Shopping for export surplus clothes in Bangalore

Shopping for export surplus clothes in Bangalore

Bangalore is the biggest centre for software (export and domestic) in India. But what most people , even those living in Bangalore, do not know is that Bangalore is also the largest producer for stitched garments for export. The number of people employed in the industry is estimated to be between 50 and 60 thousand. In addition Tirupur (for knitted garments ) and Chennai and Ambur (for shoes and leather products ) are also nearby. All this makes Bangalore a paradise for the bargain hunter looking for high quality branded stuff. So if you are tired of shopping in malls (both because of the boring sameness of malls and also their price tags), read on for a rewarding time.
But first a word of caution: There are many “fake” surplus garments also doing the rounds, so one has to learn how to spot the fakes. I have given some tips at the end.
Since most of my Bangalore stay has been in East Bangalore (Indiranagar, Whitefiled . Koramngala , MG Road et al) I am not able to provide much information on other areas.
Stitched garments:
Garments can be broadly classified under “export surplus” , ‘export reject” and “local old stocks” . So how does a garment become surplus/ reject ? There could be a several reasons.
• Over-production: Buyers typically accept 5 % over the order quantity. So if a buyer orders a 1000 shirts the manufacturer will start with a lot of 1100 shirts anticipating some rejection. If he ends up with 1075 good shirts , he will ship 1050 and will be left with 25 “export surplus” shirts.
• Rejects (or “seconds”) In the above example, the manufacturer will also end up with 25 or less “export reject” shirts. Some of the rejects will be for very minute quality defects.
• On occasion an entire lot might become “surplus” because the manufacturer was not able to ship them by the agreed upon last date.
• Or sometimes an entire lot might be a rejected because the colour is slightly different from the specification.
• In addition surplus garments from nearby Bangladesh, Srilanka and Malaysia also find their way to India.
• Local brands (Louise Philip, Thomas Scott, etc) often remain unsold for long and then go out of fashion. Brand-owners/ retailers then sell them at very low prices to distributors who bring them to “surplus” retail.

So these are the ways the export surplus / reject garments are generated. These garments are picked up at wholesale prices from manufacturers (often on a Rs/ kilo basis) and find their way to retailers. Some of the retailers are:
• HUM India: This is the biggest and the only one of the few that has more than one outlet. They are mostly into surplus (rather than “ reject” garments) . They have outlets in Commercial Street, Church Street and Indirananagar. The range covers tops/ trousers/ shorts/ dresses/ shoes for women and shirts/ tee shirts/ trousers/ shorts/ shoes/ suits/ jackets / shoesfor men. Brands seen are Levis, Abercrombie, Old Navy, Haggar, Hacket, Tommy, Ralph Lauren and several more. Hugo Boss and Zegna suits are also available. Prices are not among the lowest . Men’s Tee shirts’ are between 550 to 1000/- , trousers from 900 to 2000/-, suits from 5,000 to 15,000/-. Most of the stuff is not fake but sometimes the Paul Smith shirts look fake. They have an annual sale which is advertised on FM radio and in newspapers
> Mota Royal Arcade, Brigade Road. The top 2 floors aree occupied by VIVA.. they stock all kind of stuff (Men , women, shoes, linen..)  including unsold inventory of local brands. Specailly good for XL and XXl  (or large) sizes.
• Password: Located in Domlur (Approx location Near TERI https://goo.gl/maps/h6KFj). Well known brands are available. The stores are not as large as HUM India but they are worth a visit. Some of the stuff (specially Tommy Hilfiger/ Ralph Lauren shirts) is fake .They have another outlet in Kormangala (Password +(91)-80-41253061, No.507, 6th Main, Koramangala, Near naga kitchen, Bangalore – 560034) .Prices are lower than Hum India but selection is not as large.
• There are a number of shops near Jyothi Niwas college selling surplus garments. They stock mainly women’s garments, but some men’s garments can also be found.
• Fashion One,Indiranagar (Near RUOSHShoeshttps://goo.gl/maps/mK5W1).
• American Colors (Koramangala 80 Feet Rd, Koramangala 7th Block, Bengaluru, 560030, ) +91 80 4131 3824 opp Raheja Arcade.

If you look around , you might spot such surplus retailers in the area that you live

A few tips to spot fakes
• Quality of fabric/ stitching will be visibly inferior.
• Most commonly faked items are Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, Gap. Abercrombie.
• In the case of trousers, if the brand is American and the zipper is nylon, it is a fake.
• If the brand label is mutilated or cut-out, it is genuine.
… will continue later ..

Request to people who read till the end.  A. Please add additional information through the comments sectio, so that other people can benefit. B. Please let me know (again thru comments) if the information I provided was useful (or incorrect)