03 January 2024, Mumbai

Rewind 2023

As the Indian fashion scene undergoes a dynamic transformation, established brands and retailers have grappled with shifting trends and evolving consumer preferences.

2023 saw some familiar names rise to the top, while others faced the need for strategic adaptation. Let's explore the stories behind the industry's biggest winners and those navigating choppy waters.

Winners: Riding the Rising Tide

• Athleisure All-Stars: Brands like Zivame and Nykaa Fashion embraced the post-pandemic focus on comfort and active lifestyles. Their diverse athleisure offerings, catering to a wide range of budgets and styles, resonated with consumers seeking versatility and ease.
• Sustainability Champions: With environmental consciousness taking center stage, brands like FabIndia witnessed a surge in popularity. Their commitment to ethical production, natural materials, and upcycled creations struck a chord with consumers seeking mindful fashion choices.
• Direct-to-Consumer Dynamos: Cutting out the middlemen and offering personalized experiences, homegrown DTC brands like The Label Life and Studiofit carved a niche for themselves. Their data-driven approach and social media savvy catered perfectly to Gen-Z preferences.
• Value-Driven Victors: Brands like Max Fashion and Ajio capitalized on the ongoing focus on affordability and value. Their wide range of styles at accessible price points proved attractive to budget-conscious consumers, especially in a post-pandemic economy.

Facing the Fashion Crossroads:

• Formalwear Fade: Brands heavily reliant on formal wear, like Raymond and Park Avenue, faced challenges as work-from-home became the norm and social gatherings reduced. Adapting to changing demands and diversifying their offerings will be crucial for their future success.
• Fast Fashion Fatigue: Concerns about environmental impact and overconsumption led to a decline in popularity for brands associated with quick trends and mass production, like Shoppers Stop and Globus.
• Brick-and-Mortar Blues: The continued shift towards online shopping posed challenges for traditional retailers like W for Woman and Meena Bazaar. Building a robust online presence and offering seamless omnichannel experiences will be essential to stay competitive.

Charting the course for 2024:

As India's fashion industry looks ahead to 2024, several key trends are likely to shape the landscape:

• Sustainability Surge: Expect stricter regulations, increased transparency, and innovative materials as sustainability becomes a non-negotiable factor. Brands that prioritize eco-friendly practices will be well-positioned for success.
• Omnichannel Harmony: The seamless blending of online and offline experiences will be crucial, with brands leveraging the strengths of each platform. Building a strong digital presence while maintaining a welcoming physical store experience will be key.
• Personalization Push: Data-driven customization and targeted marketing will take center stage as brands strive to create unique experiences for individual customers. Understanding consumer preferences and offering tailored solutions will be essential.
• Community Connection: Building strong communities around shared values and ethical practices will give brands a competitive edge. Engaging with customers on a deeper level will foster loyalty and brand advocacy.

Navigating these shifting trends will be the deciding factor for established brands and retailers in 2024. Those who adapt to changing consumer preferences, embrace sustainability, and offer personalized experiences are the ones who will weather the winds of change and emerge as leaders in India's ever-evolving fashion scene.

Latest Textile Events

Multi-brand luxury children’s wear retailer Les Petits has launched its new label-the Lapin House in India. Launched across the brand’s boutiques in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, the label also retails on its e-commerce store. 

Founded in Greece in 1977, Lapin House offers premium children’s wear in cute yet classic designs. The brand’s latest collection of pink, green, red, and maroon ensembles, promises to be both durable and fashion forward at the same time. The collection will be available exclusively with Les Petits in time for the winter festive season.  

According to Swati Saraf, President, Les Peitis, the brand Lapin House exudes elegance by offering a complete package to the kid’s wear fashion in India. It gives a playful to the overall demeanor of kids.

Aiming to make global children’s wear lines available in the Indian markets, Les Petits retails a range of international luxury children’s wear brands including Versace, Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fendi, etc. The business has launched a number of new labels in the country.

20 December 2023, Mumbai

Junior's Fashion Week (JFW) dazzled at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, unveiling Lee Cooper Kids' collection amid opulence.

ZOOP by Titan, the accessory partner, and prime sponsor Kidsup elevated the spectacle, featuring iconic brands like Emporio Armani, GUESS, Stella McCartney, and Sonia Rykiel. Rookie USA's showcase added allure with Nike, Jordan, Levi's, and Converse. ZOOP, Titan's cherished kids' watch brand, embodied timeless style.

Detailing

The Lee Cooper Kids Club celebrated diversity, offering versatile, comfortable collections. JFW, a fusion of fashion and business, forged global alliances. Teaming up with Junior's Model Management, it empowered young talents, emphasizing "Confidence is Beautiful."

The event, organized by Junior’s Brands Private Limited, garnered recognition and drew high-net-worth buyers, influential mothers, and media channels. The Hyderabad edition promised radiant exposure and opportunities for brands and talents alike.

Latest Textile Events

28 December 2023, Mumbai

Rewind 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, the Indian womenswear scene hums with a vibrant energy, a tapestry woven with threads of comfort, conscious consumerism, and a fierce sense of individuality.

