Mumbai, Maharashtra, 4th of February, 2026 : The inaugural edition of CMAI TRENDHAUS-India Brands Collective successfully concluded in Mumbai on January 30.
The exclusively curated by-invitation-only booking fair showcased eleven leading brands under one roof featuring Classic Polo, Easies by Killer, Gini & Jony, Indian Terrain, Integriti, Jr. Killer, Killer, Nostrum, Spykar, Status Quo and Twills. The ceremonial opening and consistent pan-India buyers’ turnout across the five action-packed days outlined a collective and unified spirit that highlighted the power of industry collaboration.
Designed as a focused, closed-door format, the platform enabled retail outlets represented by decision makers with an all-expense paid trip to preview Autumn-Winter 2026 collections, hold in-depth discussions with brand teams and place advance orders in a structured and professional environment. The thoughtfully curated format ensured meaningful engagement, uninterrupted business interactions and efficient seasonal planning for both brands and buyers.
Speaking about the success of the event,Santosh Katariya, President, CMAI, said, “The inaugural edition marked a strong and promising beginning. The platform demonstrated the effectiveness of curated, outcome-driven forums in strengthening the apparel industry’s ecosystem by enabling efficient seasonal planning, sharper business alignment and meaningful collaborations. TRENDHAUS facilitated deeper engagement and fueled long-term partnerships between brands and retailers, reinforcing a more professional and predictable approach to doing business. CMAI remains committed to enhancing this buying experience through a customized hospitality package that resonates with all stakeholders and continues to evolve as a high-impact, productive platform for sustainable growth.”
Charath Ram Narsimhan, Managing Director, Indian Terrain, said, “CMAI’s inaugural TRENDHAUS offered a distinctive and engaging experience. This is the first time that select brands collectively decided to come together on a common platform to showcase their Autumn Winter collections, and it has been a unique experience altogether. Over the last five days, we have seen more than 1,800 retailers walk in, beyond our regular customers, allowing us to showcase our collection to a much wider audience.”
Harsh Agarwal, CEO, Gini & Jony, added, “The experience at the inaugural event has been outstanding. Coming from a manufacturing background, I have seen similar platforms internationally, where retail bookings through a common forum are the norm. It is encouraging to see this format finally take place in India under CMAI where leading brands have come together. It makes the process easier for brands as well as for their retail partners, driving more efficient and focused business interactions. Platforms like TRENDHAUS mark a positive step forward for the Indian apparel industry, and we are delighted to be a part of this first successful edition.”
Hemant Jain, Joint Managing Director, Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL), expressed, “The experience at TRENDHAUS has been excellent, with very smooth and thoughtful management. From airfare to accommodation, CMAI team took care of everything, allowing brands to focus entirely on meeting clients, showcasing new products and driving sales. This level of support removes a lot of operational pressure and makes the platform highly effective. CMAI has consistently been a trusted and close association for us, and the team truly feels like family. We are very happy to have joined the fair at the very first invitation.”
Jayesh Shah, Promoter, Twills, said, “This was a fabulous initiative by CMAI to bring national brands together on a common platform and it has strong potential going forward. The overall experience for invited buyers has been mixed, with some logistical challenges that can definitely be streamlined in future editions. From an industry perspective, apparel is seeing rapid change driven by evolving retail dynamics, fast-moving trends and increased focus on fabrics, fits and overall presentation.”
Sanjay Vakharia, Co-Founder & CEO, Spykar Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are seeing a steady shift in consumers from value businesses and fast fashion brands to slow fashion and quality merchandise dispensing brands. Very clearly, an audience that prefers good quality and in-trend merchandise is being formed, and the exodus from value brands back into this cohort is steadily being seen. TRENDHAUS is an interesting format and it is still early days, but it has great potential, provided more like-minded brands participate in the future, which I am sure will be part of CMAI’s plan.”
Sivaram TR, Managing Director, Classic Polo, commented, “Our experience at CMAI’s inaugural TRENDHAUS has been quite productive and the event has been very well organized. In terms of consumer trends for 2026, there are several takeaways emerging across styling and fabric, with denim continuing to evolve and changes being seen in patterns, particularly in menswear. Price points are also becoming more considered, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences.”
Bobby Arora, Director of Status Quo, said, “Exhibiting at TrendHaus was an incredibly enriching experience for us. Being surrounded by some of India’s most innovative lifestyle brands created a dynamic environment for collaboration, learning, and meaningful buyer interactions. The platform truly celebrated creativity and forward-thinking strategy, making it a valuable space for brands like ours to showcase upcoming collections together and connect with the right retailers.”
Raj Nawani, Managing Director of Nostrum Fashion Pvt. Ltd., said, “I would like to personally thank CMAI for creating an excellent platform like TrendHaus, where futuristic brands came together to showcase innovation and unique collections. The event truly enhanced the experience for customers and partners aspiring to grow big in the apparel industry. This is a strong step forward and will certainly create a positive difference in the clothing ecosystem. With further refinements and new ideas in future editions, this platform has the potential to become even bigger, smoother, and more impactful for the industry.”
TRENDHAUS was conceptualised to enhance seasonal booking efficiency for both retailers and brands by offering a seamless, curated environment to preview select collections under one roof. The initiative enabled time savings, stronger brand visibility, improved relationship-building and streamlined pre-season planning.
Over the five-days, TRENDHAUS 2026 facilitated one-to-one business meetings between participating brands and more than 4000 decision-makers from across the country. CMAI extended an all-expenses-paid invitation, covering air travel, luxurious accommodation and impeccable hospitality to about 2,000 pre-identified retail outlets, including Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs), Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs), Large Format Stores, E-Commerce players and Franchisees. Curated networking dinners and interaction forums further supported long-term relationship building. Each participating brand showcased dedicated, custom-designed pavilions ranging from 4,500 sq. ft. to 30,000 sq. ft., offering buyers an immersive and comprehensive presentation of upcoming collections.
At the successful conclusion of inaugural CMAI TRENDHAUS 2026, the booking fair delivered a remarkable ₹ 1100 Crores of estimated business for the eleven fashion brands. Through such focused events, CMAI reinforces its strong commitment to promote collaboration, efficiency and professionalisation across the Indian apparel industry.
About CMAI
The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) is the most representative association of the Indian apparel industry having over 7,000 members and serving more than 50,000 Retailers. Its Membership consists of Manufacturers, Exporters, Brands, and ancillary industry. CMAI advocates regarding policies and also guides and encourages its members on ESG related matters and initiatives. In 2019, CMAI launched the SU.RE initiative to encourage members to embrace sustainability.
Established over sixty-three years ago, CMAI has contributed immensely towards development of the industry. In 1978, CMAI had led the creation of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). CMAI is also authorised by the Government of India to issue Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) to Exporters. CMAI is the only Indian Association that represents the entire Indian Apparel Industry & Trade on prestigious international forums such as International Apparel Federation (IAF) headquartered in Netherlands.
About The Author
More Stories
IIT Patna’s Certificate Program In Generative AI For Professionals Shows Strong Multi-Batch Success.
University Of Wollongong India Announces Kalyani Brahmbhatt Memorial Merit Scholarship To Support Meritorious Students From Economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds.
DPDP Timeline Push Could Choke India’s Economic Engine, Warn Experts.