This issue of Food & Hospitality World gives a glimpse of the latest trends in outdoor furniture and how outdoor furniture manufacturers in the country are introducing innovative designs to be at par with their international counterparts By Rituparna Chatterjee
Be it hotels, restaurants or cafes, the desire to bring the look and comfort of their indoors into the outdoors has now become their priority concern. Hence, today we see the Indian furniture market being flooded with a variety of outdoor furniture. They are available in different styles, shapes, sizes and colours. Trends come and go but only a few manage to bring about a dramatic change into the outdoor space they belong to. Rattan and wicker furniture have been a part of this change, revolutionising the furniture trends of the hospitality industry, not only in India but also worldwide. “Outdoor furniture made from synthetic rattan are in demand even today because of its contemporary design and durability. We also have special requirement coming from our customers who want their wicker furniture to last for at least five years and avoid problems like colour fading and breakage of the wicker,” states Vijay Borade, director, Wonderweave Furnitures, a company specialising in designing and manufacturing handwoven outdoor furniture. Though rattan and wicker furniture have been in the India market since the past 10-15 years and are still in demand, hoteliers are simultaneously looking out for new alternatives to give a change to the outdoor areas.
One such alternative has been the recent introduction of braid and rope outdoor furniture in the global outdoor furniture market including India. “There are few companies in the world who are dealing in this kind of furniture and our designs have been specifically made keeping in mind the hospitality market of India. International brands who are already dealing in such furniture carry contemporary designs which our Indian hotels don’t prefer. We offer five years’ warranty on our braid and rope furniture,” mentions Rahul Jindal, managing director, Loom Crafts, which is one of the largest manufactures of all weather outdoor furniture in India, offering a range of handwoven outdoor wicker furniture, braid and rope outdoor furniture, outdoor teak furniture, fully upholstered outdoor furniture and umbrellas.
Space saving
When it comes to designing outdoor spaces, most hotels today prefer using space saving furniture as opposed to the bulky ones. Though hotels are presently using rattan and wicker furniture, they are also looking for new options for the outdoors. For instance, Loom Crafts recently launched its new range of furniture – fully upholstered LoomTex furniture and contemporary teak wood furniture with combinations of stainless steel and aluminium frames. Even Wonderweave Furnitures is introducing new designs from time to time in the category of dining, sofas and sun beds for the hotel and restaurant industry. “We will have one of the largest varieties of outdoor furniture and accessory designs in India by the end of 2016 giving our customers great choice for their requirements,” promises Borade, adding that, the USP of these outdoor furniture are that they are UV-resistant, weatherproof, robust and durable, water repellent, colour fast, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly. Since outdoor furniture are constantly exposed to extreme outdoor conditions, sunlight and rain, manufacturers are also sourcing the best raw materials available globally to be used in making their furniture while ensuring stringent quality control during the manufacturing process. “We also offer free after sales service in case our customers face any issue in the furniture,” adds Borade.
Market scenario
According to a recent market report by Indiawood, the Indian furniture manufacturing industry is pegged at Rs 1,20,000 crore (US$ 20 billion) and employs more than 3,00,000 people in the organised sector. Additionally, the industry has seen a compounded annual growth rate of 30 per cent.
Speaking about the future of this industry, Borade opines that the demand for synthetic rattan outdoor furniture will continue to grow in India at a fast pace every year. While Jindal predicts that since furniture is a fashion industry, it will have to change according to the client’s need. “Growth is expected in the near future as the market scenario improves. Growth is not only there in the new hotels but also in the renovation of the existing hotels, which is a much bigger market. We always try to come up with designs and offers which are suitable for the hotels going in for renovation,” he adds.