The national apex body of Indian fashion, the Fashion Design Council of India was founded in 1998 to represent the business interests of Indian designers and to foster growth in the fashion design industry.

Over the years, the fashion community has contributed substantially to the growth of the domestic apparel industry. Although India continues to be globally acknowledged as a country for its rich textile heritage, the fashion industry still faces infrastructural and business challenges.

In the absence of a clear-cut policy for the fashion sector, the Council facilitates an interface between the government and the industry players. It liases with government agencies on behalf of the designer community on matters pertaining to excise duty, customs procedures and other issues, critical for the growth of the fashion industry.

The FDCI is working towards restructuring and strengthening the entire supply chain which would include establishing backward linkages with the suppliers and collaborating closely with the textile mills. A step forward in this direction has been the setting up of the first ‘FDCI Authorised Manufacturing Unit’ at New Delhi which will help the designers outsource production from a quality unit. The Council hopes to create greater awareness among the textile manufacturers on developing fabrics of international quality based on the fashion designers forecast and trend, both in India and across the world. Similarly, the Council recognises the need to promote forward linkages with the distribution and retail sector. The thrust would be on developing domestic Prêt-a-Porter (ready-to-wear) and Diffusion (a line between ready-to-wear and trousseau/couture) markets. Lakmé India Fashion Week is an initiative which will serve as a national platform to promote The Business of Fashion and help grow the target customer base in India and internationally.

The Council conducts studies on market trends, consumer buying cycles, market-size and shares this vital information with its members. A detailed FDCI- KPMG study focussing on the ‘Corporatisation of designer wear’ and identification of business models suited for the Indian market is ongoing. The findings of the study will reflect the best synergies possible between a designer and a corporate and the results have already started reflecting in the market with a lot of designers jumping onto the corporate bandwagon.

To ensure continuous interaction between Indian designers and their international counterparts, the Council acts as a central node facilitating flow of information. It also creates mutually beneficial linkages with similar Councils globally. The Council has also set up a system of awarding scholarships in recognition of excellence in any fashion related field.

The Council is also working to create a system of norms for its members. Standardisation studies covering areas such as standard labelling and India sizing will be undertaken. The Council’s membership is divided into the following categories- Designer, Corporate, Preliminary, Industry, Institutional and Honorary Members.