India has been a manufacturing hub for the textile and apparel industry for years, thanks to its rich textile heritage, craftsmanship and cheap labour. The industry is critical in terms of income and employment generation, contributing to 5 percent of India’s current GDP. Over the past decade, India's consumption with regards to fashion has also steadily increased.

Growing spending power of the middle class and the rise of fashion consciousness amongst the youth has propelled the demand in the country. With US, Europe and China nearing saturation points, India's ever growing desire for fashion is drawing the world's attention.

In the past few years, several international brands have entered the market. Simultaneously, Indian fashion companies have also been expanding their reach rapidly. Newer brands and business models are cropping up in the country. Due to a tech-savvy consumer group and booming internet penetration, fashion is now accessible to a much wider audience. 

Top companies like Reliance, Shoppers Stop and Anita Dongre in the country are also adopting sustainable methods to grow. Menswear giant Raymond is not far behind as it encourages the use of khadi cloth. 

As much as the modern Indian urban consumer is influenced by western trends, the majority of the customer base resonates with the marketing tactics used by local players. Tier II and tier III cities have access to multibrand stores like Reliance Trends, Pantaloons, Central and many others, bringing trendy clothing to a large portion of the population.

This report looks at the top players in the Indian fashion industry and how they are shaping the market in the country.