The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India

What The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India does

The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI) is a Mumbai-headquartered, non-profit industry association founded circa 1963–1970, representing over 20,000 member companies across the Indian readymade garment value chain — manufacturers, exporters, retailers, agents/distributors, ancillary suppliers, and fashion institutes. Its core proposition is event-driven: CMAI operates the National Garment Fair (currently in its 83rd edition with 1,300+ exhibitors and 1,500+ brands), the FAB Show, Brands of India–Dubai, regional fairs, and the APEX Awards peer-recognition program, supported by the Apparel Training Centre, quarterly Apparel magazine, a mobile app, and arbitration/dispute resolution services.

CMAI does not operate proprietary technology products; its underlying platform is a membership-management portal (Members at a Glance), a B2B Capacity Bazaar marketplace, and government-mandated skill-development infrastructure. Its revenue mechanics are straightforward: recurring tiered membership subscriptions (Life, Primary, Associate, Retailer, International, Organisation) ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,50,000 plus 18% GST, supplemented by trade fair stall booking fees, visitor entry charges (INR 200 per visitor), and ancillary services like arbitration. The association maintains six offices across India (Mumbai headquarters, Bangalore, New Delhi, Pune, Surat) and runs international outreach via its International Membership program and overseas pavilions such as Brands of India–Dubai.

Beyond events and representation, CMAI is a federally appointed skill-development agency (ISDS Implementing Agency since 2017) that has trained 43,645 trainees and placed 33,490, and runs CSR, sustainability (Project SU.RE), and arbitration programs — making it functionally a hybrid trade body, training institution, and quasi-regulatory intermediary for the Indian apparel sector.

Name

The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India

Legal name

The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India

Website

https://cmai.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI) is a non-profit, Mumbai-based industry association serving 20,000+ member companies across India's readymade garment sector through large-scale trade fairs (National Garment Fair, FAB Show), tiered membership subscriptions, skill development, arbitration, and industry advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CMAI generates revenue through membership fees from various categories including Life Members, Primary Members, Associate Members, Retailer Members, Agent/Distributor Members, Organization Members, and International Members. Fees vary by membership tier and duration.
2. Trade Fair Fees: Revenue generated from organizing and hosting trade fairs including National Garment Fair, with visitor entry fees (INR 200 per visitor with discounts for multiple visitors).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMAI is a non-profit industry association that represents the Indian apparel sector for over 20,000 member companies including readymade garment manufacturers, exporters, retailers, and ancillary industry players. Its core offerings are multi-tiered membership programs and large-scale apparel trade fairs (notably the National Garment Fair with 1,300+ exhibitors and 1,500+ brands), supplemented by training, awards, publications, and dispute resolution.

Product overview

The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI) is an industry association that offers a portfolio of member services and industry events rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include trade shows and events (National Garment Fair, Brands of India – Dubai, FAB Show, North India Garment Fair, Vendor Sourcing Fair), industry recognition programs (APEX Awards), membership programs (ACHIEVERS CLUB/IVY League), publications (Apparel Magazine), training services (Apparel Training Centre), dispute resolution (Conciliation & Arbitration), and digital platforms (Membership Management System, Capacity Bazaar, Members at a Glance directory). The association also runs sustainability initiatives (Project SU.RE) and CSR programs. CMAI primarily serves as a representative body for the Indian apparel industry with over 20,000 member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Garment Fair (NGF): Major trade fair event organized by CMAI for the apparel industry
• FAB Show
• APEX Awards
• ACHIEVERS CLUB
• Brands of India

