IT’S WITH GOOD REASON THAT INDIA’S FIRST TRADE SHOW OF THE CALENDAR YEAR IS REGARDED AS THE NERVE CENTRE OF JEWELLERY DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, ATTRACTING DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUYERS ALIKE. AND SIMILAR TO EVERY YEAR, THE GEM & JEWELLERY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL (GJEPC) HAS LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED TO MAKE THIS YEAR’S MEGA SHOW A TRULY EXCLUSIVE ONE
AS THEY say, strength lies in numbers – and the 13th edition of IIJS Signature 2020, to be held from 13–16 February at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, is already generating a lot of interest. This premium jewellery buying show has already attracted more than 10,800 pre-registered visitors. These visitors have confirmed their presence for the show in the first phase of pre-registration that ended on 17 December 2019, which is 261 per cent higher than last year. The GJEPC is expecting to get more registrations in the second phase, which will end in mid-January 2020.
The India Gem and Jewellery Machinery Expo (IGJME), to be held concurrently, is a major draw for those interested in upgrading machinery and technology. The IGJME has the distinction of being Asia’s largest gem and jewellery technology fair, with more than 100 leading companies from countries like the US, the UK, China, Turkey, Italy and Germany among others.
This year, IIJS Signature will also see a special Design Pavilion, which will feature the works of handpicked women entrepreneurs and budding jewellery designers.
Pramod Agrawal, GJEPC Chairman, states, ‘IIJS Signature has defined itself as an important barometer of success for the Indian industry, showcasing the best of jewellery in terms of design, quality and finish, as well as high technology solutions – all under one roof.
Trade shows of this stature will undoubtedly help to boost India’s jewellery exports from $12 billion at present to $18 billion by 2025. IIJS Signature’s growth has been exceptional and exponential; what started off as a boutique show began to grow within a few years of its inception. As demand from the industry to participate in the show increased, the Council was encouraged to make the show more inclusive by adding more exhibitors. This premium show today underscores the design strength of Indian jewellery.’
Colin Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, notes, ‘The heartening response received from exhibitors and visitors for IIJS Signature – in terms of record numbers of stall bookings and pre-registrations – is the best antidote to the slowdown that has affected our industry for so long. It is a clear indication that the trade believes 2020 will witness an uptick in demand throughout the pipeline. In these stressful times, the optimism and positivity shown by our industry is perhaps our greatest strength. I envisage a more stable political and economic environment in the next few years, which will hopefully bring about further business-friendly policy changes related to taxation, export finance and so on.’ Mansukh Kothari, Convener – National Exhibitions, GJEPC, comments, ‘IIJS Signature stands tall for its eclectic mix of high-design jewellery to cater to a variety of individual requirements. The first show of the Indian calendar year is perfectly timed to replenish inventory for the upcoming festivals that drive jewellery sales and the summer wedding season.’
ARTISAN AWARDS AND DESIGN INSPIRATION
Two significant events timed around IIJS Signature – Design Inspirations and The Artisan Awards – are in keeping with the GJEPC’s stated objective of raising the design consciousness of the Indian industry.
The Artisan Awards 2020, which is themed on Architectural Gems, will honour nine winners on 12 February, 2020, at an exclusive gala in Mumbai, one day prior to the start of IIJS Signature. In the first round of judging, 27 finalists were selected from among 625 entries. The designs were based on the three key architectural eras: Art Deco, Islamic Arabesque and Neo-Futurism. The Awards will be presented by a renowned international jewellery artist, who is visiting the show specially for this purpose.
The day-long Design Inspirations seminar, which will be held along the sidelines of IIJS Signature on 16 February, will see a slew of distinguished foreign and Indian speakers from the fields of fashion, jewellery, retail and more. These influential experts will share their knowledge and experience to stimulate ideas and innovation.
Besides being the perfect networking platform due to its unhurried pace, IIJS Signature is the place to get the pulse of the market in terms of high design, market demand and insights on inventive technology. The show is a platform that bridges the gap between manufacturers and trade attendees and is an ideal meeting point to introduce the right manufacturer to the right buyer.