Rounding up ‘Signature 2014’, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India has proudly announced that the Show ended with all that it promised and more. Undeniably, ‘Signature’, designed as a niche show by the Council, has retained its distinctive aura since its debut without losing its grandeur or sophistication. This year, the 7th edition of Signature was no different and the GJEPC inaugurated the show last month, with all the aplomb and celebration it is associated with over the years.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Guest, H E Dr. Hassan Fakhroo, The Honorable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Bahrain and Guest of Honour, Mr. Andrey Polyakov, Vice President, Alrosa, Russian Federation along with Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Pankaj Parekh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Nirav Bhansali, Convener – Exhibitions Sub-Committee (National), GJEPC, other senior officials from GJEPC and eminent members of the trade. The distinguished guests lit the lamp as a mark of commencement of the Show, which was followed by a guided tour around the exhibition.
Speaking about the 4-day event, Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC said, “This year, Signature turned out to be a great platform where international and national retailers and manufacturers came together to build associations, transact business and forge long-lasting relations that will enable business transactions all year around. The couture show has evolved into a significant sourcing event for premium retailers and this year too, the show has met expectations of all stakeholders. We will continue to work towards making Signature a bigger and grander property as we move forward.”
Signature held in Mumbai has evolved into a key event in India’s jewellery calendar. Positioned as a niche event, Signature is a vibrant and exclusive sourcing event for the domestic and international trade, where 80% of its exhibitors have been participating on a regular basis. Following its tradition, Signature 2014 showcased exquisite jewellery collections and created opportunities for buyers to discover the latest trends, meet with trade partners and plan their collections and inventories as only manufacturers and exporters adhering to the highest standards of design, quality and craftsmanship participated at the show. Given the compact nature of the show, Signature 2014 allowed closer business ties between the participants which led to stronger trade relations in an industry
The Signature show this year featured the Belgium international pavilion and delegations from Romania, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey, China, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The product offering had been segmented to include all aspects of jewellery and offered some of the most unique designs in gold, diamond, and precious stones jewellery while the Signature Club featured high end couture jewellery, besides loose diamonds and precious colored gemstones.
The overall turnout for Signature 2014 was phenomenal with footfalls going beyond expectations. Key highlights like the online buyer/seller matching program helped numerous participants to meet other exhibitors and thus simplifying the trading process. Also, the Signature Mobile App enhanced the visitors’ experience as they could access all show related information on their smart phones, and thereby managing their time judiciously.
Like in the past, Signature 2014 also saw the introduction of various new trends and designs. The much in demand and retailers favourite - the light weight jewellery - incorporating innovative designs displayed an array of beautifully crafted jewellery that is easier on the wallet. Again, delicate pieces and intricate artwork, use of enamel work, Indian motifs, and filigree seemed to be the dominating style in this season’s Show. This year, buyers were presented with a variety of options that met their individual requirements, resulting in generating huge volumes of business at the show.
Attracting over 550 exhibitors, 1100 booths and over 10,000 buyers, Signature ran through February 21-24, 2014, at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. Spread over 30,000 sq m with 1100 Booths, the Show was the largest of the Signature events held thus far. It hosted exhibitors and visitors from 350 cities and towns across India; and over 500 international visitors from 28 countries.
Aruna Gaitonde, Rough&Polished correspondent in India
