01 April 2023, Mumbai

Cantabil has announced its plans to invest Rs 25-30 crore annually in store expansion, with a focus on tier II, III, and IV towns.

The company aims to open 80-90 stores annually to increase its presence in smaller cities, with a significant emphasis on the markets in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Eastern India. The goal is to provide trendy clothing to customers who have limited access to malls.

Cantabil has experienced significant success in tier II and III cities over the years, with around 70% of its stores located in such cities. Sales have exceeded expectations, accounting for approximately 65% of overall revenue. Cantabil plans to leverage this potential by launching additional retail outlets in various cities and states in India.

Cantabil has successfully built a profitable business in the mid-premium segment with a quick store-level break even and low overall shutdown rates. The company remains vigilant in its efforts to optimize costs and strike a balance between gross margin and EBITDA to ensure its business remains competitive and profitable.

Cantabil has recently opened 19 new stores in various states, including J&K, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana, to further expand its retail presence.

It has a strong retail presence across 19 states and 200+ cities, with 445 exclusive retail outlets throughout India,. The company's focus on tier II and III markets has helped it capitalize on the rising demand in smaller towns and cities.

Latest Textile Events

28 March 2023, Mumbai 

Italian Colony, a new brand in the men's clothing industry, has announced the launch of its online store, offering a wide range of high-quality men's clothing. With its unique blend of fashion and style, Italian Colony aims to cater to different tastes and preferences of Indian men.

The online store currently offers several categories of men's clothing, including joggers, cargo, jeans, and trousers. Italian Colony plans to expand its offerings in the near future.

Italian Colony aims to be a one-stop shop for men's clothing, providing a unique blend of fashion and style. The brand plans to expand its presence by collaborating with other e-commerce sites.

Latest Textile Events

24 March 2023, Mumbai 

Pacific Malls, a New Delhi-based company that operates six malls in North India, plans to open three new malls with 1.3 million square feet of retail space in 2023. The plan includes malls at Jasola, followed by Dehradun and Faridabad.

The company believes that malls with environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives will be game-changers in the industry in the coming years. The company plans to add popular international fast fashion and bridge-to-luxury brands, refresh food and beverage offerings, and hold medium-to-large live events to improve customer experience at its malls.

With growth predicted in the commercial and residential segments, the outlook for the Indian real estate sector is positive, according to reports from real estate services firm JLL and CRISIL.

Pacific Mall will introduce the Synergy Tenant App to service tenant partners and Space As Service so that prospective tenants can access and evaluate options without third-party involvement.

Latest Textile Events

 31 March 2023, Mumbai

Shoppers Stop has expanded its footprint with a new store at in Pacific Tower at Channi Rama in Jammu city.

This new store adds to Shoppers Stop's already impressive portfolio of around 100 department stores in 49 cities across India. In addition to its department stores, Shoppers Stop also operates eight home concept stores, 142 speciality beauty stores for popular brands like M.A.C, Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Jo Malone, and Too Faced, as well as 25 airport doors, all of which occupy a staggering 3.9 million sq. ft.

The Mumbai-based company was founded in 1991 and is owned by Indian property developer K Raheja Corp.

Latest Textile Events

 27 March 2023, Mumbai 

French menswear fashion brand Celio India has launched the #CelioDoItYourWay campaign, celebrating individuality and encouraging people to break away from conventional thinking.

The campaign's music video features Mumbai-based rapper Emiway Bantai, podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, and cricketer Umran Malik, showcasing how they achieved success by following their own paths. The music, composed by Mikey McCleary and featuring French reggae musician Naâman, adds to the campaign's key message of breaking away from the norm.

The campaign has been well received by its collaborators, who believe in the importance of doing things their own way. The campaign celebrates differentiation in the Indian menswear fashion scene and inspires young people to follow their passions and define success on their own terms.

Latest Textile Events

22 March 2023, Mumbai 

Fashion and apparel brands led the retail leasing activity in India from July to December 2022, according to a report by CBRE South Asia.

The research, titled "India Retail Figures H2 2022," found that multinational companies are increasingly renting out retail space, indicating a shift in consumer tastes towards traditional storefronts. Despite the growth of online shopping, demand for retail and commercial space continues to rise, leading to a surge in the construction of buildings designed to house both retail and office occupants.

The report identified Delhi-NCR and Bangalore as the top two regions for leasing activity, with the amount of retail space leased each year increasing by 21% from 2021 to 2022, adding 4.7 million square feet. Fashion and apparel brands accounted for about 42% of all leasing during this period, while food and drink, hypermarket, and entertainment stores saw increased demand in 2018.

The study found that over 60% of international retail brands have increased their regional presence, serving new client verticals in both metro and non-metro areas.

