Bottom-wear: Universal and Essential

One type of jeggings can be coordinated with western tops, t-shirts, shirts as well as ethnic kurtas and kurtis.

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Palazzo pants are a versatile bottom-wear for a universal wardrobe worldwide.

Apparel Retailing can be classified into two groups of Basics and Fashion apparels. Products within both these
groups respectively carry different perceptions of consumers and represent different needs. These get expressed
into products, business models and the approaches that retail these products in the market.

Source: Go Colors’ Images

Source: Go Colors’ Image

Basics vs. Fashion Apparel Retail

Basics are broadly defined as products that serve a repeated and functional need of the consumer, viz. a white
shirt, a pair of socks, innerwear, bottom-wear. These products are used on regular basis, and they carry a certain
product use life. They are discarded and replaced that leads to consumer’s repeat purchase behaviour. The colour
palette is limited, and designs do not demand significant change in silhouettes frequently. These factors imply
certainty of consumer demand and that allows players to undertake product planning and merchandising with
predictability. Inventory risks are subdued because products can be sold round the year and do not demand changes
because of change in weather of fashion cycles. The shift towards organised retail in core products has been a key
growth driver of the overall growth of organised apparel retail in the country.

Core product focussed retail brands have been the mainstay of this growth cycle. Page Industries which is the
official licensee of Jockey in India for innerwear, Go Colors in bottom-wear, Decathlon in comfort and sportswear,
Marks & Spencer in formal wear are key examples of this trend. LFS stores, and online focussed players have
also increased their respective focus on core offerings in the last few years. They have done so by introducing
private labels in core products and these are now part of their key revenue contribution. Fashion focussed retail
led brands have also introduced core products as part of their overall offer. For example, bottom-wear products
are offered by Ethnic Fashion retailers like Biba and W. While the sales from core products in their overall sales
is still around 10%, core products are now considered key to complete their offer.

Fashion Products are signified by silhouette, colours and appearances that demand regular change in their
offering. A Kurta for occasion wear, a dress for office, etc are examples of fashion products that demand changes
in line with the changes in fashion cycles and in other factors like weather. This implies product development,
sourcing, and inventory planning to account for risks associated with vagaries associated with this inherent ask of
a fashion focussed product. Zara and H&M are apt examples of fashion focussed apparel retail that sees constant

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