Gone are the days of cookie-cutter trends; the modern Indian woman is the author of her own style story, and brands are scrambling to keep up. Let's unravel the key threads that define this fascinating shift:

Comfort Takes Center Stage

The pandemic's lingering influence saw loungewear and athleisure take center stage. Joggers, sweatshirts, and flowy dresses became wardrobe staples, not just for workouts but for everyday errands and casual outings. E-commerce giant Nykaa Fashion and leading brands in the sector capitalized on this trend, offering stylish yet comfortable options for women on the go.

Beyond Borders, Beyond Binaries

Globalization and a growing acceptance of gender fluidity fueled a love for fusion fashion. Silhouettes transcended borders, with kimono sleeves adorning sarees and crop tops paired with lehengas.

Brands like Anita Dongre and Sabyasachi led the charge, offering contemporary interpretations of traditional garments that broke the shackles of convention.

Sustainability Steals the Spotlight

The Indian woman is increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impact of her choices.

Brands like Fabindia and others saw a surge in popularity due to their commitment to organic materials, fair labor practices, and upcycled designs. Eco-conscious consumers were no longer willing to compromise style for sustainability.

The Rise of the Digital Diva

Technology played a starring role in the form of personalized online styling platforms and social media influencers. Brands like Myntra and Ajio leveraged AI and virtual try-on features to provide a seamless online shopping experience. Fashion influencers are setting the trends and inspiring millions with their curated looks.

A Celebration of Regional Riches

Just as with menswear, womenswear embraced the vibrant tapestry of Indian handlooms and crafts. Bandhani dupattas from Kutch, silk sarees from Banaras, and Kalamkari prints from Andhra Pradesh found their way into contemporary wardrobes. Ethnic brands Biba and Jaypore played a crucial role in reinterpreting these age-old textiles for the modern woman.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite the positive trends, the industry grappled with headwinds. Inflation and supply chain disruptions impacted both manufacturers and retailers. The ever-evolving online landscape, with its fierce competition and demanding customer base, kept brands on their toes.

Moving ahead

But as we step into 2024, the Indian womenswear scene is brimming with potential. Brands that can cater to the comfort-conscious, trend-setting, and socially conscious woman will be the ones writing the next chapter of success.

They must embrace technology, celebrate diversity, and weave stories that resonate with the aspirations of the modern Indian woman, who is no longer a passive observer but an active participant in shaping her own style of narrative.

Latest Textile Events

Increasing cash flow and focus on franchise-based expansion will help Arvind Fashions, become a zero-debt company in the next two years, says Kulin Lalbhai, Vice Chairman.

Owner of brands such as Arrow, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, Arvind Fashion has been registering higher cash flow as it continues to focus on a franchise-based expansion.

Rationalising its brand portfolio, Arvind Fashions has reduced the number of brands it owns to five from over 20. The company currently has a debt of Rs 300 crore. Three years ago, it embarked on a full-blown strategy to create large iconic brands in order to get operational efficiencies and profitability by scaling them up.

The portfolio restricting helped the company generate high returns on the capital employee and increase its cash flow, adds Lalbhai.

The company plans to increase the size of its stores for each of the brands by 25 per cent, adds Shailesh Chaturvedi, Managing Director, and CEO. This will help it expand its product range and introduce a new large retail format to house all its brands under one roof.

Another of the company’s aims is to grow sales by 12-15 per cent annually and improve EBITDA by 100 basis points every fiscal year, adds Chaturvedi.

The company is also launching a new store format over 3,000-4,000 sq ft in Bengaluru which will house all five brands under a single roof. This part, it plans to open around 200 EBOs every year through the franchise route.

The company recorded a 45 per cent Y-o-Y growth in revenues to Rs 4,421 in FY23 while net profit surged to Rs 88 crore.

Synk, the upscale men's shirt brand, aims to fortify its footprint in South India, unveiling plans to launch 50 new stores in the next six months.

Focusing on Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the brand currently operates 50 stores, CEO Abdul Latheef Irfan emphasizes Synk's commitment to quality and affordability, challenging the industry's price-quality disparity.

The brand, under Deluxe Group, advocates for paying for quality rather than the brand, aiming to redefine fashion standards.

Business to customer fashion fair Fashionista plans to organise a sustainable fashion fair from January 10 to 11, 2024 in Juhu, Mumbai.

To be held at the Valecha Hall, the event will promote eco-friendly apparel and lifestyle labels. It will showcase product categories such as women’s traditional, ethnic and fusion wear, jewelry, fashion accessories, gift items, home décor and lifestyle goods. Brands from Maharashtra will be in focus at the event

A winter festive shopping fair was held by Fashionista from December 21-22 in Belgaum, Karnataka, and from December 23-24 in Kohlapur. Both the fairs featured a wide range of traditional wear for the winter wedding season alongwith handcrafits and other fashion goods.

Launched in 2008, Fashionista Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition held multi-brand fairs across India in locations including Jabalpur, Nagpur, Nashik, Bilaspur, Amravati, Kanpur, Mumbai, Salem, Lucknow, Raipur, and Hubli , etc. The events connect upcoming brands with customers across smaller cities.

Fashion icon Manish Malhotra marks a milestone by opening his first flagship store in Dubai's Fashion Avenue at the prestigious Dubai Mall.

Amidst global luxury brands, the palatial ivory store embodies Malhotra's modern-India aesthetic.

Taking to Instagram, he expressed the emotional realization of his dream to showcase Indian craftsmanship globally, making the Dubai store a symbol of Indian culture and warm hospitality.