Experts commented that the growth trajectory of mall developers in the Delhi NCR region has been robust, supported by increased leasing activity. The festive season during the latter half of 2022 was also a significant driver of positive consumer sentiment, which encouraged retail brands to expand their footprint across Delhi-NCR.

The rise in demand for retail and commercial space in the region has led to a 4–8% increase in rent in some parts of Delhi-NCR and Bangalore.

Latest Textile Events

 30 March 2023, Mumbai 

Van Heusen Innerwear, the well-known brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL), has increased its retail presence in south India with the opening of a flagship women's exclusive intimates store in Bengaluru.

The store, located in the Jayanagar area, covers an area of 1,500 square feet, the new store offers Van Heusen's comprehensive collection of lingerie, active, athleisure, and lounge wear for women.

The launch is aimed at expanding Van Heusen Innerwear's market presence, and the flagship intimates store is designed to provide a premium shopping experience to contemporary women with innovative solutions catering to their ever-evolving lifestyle.

Van Heusen Innerwear already has a strong network of over 160 exclusive stores and sells through multi-brand outlets, large format retail chains, and e-commerce platforms. With the addition of the Bengaluru store, the brand's footprint in south India has been significantly strengthened.

Latest Textile Events

 25 March 2023, Mumbai 

The renowned Indian designer Rimi Nayak, has teamed up with Liva Fabrics, a part of the Birla Cellulose brand, to create an exclusive range of eco-friendly resort wear collection called ‘BOTANICS.’

The collection is inspired by the beauty of Mother Nature, featuring bold floral prints and myriad bright hues that reflect the evergreen and effervescent nature. The range includes a mix of free-flowing drapes, saris, and structured outfits that reflect the dichotomy of nature. The use of Liva's natural and sustainable fabrics adds to the eco-friendly nature of the collection. The designer has also incorporated a range of separates that can be mixed and matched to suit one’s personal style.

The partnership between Rimi Nayak India and Liva Fabrics is a result of their shared values and commitment to sustainability. The eco-friendly collection is a step towards sustainable fashion.

Latest Textile Events

 20 March 2023, Mumbai 

The Sloan School of Management at MIT, USA had done a comprehensive study on the state of offline retail outlets post the pandemic that witnessed the solid establishment of online retail.

E-commerce Disrupts Offline Retail; The study states physical retail outlets were already falling slightly behind e-commerce, particularly in developed countries. The largest physical retail outlet market, the US, saw many iconic American brands closing their physical presence, including JCPenny and Neiman Marcus in the middle of 2020.

Two years later, the scenario seems to have changed slightly in favour of physical retail outlets that offer a glimmer of hope that they will be here to stay.

The two-year-long lockdown confinement may have worked the psyche of people as they now want social experiences outside the digital world. The study revealed contrary to popular belief millennials shop more in physical retail outlets more than Generation X and the main reasons were instant gratification of taking something home and the sensorial experience in store.

That is precisely why brands are rethinking refurbishing their physical spaces to leverage the new tide of offline shoppers. As experts point out, customers returning to shop in malls and high streets are prompting online-only brands to consider being present in the physical space as well.

All about the right location

Be it commercial or residential, it has always been and continues to be located. In India, this has great ramifications for brands seeking greater outreach away from the cluttered metros.

With Tier II, and III cities urbanizing rapidly throughout India, the opportunity to not only be visible but also usher in a whole segment of new customers to a sensorial experience of the brand is what is driving the opening of physical retail outlets across India.

CEO and Co-Founder of Chai Sutta Bar, the rapidly growing tea shop chain, Anubhav Dubey cited the location of an outlet is critical in determining the operations and therefore the profitability.

Retail is all about location..location..location; Venkatesh Kumar, CEO of IBO’s retail division believes for new brands, location is vital for the success of their physical outlets. The store has to be the right size to optimize both demand and inventory and also have access to a wider catchment area for customs.

Big technology, big opportunities

For a successful offline presence across a huge geographic market like India, big data will make all the difference. From assessing demand patterns of items to niche demands based on geographic needs, big data will help brands maximize their inventory distribution to ensure the movement of items.

End of the day, in retail it is the critical back-end operations including inventory management, warehousing, and supply chain that are heavily dependent on technology for efficiency and to be a successful retail business, a robust system has to be in place.

B Sakthi Kumar, Projects Head at Shoppers Stop feels the omnichannel approach has retailers looking at a variety of formats based on changing customer preferences. Therefore, technology integration is required for implementation.

The human touch

One thing the pandemic-led lockdown taught us is the importance of human interaction. No matter how digitally advanced the in-store experience is, it is the human touch that makes all the difference.

More and more brands are taking a leaf out of the beauty sector and training their in-store personnel to be personal shoppers that affirm choices and boost the confidence of customers during their selection and buying process.

More than any technology, it is the humans in the store that makes the customer feel like the king.

