Parul
Garments export is the worst hit among all SMEs as the consumer pattern has changed globally overnight and high-end clothing is the last thing among priorities. The apparel sector has one of the largest industries in Noida. However, it is an uncertain time for over 500 garment manufacturers of the district, many of whom are exporters to major brands abroad.
The garment manufacturers claim that not only have their future shipments been cancelled, but consignments in transit have been scrapped as well. And even if the lockdown ends in May, they would have no orders to service for at least the next two years.
Garment exporter Rajeev Bansal, quoted, “it is a fact that we have no orders to service for the remainder of 2020 and garment exporters would miss the western Christmas market of 2021 too because sampling and order booking happens a year ahead. So, it is a two-year gap for the garment industry and even after lockdown, we don’t think this segment will be able to make a comeback.”
In fact, as per the exporters, payments of previous dispatches are also withheld by importers in the UK and Europe. These exporters employ about 50,000 people, and 60 per ecnt of them are women engaged in tailoring, thread-cutting and other hands-on work.
The exporters cater to some top-line clothing lines globally, including Zara, H&M, M&S, Arcadia, Tom Taylor and Aeropostle of which several consignments have been cancelled. Some imports have been stopped and cancelled even when they were in transit.
The garment exporters believe that a comeback is not going to be easy post-lockdown either. Even if we restart work with gloves and in highly sanitised environments, we expect new, post-Covid-19 compliances for exports will kick in. Also, there has been workforce loss as migrant workers have returned to their home state and may not come back to the city soon.
