Behind the Trip: What Actually Happens on the India Edit
People always ask what a sourcing trip actually involves day-to-day. Here is an honest account of what we do on the India Edit, and why it is structured the way it is.
When people hear "sourcing trip to India," they often picture a chaotic week of haggling in markets and hoping for the best. The India Edit is deliberately nothing like that.
We designed it to give product founders direct access to suppliers, contacts, and manufacturing knowledge that would otherwise take years to build. Here is how it actually works.
IMM India Trade Fair
The trip centres around IMM India, one of the largest sourcing fairs in the country for home, lifestyle, and textile categories. This alone is worth the trip for founders sourcing in these categories. In three to four days at the fair, you can meet more suppliers face to face than most people meet in a career of emailing overseas.
We walk the fair as a group, but we also split off based on what each founder needs. Our India team is on hand throughout to facilitate introductions, help with negotiations, and flag suppliers worth following up with versus ones that are not the right fit.
Factory and artisan visits
We schedule factory visits based on the products represented in the group. These are not showroom tours. They are working visits where you see production in action, meet the people who will actually make your product, and ask the questions that cannot be answered over email.
The artisan and jewellery markets in Jaipur are a particular highlight. For founders working in textiles, accessories, or handcrafted goods, seeing the depth of craft and the range of suppliers available in person changes what you think is possible.
Why the small group format matters
We cap each trip at around ten founders. This is intentional. A large group cannot visit factories without disrupting production. A large group cannot have a genuine conversation with a supplier principal. And a large group makes the social side of the trip, which is genuinely one of its most valuable parts, far less intimate.
The connections founders make with each other on these trips often become long-term professional relationships. Several past attendees still share supplier contacts, production updates, and advice years later.
What you take home
Every India Edit attendee leaves with a list of vetted supplier contacts specific to their product category, a much clearer sense of what is possible within their budget, and the confidence that comes from having seen manufacturing up close.
Most also leave with a very good tan and a suitcase heavier than the one they arrived with. The next India Edit runs from 31 August to 5 September 2026. If you are interested in attending, register your interest and we will be in touch with details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the India Edit?
A small-group sourcing trip built around the IMM India trade fair, with factory visits, artisan market tours and hands-on support from the Source Haus India team throughout.
What product categories suit the India Edit best?
Textiles, fashion, jewellery, leather goods, handcrafted homewares and products that benefit from Indian craftsmanship, natural materials or traditional production techniques.
How big is the India Edit group?
Around ten founders. This keeps factory visits manageable, ensures each participant gets genuine one-on-one support, and creates a more intimate dynamic than larger tour-style groups.
What do participants take home from the India Edit?
A list of vetted supplier contacts specific to their product category, a clear sense of what is achievable within their budget, and the confidence that comes from having seen manufacturing in person.
Do I need a product brief ready before the trip?
The more prepared you are, the more productive the trip. Having a clear product idea, reference images and target pricing lets you have meaningful conversations with suppliers from day one.
Kristy Withers
Founder of Source Haus. 20+ years in product sourcing and manufacturing across China, India and Southeast Asia.
