Mannequin market in India has changed significantly in the past decade.  The retail boom along with an influx of international clothing brands has created a given a boost to Indian mannequin manufacturers and dealers.  The market is growing at 30% per annum which in sync with growth of retail industry.

Not only has the market size for mannequins increased but also their look has undergone a significant change. Indian retailers now prefer tall, chic and western model mannequins instead of the more realistic, plump (read fat) with features of an average Indian person.  The retailers are now demanding figurines with western bodies and abstract oval shaped faces or even headless variety.  The standard sizes of the mannequin on display has also changed to 5 feet 10 inch height with 34-24-36 vital stats for a female mannequin and 6 feet with 38-32-38 measurements for a male.  The mannequin industry is growing at 30 to 40% per annum and current market size is estimated to be US$ 10 million while most manufacturers are located around New Delhi and Bangalore makes over 1,000 different designs of mannequins compared to the standard 10-15 standard designs a decade ago.

Health experts and activists have, for long time, demanded that size of mannequin in retail stores should match average body of the retail shopper.  For example, average women shopper in UK is size 16, 5 feet 4 inch high where as mannequin in retail store are usually size 10, 5 feet 10 inches.


In recent time there has been lot of interest by shopper to see more mannequins representing realistic sizes and looks.  For instance, recently Rebecka Silvekroon blog went viral having thousands of Facebook likes for her realistic mannequin pictures taken in 2010.  Soon all major media picked up the news depicting changing preference of consumers in mannequin display.

Retailer too are responding positively to it.  For example, Therèse Johnsson Sundberg, head of information for Åhléns says