Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, The Southern Indian Mills’ Association (SIMA), urged Prime Minister Narender Modito remove both the anti-dumping duty on VSF and also the 10 per cent import duty on cotton. He said that both the high value added market segments account around Rs.150,000 crore business size and employ over two million people, fetch GST revenue of Rs.5,000 crore and also forex earnings to the tune of Rs.75,000/- crore apart from catering to the value added segments.

Chandran said that VSF and superfine cotton value chain supplies to the international brands, and the price crisis is being utilized as an opportunity by the neighboring countries like Bangladesh,leading to an increase in imports. He stated that India has been mainly relying on the American PIMA and Egyptian GIZA and other ELS cotton for the domestic and international markets apart from the home grown DCH cotton. The industry has been mixing the imported cotton with the indigenous cotton, as the availability of Indian cotton is not even 20 per cent.

The industry has also been using Bunny cotton grown in Telangana and other regions for mixing with the imported cotton and produce fine count yarns and its products. The DCH cotton was costing around Rs.52,000/- per candy of 355 kgs during October 2020 and Rs.65,000/- in January 2021 and the same got increased to Rs.73,000/- after the levy of 10% duty. This has greatly impacted the entire value chain, added Chandran.

Designer Samant Chauhan will take the phygital route to showcase Fall/Winter 2021 womenswear collection ‘New Born’on March 20.

As per Fashion Network, the designer will broadcast his show on the FDCI and Lakme Fashion Week digital platforms including Facebook, Intagram and other respective website. Focusig on handloom textiles and experimental silhouettes, the collection will have a silvery color palette and glittering embellishments.

The exquisite floral designs on the garments will have a right balance of shimmer and shine. Their interesting sleeves and flowery fabrics will offer consumers the required freedom of movement.

To be held from March 16 to 21, the FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week will be sponsored by Rise Worldwide and Nexa. By mixing online and offline elements, the fashion event will aim to adapt to the post-COVID ‘new normal’ and engage a wider audience

A post graduate with a diploma from NIFT, New Delhi, Chauhan’sdebut collection at the ‘India Fashion Week’ received remarkable encouragement from the biggest names in the fashion fraternity. He not only became one of the finalists for the WOW, New Zealand from India but also started an eco-friendly line with the US based company, ‘Moksha for Earth’ in 2006.

Poor response from investors has led to the Central Government withdrawing its proposal for setting up a textile park in Kalaburagi, Karnataka.

As per The Hindu report, the proposal for setting up the park was mooted a decade ago. The State government requested the Centre to continue the work on the park but the latter rejected the request and asked the State to refund 1.85 crore, which was released for infrastructure work at the textile park.

A few days ago, Shrimant B Patil, State Minister for Handlooms and Textiles met Smriti Irani, Union Textile Minister and sought the Centre’s support to establish the park. Patil said many subsidies and incentives had been offered to investors under the new textile policy of the State government.

Congress Leader, Priyank Kharge also urged the government to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and invest in it to set up the park.

Direct to consumer or D2C fashion brand Bewakoof has raised funds worth Rs 30 crore from IvyCap Ventures. As per reports, the brand will utilize the funds to streamline its operations, which were severely hit during the first five months of the pandemic.

The brand’s revenue is likely to decline by 33 per cent due to the pandemic. According to Fintrackr, Bewakoof registered a 27 per cent growth in its revenue from operations to Rs 208.33 crore in FY20 from Rs 164.22 crore in FY19.

The company recorded a loss of Rs 28.26 crore in FY20. Its EBITDA margins also slipped to -9.5 per cent in FY20. The company is eyeing a turnover of close to Rs 140-150 crore in FY21.

Over the past couple of years, several D2C brands in beauty, audio-hardware and mattress have gained quick grounds in India. Mamaearthand Sugar Cosmetics had crossed Rs 100 crore revenue mark in FY20 whereas boAt’s earnings from sales jumped three-fold to Rs 700.44 crore.

Founded in April 2012 by Prabhkiran Singh and Siddharth Munot, Bewakoof is one of the rare startups to create a D2C brand to the tune of Rs 200 crore in the fashion space.The brand sells trendy apparel and accessories. Its customer base includes millennials across Tier I, II and III cities.

Ethnic wear brand Tilfi has launched its first brick-and-mortar store in Banaras. As per Fashion Network, the store has been designed by Aditi Sharma of Design Studio and spreads across 2,500 sqft at Rathyatra, Varanasi.

The store is adorned with the handcrafts of the city. It features Banarasi metal repousse extensively, allowing for modern interpretations of a venerable craft. Walls panel and niches have been lovingly hand-painted by an award-winning miniature and mural artist.

Drawing inspiration from architectural details of Banaras’ heritage sites, the store’s palette is developed around the earthy buff-colour sandstone of the Old City.

Launched in Banaras, India in 2016, Tilfi sells Banarasi handloom saris, dupattas, and lehengas. The brand weaves in pure silk, cotton, koras, georgettes, and more. Tilfi has a strong online presence and delivers across the country through its e-commerce website.

