Lala Textiles, a leading name in the Pakistani Textile Industry, aims to go big in India, following the great response it received at an exhibition that took place in Indian Hyderabad on June 29 and June 30, where it showcased its brands for fashion connoisseurs.
Lala Textiles, which started off as a Lahore-based trading house in 1947, has now grown out to four diverse retail brands, coming up with summer, midsummer and winter collections for women across the country.
After the Surat Dreams exhibition, Lala is planning to make customised products for the Indian market. The company believes that its range of three piece suits — shalwar, kameez and dupatta — is its unique selling point for the Indian market, something that has been well-received in Pakistan. CEO Lala Textiles Pervez Lala says that “the brand’s innovative concept, good quality and affordability” will help carve a niche for the company in India. Capitalising on this brief exposure, Lala Textiles will market its products in collaboration with Surat-based importer, Fair Lady.
Promising ‘something new’ for the women of India, Lala told IANS, “Our products are 15-20% cheaper when compared to Indian products, but the main thing is the difference of concept and quality. That is the reason we are successful here. People need something new; they like us. We have a different concept which India lacks.”
Lala Textiles is currectly retailing its products through various distribution channels in India and sees potential in the market which is more populous than Pakistan. “We see huge potential [in India]. We will go for customised products [for the Indian market]. It takes time because we are also in the learning process. We are in the process of finding out the tastes of Indian women, the colours and the dresses they like.”
Lala noted that the market in India for three piece suits is huge and constitutes about 50% of the overall textile market. Having participated in various shows in Delhi and Mumbai, Lala Textiles displayed its products first time in southern India. “We see a huge market in south India, especially in Hyderabad, where there is a large Muslim community.”
Lala’s grandfather, who started the trading house, moved to Pakistan from India at the time of partition in 1947. Currently, the textile firm has a turnover of about Rs3.5-4 billion. Lala Textiles has presence in markets like Bangladesh, the UK and the UAE. “From the concept to finished product, everything is done in our company. We don’t outsource any work,” elaborated Lala, who belongs to the third generation of businessmen in the family.
Owing to its affordability, Lala Textiles claims to be the only company in Pakistan that caters to people belonging to all financial strata of Pakistan — the lower income segment, the middle class and the upper class. In its 2011 Collection, the brand’s products were priced between Rs675 and Rs995. “We have suits which are priced between Rs600-700 and also have suits which are priced between Rs3,000-3,500. Our brand is very economical with good quality,” he said.
Lala favours liberal trade between India and Pakistan and believes that this exchange will benefit the average man in both countries and the people will have access to cheaper, good quality products. However, he felt that the tight visa policy needs to be reworked in a way that facilitates the business community from both sides. “We have some technical issues. We are already discussing with the ministries of trade and commerce. InshAllah, things will get better,” he said while talking about Pakistan’s decision of granting India the status of Most Favoured Nation (MFN).
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2013.
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