Early onset of monsoon has raised the hopes of rainwear manufacturers. Wholesalers have already started stocking and they expect good demand despite rising prices of rainwear products.

Rainwear products include rain coat, rain suit and wind cheaters. They are made from PVC sheets plastic and nylon fabric. The prices of both the raw material are high compared to last year.

Kolkata's Duck Back is the largest selling brand but mostly sold to defence and other government departments. To stand in competition some local manufacturers have introduced fancy products to capture niche market.

Rainwear market got support from increase in sale of two wheelers in recent years as two-wheeler drivers can not use umbrellas.

Mumbai-based rainwear manufacturer, Top In Town, (eastern rainwear) has procured rights to use Disney, Spiderman and Barbie brands on its rainwear and children's umbrella products. Such products are selling 25-30 per cent higher compared to normal rainwear.

Shantilal Chheda, managing partner, Eastern Rainwear, said that "last year monsoon was late and demand was affected as people avoid buying such products in second half of the season but this time since retailers don't have stock and monsoon is setting early demand is good."

He said price level this year is higher by 7 to 8 per cent.

High prices are attributed to increasing cost of raw material and labour. PVC sheet, which was costing Rs 85 per kg last season, is now costing Rs 100 per kg.

Nylon fabric was available for Rs 52-53 per meter last year and is now available at Rs 64-65 per meter. Lot of Chinese material is available in the market which is available at local prices and is of better quality.

Rainwear market is not big in areas where rain is less like northern India. Apart from Duck Back and Top In Town other players who are in the business are Caprihans, AMCO, Star, etc. Rainwear market is not very organised and size of the market is not clear.