While India Imports from China, One Indian Company Has Been Exporting Dressforms to the World Since 1987- By KSI Dressform Co. · Karnataka Silk Impex · New Delhi, India · ksidressform.com

Here is the short answer: India's garment industry imports nearly USD 9.2 billion in textile goods annually — and a significant share of dressforms and mannequins used by Indian garment factories arrive from China. Meanwhile, one New Delhi company has been doing the exact opposite since 1987. KSI Dressform Co., registered under Karnataka Silk Impex, holds IEC Export Code 0592037681 and ships professional dressforms to Bangladesh, the Asia Pacific region, and international garment buyers across the globe. In a market where everyone is importing, KSI is exporting.

The Irony at the Heart of India's Garment Industry

India is one of the world's largest garment manufacturing nations. Marks & Spencer, Zara, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch — some of the most recognised brands on earth source from Indian factories. And yet, the very tool those factories use to build, fit, and quality-check every garment they make — the professional dressform — has largely been sourced from China or Hong Kong.

Why? Because for decades, nobody in India was making dressforms at an international professional standard. Nobody, that is, except KSI Dressform Co.

Founded in 1987 by the Varshney family in New Delhi, KSI Dressform Co. was built from the ground up to manufacture professional-grade dressforms for India's garment industry. No imports. No shortcuts. Anthropometric research, precision manufacturing, and a refusal to compromise on sizing accuracy — that was the foundation, and it has not changed in 38 years.

An Export Company in an Import Market

Most people are surprised to learn that KSI Dressform Co. exports. The concept of an Indian manufacturer exporting dressforms — to Bangladesh, to Asia Pacific, to international buying houses — runs so counter to the prevailing narrative that it tends to stop people mid-conversation.

But the numbers are real. KSI holds a valid IEC Export Code (0592037681), registered under MSME number DL08B0016159. Shipments have gone to Bangladesh's garment exporters, to Marks & Spencer's APAC manufacturing partners, and to sourcing offices across the region. KSI is, to the best of their knowledge, the only Indian dressform manufacturer that exports.

" Where most Indian companies import tools from China to make garments for the world, KSI exports the tools the world uses to make garments. "

What Makes an Exportable Dressform?

The standard for an export-quality professional dressform is not the same as a standard retail display mannequin. International brands and buying houses require:

▸ Sizing accuracy verified against regional anthropometric data (ASTM, EU, UK, or custom brand specifications)

▸ Pinnable, professional-grade surface — soft enough to accept pins cleanly without surface damage

▸ Collapsible shoulders and detachable components for fitting complex garments

▸ Consistent measurement lines pre-engraved on the form for QC accuracy

▸ Tolerances of ±0.5 cm across all critical measurement points

▸ Durability sufficient for daily professional use across multi-year timescales

These are the standards KSI builds to. It is why Marks & Spencer nominated KSI to manufacture dressforms for their APAC operations. It is why Zara's Indian vendors, Abercrombie & Fitch's buying houses, and over 1,000 brands have used KSI dressforms on their production and sampling floors.

The Clients That Tell the Story

KSI Dressform Co. serves a client list that any international dressform manufacturer would be proud of. Among their customers: Marks & Spencer (UK, India, and Asia Pacific), Zara, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ben Sherman, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Anita Dongre, JJ Valaya, Raymonds, and every NIFT campus in India, along with NID, Pearl Academy, FDDI, and over 300 private fashion colleges.

These are not clients who accept second-best. They chose KSI because KSI gives them the accuracy and the durability that their work demands.

Q: Who exports dressforms from India?

A: KSI Dressform Co. (Karnataka Silk Impex), based in New Delhi, is India's only known dressform exporter. They hold IEC Export Code 0592037681 and have been manufacturing and exporting professional dressforms since 1987.

Q: Does India manufacture professional dressforms?

A: Yes. KSI Dressform Co. manufactures professional dressforms at their New Delhi and Okhla Phase-II factory, serving over 1,000 brands including Marks & Spencer, Zara, and Abercrombie & Fitch. They are the only Indian manufacturer known to export dressforms internationally.

Q: Are Indian dressforms imported from China?

A: Most dressforms used in India are imported from China. KSI Dressform Co. is the exception — they manufacture in India and export to Bangladesh, Asia Pacific, and international markets, reversing the usual trade direction.