Lok Sabha Question No. 4584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-22
Subject: Measurement of Ready-to-Wear Clothes
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4584 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2018

## MEASUREMENT OF READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHES

4584.   DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a large percentage of shoppers are facing difficulty in finding clothes that fit perfectly according to their body measurements and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Indian apparel industry uses size charts which are tweaked versions of size charts of other countries so returns of the garments are in the range of 20% to 40% and are increasing with the growth of e-commerce;
- (c) whether  there  is  a  proposal  under  consideration  of  the  Government  to  conducted National  Sizing  survey  to  develop  a  comprehensive  size  chart  for  ready-to-wear  industry based on the body measurements of the Indian population and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard;
- (e) the extent to which it is likely to benefit the apparel industry as well as the general public;
- (f) whether  the  textile  industry  has  also  sought  measures  to  control  garment  imports which is on the increase and the steps to boost the Indian Textile Industry; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER वस्त्र मंरी ( श्री अज )

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI AJAY TAMTA)

(a) & (b): Research studies on fit and human-body measurements conducted across the globe  indicate  that  a  large  percentage  of  shoppers  face difficulty  in  finding  clothes  that  fit perfectly  according  to  their  body  measurements.  The  overarching  reason  is  differences  in anthropometric built of people in different geographical regions across the country.  Doyens of the Indian Apparel Industry have admitted that body sizing is a major problem for domestic apparel  brands.  In  absence  of  any  standardised  size  chart  for  Indian  sizes,  the  prevalent practice in apparel industry is to adapt available size charts to Indian need. The online Indian Fashion catalogue is dominated by Apparel (47%) followed by Fashion Accessories (40%), Footwear  (9%)  and  Lingerie  (4%)  in  2016. There  were  higher  percentages  of  Customer Initiated Returns (CIR) in apparel and lifestyle segment in comparison to other segments. This increases the cost of reverse logistics. Online clothing retailers struggle with high return rates, which  is about  25%  says Forrester  Research a  global research and  advisory  firm. For expensive items, returns rates are even higher than 50%. Typically, 5%-35% of products get returned to the seller through marketplaces.

(c) to (e): National  Institute  of  Fashion  Technology  (NIFT),  New  Delhi  has  been sanctioned an extensive anthropometric research study to develop a body size chart for Indian population. The project is likely to be completed by the year 2021. The survey will result in the creation of Size identification number for a customer through mapping, categorization and defining of their body size. This will help manufacturer to produce goods suited for the body size of the target consumer and help consumer to identify size which will be best suited for them resulting in a match and hence sales.

(f) & (g): Industry  has  represented  that  imports  of  apparel  from  Bangladesh  have increased as Basic Custom Duty (BCD) is exempt and post GST, there is no Countervailing Duty (CVD) or Education Cess. Industry has pointed out that there is need to have Fabric Forward Rules with neighboring countries that have Foreign Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India. Government is trying to deepen engagements with countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by leveraging India's capacities in the value chain and linking export of apparel by these  countries  with  the  requirement  to  source  fabrics  and  raw  materials  from  India. Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  boost  the  Indian  textile  industry.  Products  such  as fibre, yarn and fabric in the textile value chain are being strengthened and made competitive through  various  schemes,  inter  alia,  Powertex  for  fabric  segment,  Amended  Technology Upgradation  Fund  Schemes  (ATUFS)  for  all  segments  except  spinning,  Scheme  for Integrated  Textile  Park  (SITP)  for  all  segments,  etc.  in  the  silk  sector,  the  Indigenous Automatic  Reeling  Machines  and  'Buniyad  Reeling  Machines'  have  been  introduced  to increase quality and productivity. In order to reap the benefits of demographic dividend, the Government has skilled 7.54 lakhs persons in 3 years under the Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS). Since the apparel sector has the greatest potential for employment growth, Government  has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rozgar Portsahan Yojana (PMPRPY)  Scheme  under  the  Special  Package  for  Apparel  and  Made-ups  under  which Government bears the entire 12% of the employers' contribution of the Employers Provident Fund Scheme for new employees of garment and made-ups sectors for first 3 years of their employment as a special incentive.

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