Latest Textile Events

29 March 2023, Mumbai 

Wellness has crossed over from an individual’s lifestyle choice to a booming industry worldwide. The two-year-long lockdown made the world a bit more philosophical as people raised lifestyle issues like personal space, work-life balance, and most importantly holistic well-being.

Prior to the pandemic, the ball had already started rolling as growing consumer awareness, increasing disposable incomes and a desire among millennials to elevate their lifestyle to healthier living had turned the wellness bandwagon corporates worldwide were jumping on to.

One of the fastest growing sectors, the global wellness industry today stands at a whopping $4.2 trillion. In India, the land of yoga and Ayurveda, the sector has clocked in a value of Rs 490 billion.

Benefits for sportswear brands

As per Statista, at the end of 2022, the global sportswear sector was valued at around $319.4 billion and is projected to grow at a healthy compounded annual growth rate of 6.6 percent until 2028.

The reason why sportswear brands are branching out into activewear and athleisure collections is simple when observing how consumers want to spend.

Euromonitor’s 2022 lifestyle survey highlighted, 61 percent of professionals consider a healthy lifestyle one of their top two priorities and show their clothing preferences are less formal, more comfortable, and relaxed and stylish – a significant promise right there for sportswear brands pushing activewear and athleisure.

VIEW FOR MORE

The same report listed India, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, and France as the top 10 countries that have seen an increase in physical activities between 2019 and 2022.

In the US, Target’s activewear brand All in Motion hit $1 billion in sales one year after launching. As per Business Wire, the 10 brands that have gained the most in 2022 from the activewear and athleisure categories are adidas AG, American Eagle Outfitters, Columbia Sportswear, H&M, Lululemon Athletica, Nike, PUMA, Gap, Under Armour and VF Corp.

In India, the biggest retail giant, Reliance Retail is expanding the presence of its high-performance and technologically advanced activewear brand ‘Performax’ through exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) at Reliance Retail’s fashion and lifestyle stores and digital platforms as well as in multi-brand outlets. It already has a presence across over 1,000 stores in 330+ cities.

Just six months back, Van Heusen of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL), a premium lifestyle brand for professionals, entered into the activewear category and launched a new sub-brand Flex.

Luxe athleisure is the fastest-growing fashion category

Modern affluent consumers want more premium fashion choices to be both comfortable and stylish which explains why luxe athleisure is the fastest-growing clothing category in fashion, driven by wellness aspirations and celebrity endorsement on social media.

The luxury wellness economy is booming. Wellness has evolved from an isolated lifestyle choice of a few to a new status symbol and an expression of personal values that spans all sectors – from luxury travel to prestige beauty and high-end fitness.

And of course, athleisure wear to express it all. Luxury fashion and athletic wear are no longer two distinct worlds but a collaboration of chic comfort. The global activewear market is expected to reach nearly $547 billion by 2024, according to Allied Market Research and luxe athleisure will grow at a CAGR of 6.6 percent.

Latest Textile Events

 24 March 2023, Mumbai 

Reliance Retail has announced the opening of GAP's first standalone store in Calcutta at Forum Courtyard Mall on Elgin Road. The store is spread over 5,500 square feet and offers a differentiated shopping experience to Indian consumers.

This move is part of GAP's long-term growth plan in India, and the brand is expected to open more stores in other cities in the country. Since the first GAP store was opened in India in 2015, the brand has been growing steadily in the country. Reliance Retail has played a crucial role in expanding the brand's presence in India by opening 50 shop-in-shop stores since last year.

The standalone stores are now being set up this year to further increase the brand's accessibility for Indian customers.

GAP is a well-known American clothing brand that is famous for its denim and khaki collections. Reliance Retail has brought the brand to India with a partner-based model to increase its presence in the country.

Latest Textile Events

 20 March 2023, Mumbai 

Les Petits, a luxury kidswear brand in India, is taking advantage of the growing market for children's luxury fashion.

Reports suggest that the global kids' apparel market will reach $296.85 billion by 2029, and the luxury fashion segment in India is expected to grow annually by 1.67% between 2022-27.

Swati Saraf founded Les Petits in 2011 to provide luxury fashion for children in India, inspired by the struggles of parents to find luxury products for their children when travelling abroad.

The brand offers clothes, accessories, furniture, high chairs, strollers, prams, toys and jewelry. Les Petits has exclusive rights to sell the kidswear collections of seven brands, including Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Givenchy, Moschino, Bloom, Luna, Kenzo, Janod, KMM, and Charm IT. The company also sells exclusive designs in silverware with Argentor Silver and the limited edition Rajasi Jindal collection.

Les Petits recently launched its fourth store in Hyderabad, and it has an online platform, which has contributed to 20% of overall revenue generation, growing year-on-year. Les Petits is expanding its product offerings by adding toiletries and wooden toys to meet the end-to-end requirements of children.

Latest Textile Events