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) has appointed Vikram Rao and Yogesh Chaudhary as Additional (Independent) Directors.

With a career spanning over 40 years, Rao joined the Aditya Birla Group in 1999 as Group Executive President, Textiles. He masterminded the Group's entry into the branded apparel industry with the acquisition of Madura Garments and was subsequently appointed as Whole-time Director of Aditya Birla Nuvo, the then-holding Company of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited.

He was also appointed as Executive Director of Thai Acrylic Fibre Co, Thailand; Director of Indo Liberty Textiles, Indonesia; and Executive Director of Alexandria Fibre Co, Egypt. These Companies represented the group’s global footprint in the sectors of acrylic fibres and viscose yarns in SEA and ME.

Rao is a globally accredited Executive Coach and has completed myriad coaching assignments in renowned global and diverse sectors.

On the other hand, Chaudhary is a management student from Boston College, USA. He is currently on the Board of Jaipur Rugs Company and provides Jaipur Rugs the strategic direction it needs to explore business opportunities in the domestic and global markets.

Chaudhary has immense entrepreneurial abilities and deep knowledge in the manufacturing business, leading Jaipur Rugs increase its global presence to 65 plus nations, from just two a decade ago and position itself as a global leader in manufacturing and exporting exclusive, designer hand- knotted rugs worldwide.

Operating profits of cotton spinners are likely to double next fiscal as revenues will increase by 25 per cent due to higher sales to Asian buyers and appreciation in cotton yarn prices, a study of 102 of them, including 95 rated by CRISIL, shows. As per a CRISIL report, as global demand for knitted garments and home textiles recovered faster than expected, exports of yarn to China, Bangladesh and Vietnam rose by 22 per cent, 39 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively from April-December 2020.

Capacity utilization of cotton spinners has also risen to 90 per cent in the third quarter of this fiscal, says Gautam Shahi, Director, CRISIL Ratings. He expects this to remain high in next fiscal too. Along with widening cotton and yarn spreads, this would boost the operating margins of spinners by 200-250 bps on-year to ~11 per cent next fiscal, and double their operating profits.

The inventories of these spinners are also likely to decline in typical levels of 2-3 months by the end of this fiscal, from around 4 months a year ago. That would reduce dependence on short-term borrowings.

Kiran Kavala, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, expects the credit ratio to improve next fiscal driven by improvement in debt protection metrics such as interest coverage2 and net cash accrual.

Design duo Pankaj & Nidhi showcased a bright, geometrical womenswear collection named ‘Kaleidoscope’ on Wednesday at FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week featuring an updated take on retro aesthetics. As per Fashion Network, titled Kaleidoscope, the collection is a pastel riot of color as it mixes a 1960s sense of fun with a millennial take on cool. It features small and large geometric prints on structured mini dresses and loose, sheer tops. The floaty maxi dresses in the collection are contrasted by tailored blazers styled with bright bralets, all featuring the brand’s custom kaleidoscopic prints.

. The collection is immediately available to purchase from the brand’s e-commerce store as the showcase went live, enabling people to shop the runway. The brand’s fashion film to accompany the collection is lighthearted and fun, reflecting a collective desire for carefree fun.

Pankaj & Nidhi are a talented young designer duo who launched their label in May 2006. Celebrated for their “fresh & crisp sensibility”, this powerhouse couple pushes the envelope when it comes to style and elegance. Their creations are charming and spontaneous, with generous use of colors, inspired by craftsmanship, symbolic and cultural objects, Pankaj & Nidhi invent a contemporary language, create clothes that tell stories, for women who love freedom and authenticity and are always on a quest for originality.

Leading womenswear brand BIBA has launched its first store post pandemic at the Ambience Mall in VasantKunj, New Delhi. This is BIBA’s 35th flagship store in the country and its 34th in New Delhi.

As per a report by India Retailing, the new store spreads across 3,500 sq. ft. and features the latest festive as well as Summer-Spring 2021 collection to keep consumers hooked. The store has new and interesting range including Work Vogue and BIBA Chic targeted at the younger women. The store offers a variety of mix-and-match, fusion sets, Indie trilogy pieces, classic Anarkalis, Boho dresses, gorgeous gararas, reversible dupattas, accessories, BIBA girls’ collection and the footwear collection.

The beautifully designed store has an attractive facade which entices customers and onlookers alike. A large-scale digital screen at the store visually engages the customers. it has crafted signature displays and a feature ceiling to provide customers with a glamorous experience. While every section of the flagship store has a unique story to narrate, BIBA has ensured that there’s digital content for them all. The new retail format includes customer testimonials as well. In addition to that, there are digital photo-frames for active content that brings the products to life.

BIBA has also launched its Brand Song #BeatsofBIBA at the Vasant Kunj flagship store. Brand songs have been used by brands globally as music breaks the clutter and connects people emotionally. BIBA realized the importance of using music and dance for greater brand recognition and utilizing it as an effective strategy tool to connect with its consumers by standing true to its name. The song #BeatsofBIBA is a peppy number celebrating women for what they are.