citespolitical stability as a key factor driving U.S. buyers to source more apparel fromIndia. As the global garment supply chain becomes more complex, the ability toguaranteeproductiontimelinesandmitigaterisksassociatedwithpoliticalinstability has made India an increasingly attractive option for U.S. buyers. Thereport highlights that India, with its stable political climate, offers a reliable andscalablesolutionforhigh-valuefashionitems,positioningitasastrongcompetitorintheglobalapparelmarket.
India’sMarketShareinU.S.ApparelImports(2013-2023)
India’s apparel market share in the U.S. has grown steadily over the pastdecade. In 2013, India held a modest 4% share of U.S. apparel imports. By2023,thisfigurehadincreasedto5.8%.This growth reflects India’s increasing competitiveness, particularly in the high-value apparel sector. As the U.S.continues to diversify its sourcing away from China, India is emerging as are liable and strategic partner for apparel sourcing.
India's market share in U.S. apparel imports has steadily risen from 4% in2013to5.8%in2023,showcasinggrowingconfidenceinIndian-madegarments.
PoliticalStabilityasaSourcingFactor
Political stability is critical in ensuring the smooth functioning of supply chains, especially in industries like apparel where timely deliveries are crucial. According to the USITC report, political unrest in countries like Bangladesh can lead to disruptions, strikes, and delays, making them less reliable for high-value and time-sensitive garment orders. Conversely, India’s relatively stable political environment has positioned it as a dependable alternative for apparel sourcing, especially in like U.S. market.
As a result, American buyers are shifting more of their sourcing to India,where they feel confident in the reliability of both production and deliveryschedules. This shift is particularly evident in high-value, fashion-focused apparel, where quality, timely production, and dependable logistics are paramount.
India’sStrengthsinApparelProduction
India’scompetitivenessintheapparelindustryisdrivenbyseveralkeypoints:
Vertical Integration: India’s textile industry is highly vertically integrated,encompassing all stages of production—from cotton farming to spinning,weaving, dyeing, and garment manufacturing. This self-sufficiency reducesdependency on external suppliers, ensuring a more controlled and reliableproductionprocess.
Skilled Labor Force: India’s large and skilled workforce is particularly adeptat high-quality garment finishing, which is a significant advantage in theproductionofhigh-valuefashionitems.Thecountry'slaborforceistrainedindetailed stitching and garment customization, making Indian apparel highlydesirableforglobalmarkets.
Government Support: The Indian government has introduced policies like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, which is designed to enhance domestic manufacturing and exports.This initiative is helping apparel manufacturers invest in production capacity, technology, and innovation,positioning India to meet growing international demand.
Cotton-BasedApparel:India’sstrengthsincottonproductiongiveitanaturaladvantage in manufacturing cotton-based garments. The country is one ofthe largest producers of cotton in the world, and this supports a robustapparelindustrythatexportsawiderangeofcottongarmentstotheU.S.
Growing Export Market: India has consistently increased its share of U.S.apparel imports. In 2023, India’s apparel exports to the U.S. totaled $4.6billion,making it the fourth-largest supplier of apparel to the U.S. market.
India is also addressing the challenges to fuel the growth of the apparel industry. Dedicated steps have been taken to boost labour productivity, diversyfing man-made fiber and improve logistics and infrastructure development.
CompetitiveLandscape:Indiavs.OtherSuppliers
The USITC report also offers a detailed comparative analysis of India and other leading suppliers to the U.S. apparel market, including Bangladesh,Vietnam, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Understanding India’s competitive positioning relative to these countries is crucial to assessing its growth potential.