Products and services

• National Garment Fair (NGF) Largest bi-annual B2B apparel trade fair in India bringing together 1,300+ exhibitors and 1,500+ brands for business networking, sourcing, and market discovery at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.
• FAB Show (Fabrics, Accessories & Beyond) Trade fair focused on fabrics, accessories, embellishments and related supply-chain products for the Indian apparel industry, showcasing innovation in the textile supply chain.
• Brands of India – Dubai International trade show organized by CMAI to showcase Indian branded apparel in Dubai and promote India's apparel ecosystem globally.
• North India Garment Fair Regional trade fair held in North India serving garment manufacturers and retailers in that geography.
• Vendor Sourcing Fair Event focused on connecting vendors with manufacturers for sourcing opportunities within the apparel industry.
• APEX Awards (National Awards for Excellence in Apparel) Premier peer-recognition awards program of the Indian apparel industry, acknowledging excellence in apparel manufacturing, marketing, and supply chain management. Includes President's Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Conciliation & Arbitration Services Formal conciliation and arbitration services offered to members for resolving commercial disputes within the garment industry on payment of a nominal fee.
• Apparel Training Centre State-of-the-art apparel training facility (including Bhiwandi centre) that imparts sewing operator and manufacturing skills training. CMAI has trained over 43,000 trainees under the Government of India's Integrated Skill Development Scheme.
• ACHIEVERS CLUB Members-only initiative bringing together like-minded brand owners and manufacturers to learn from industry thought leaders and innovators for business growth.
• APPAREL Magazine Quarterly CMAI publication covering industry news, trends, and developments in the Indian readymade garment sector, distributed to members.
• Capacity Bazaar CMAI-run B2B platform enabling members to buy and sell manufacturing capacity, connecting firms with excess capacity to those requiring capacity.
• CMAI Membership Program Multi-tier membership program (Life, Primary, Associate, Organization, International, Retailer, Agent/Distributor) providing access to trade fairs, publications, arbitration, awards, and networking, with fees ranging from Rs.1,500 to Rs.1,50,000 depending on tier and tenure.
• Project SU.RE (Sustainable Resolution) Sustainability initiative focused on responsible practices in the Indian apparel industry, delivering workshops and actionable programs to drive environmental compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43,645 trainees trained under Integrated Skill Development Scheme, with 33,490 placed in garment factories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Tiger WatchminorOthersCSR partnership for vocational training initiative supporting girls from the Mogya traditional hunting tribe. CMAI contributed 15 sewing machines and training support, with some girls already sewing clothes for families and providing services to neighbours.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC): India's official export promotion body for the apparel sector, also a membership-based industry association representing garment exporters. Directly comparable to CMAI in serving Indian apparel companies through advocacy, events, and member services, though with a narrower export-focused mandate.
• Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA): A regional industry association representing apparel exporters in the Tirupur cluster — India's largest knitwear hub. Directly comparable to CMAI as a member-driven apparel trade body organizing trade events and policy advocacy, but with a regional focus.
• Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI): An apex industry association for the Indian textile and clothing sector covering manufacturers across the value chain. Directly comparable to CMAI in serving as a representative industry body with advocacy, trade events, and member services, but with a broader textile (vs. garment-only) scope.
• The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC): An export promotion council for synthetic and rayon textiles in India. Comparable to CMAI as a sectoral industry body organizing trade events and representing members to government, though focused upstream on textiles rather than finished garments.
• Textile Association of India: A national professional association for the Indian textile industry, with regional units and member services similar to CMAI. Comparable as a member-driven apparel/textile body, though more academic/professional in orientation vs. CMAI's trade-fair-driven model.
• International Apparel Federation (IAF): A global federation of apparel industry associations from 40+ countries. Comparable to CMAI in aggregating apparel industry members and organizing international knowledge exchange, with direct overlap in international member services and global trade fair participation.

Broad incumbents

• Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO): The apex body of Indian export promotion councils and trade bodies. Comparable to CMAI as a membership-based industry organization providing trade events, advocacy, and member services, but operating at a much broader, cross-sector scale.
• American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): The US national trade association representing apparel, footwear, and accessory companies. Comparable to CMAI in providing advocacy, events, and member services to apparel companies, but operating in a mature US market with global member reach.
• Euratex (European Apparel and Textile Confederation): The European confederation representing the textile and apparel industry to EU institutions. Comparable to CMAI in industry representation and member services, but with a pan-European scope and significantly larger institutional footprint.

Emerging players

• India ITME Society: An Indian industry body organizing major textile machinery exhibitions. Comparable to CMAI in operating large-scale B2B trade events for the Indian textile/apparel ecosystem, though focused on machinery rather than finished garments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CMAI_Official
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmai.in
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clothing-manufacturers-association-of-india-cmai-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India