J Hampstead, renowned for premium suiting and shirting fabrics, launched a unique marketing campaign in Mumbai that seamlessly merged street-level intrigue with digital engagement. The campaign, aimed at reinforcing the brand’s leadership in the luxury fabric and men’s ready-to-wear categories, captivated passersby on Carter Road, Bandra.

A mannequin dressed in J Hampstead’s latest collection stood in a prime location, drawing attention with a mysterious allure. Attached to the mannequin was a card reading, ‘Stealing the Spotlight isn't easy, try with J Hampstead,’ alongside a QR code inviting digital interaction. Curious onlookers scanned the code, leading them to the brand’s online presence, blending curiosity with digital engagement.

Rahul Mehta, a local resident, found the mannequin's unexpected presence intriguing and was particularly impressed by the QR code, which led him directly to J. Hampstead’s Instagram page, enhancing his interaction with the brand.

The campaign generated widespread buzz on social media, with people praising its creativity. This initiative highlights J Hampstead’s philosophy that true luxury goes beyond fabric, it’s about creating an experience.

By merging physical presence with digital interaction, J Hampstead reaffirmed its status as a trendsetter in men’s fashion, encouraging consumers to embrace timeless elegance and superior craftsmanship.

India's handloom sector, a treasure trove of cultural heritage and artistic craftsmanship, is witnessing a revival. With its unique blend of tradition and contemporary designs, the handloom industry is not only contributing significantly to the country's economy but is also fostering sustainable livelihoods for millions of artisans across the nation.

The handloom sector is valued at around Rs 75,000 crores ($10 billion) growing at a steady CAGR of 10-12 per cent. Several factors have contributed to the sector’s growth such as: increasing consumer awareness about sustainable fashion, a revival of traditional crafts, and government support through various initiatives. The industry is a vital component of India's textile sector, contributing significantly to employment generation, particularly in rural areas. It employs over 4.3 million weavers and allied workers, making it the second-largest employment provider in the country after agriculture. The sector's contribution to exports is also noteworthy, with handloom products constituting a significant share of India's textile exports.

A crucial clog in textile industry’s wheel

The handloom sector is a crucial component of the Indian textile industry. It contributes significantly to the country's textile exports and domestic consumption. The sector produces a wide range of textiles, including saris, dress materials, home furnishings, and accessories. Production figures have steadily increased in recent years. Indian handloom products are exported to various countries worldwide. Export volumes and values have shown positive trends. The sector provides direct and indirect employment to a large workforce, contributing to rural development and poverty alleviation.

The government has been actively promoting the development of handloom clusters across the country. These clusters serve as hubs for handloom production, providing weavers with access to infrastructure, technology, and market linkages. Currently, there are over 700 handloom clusters in India, spread across various states. The cluster development approach has led to a significant increase in handloom production and exports. The clusters have also facilitated the preservation of traditional skills and techniques. For example, the 'Pochampally' handloom cluster in Telangana, known for its vibrant Ikat weaves, has witnessed a remarkable transformation due to cluster development initiatives. The cluster has become a thriving center for handloom production, generating employment and income for thousands of weavers. Similarly, Kanchipuram cluster, Tamil Nadu is famous for its silk saris, and has received support for skill development and product diversification.

Handlooms growing popularity in India can be gauged from the fact that several top designers like Ritu Kumar and Anita Dongre have successfully integrated handloom fabrics into their collections, creating a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary style. Similarly brands like Ekaya, Fabindia and Good Earth cater to a niche clientele, offering exquisite handloom products with intricate designs and high-quality materials.

In fact, the handloom market is witnessing a shift towards premium and luxury products, driven by increasing disposable incomes and a growing appreciation for handcrafted goods. Meanwhile, consumers are increasingly conscious of the social and environmental impact of their purchases, making handloom products a preferred choice for their sustainable and ethical attributes.

Government initiative and development of clusters

The government has implemented various schemes under National Handloom Development Programme to support the handloom sector, including financial assistance, skill development programs, and marketing support. It is also promoting the development of handloom clusters to enhance productivity, improve infrastructure, and facilitate market access. And the rise of e-commerce has provided a new platform for handloom weavers to reach a wider audience and sell their products directly to consumers.

India's handloom sector with its tradition, skill, and creativity holds a lot of promise. It not only generates employment and contributes to the economy but also preserves the country's rich cultural heritage. With support and initiatives, the handloom sector is expected to contribute a lot more to India’s overall textile sector.

Embarking on an aggressive expansion, Reliance Retail plans to open over 1,000 stores of its value retail brand Yousta within the next two years.

Launched in Aug’23, Yousta aims to open a new store every few days to compete with Trent’s Zudio. The brand currently operates 55 stores across 27 cities in India. Akhilesh Prasad, President & CEO - Fashion & Lifestyle, Reliance Retail, states, the company plans to expand by a few hundred stores within a year, covering various regions.

Currently the market leader, Zudio boasted of 559 stores as of June 30, 2024, while Shoppers Stop's Intune had 31, and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail’s Style Up had 30.

Besides store network, Yousta also plans to expand its product portfolio beyond apparel to include cosmetics and accessories. The brand has already ventured into footwear and accessories and aims to expand further.

With competition heating up in the value retail space, the brand aims to target the 16-25 age group to boost sales, adds Prasad.

One of India's most trusted brands, Raymond plans to expand its retail network by opening 118 new stores of its premium ethnic wear brand, Ethnix by Raymond. The stores will be opened across 68 cities by 2025.

This initiative will be executed by India’s leading franchise solutions provider Franchise India, through its established franchise network.

The states in which Raymond will open its stores include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra. The brand has selected these locations in order to maximize its reach and cater to India’s diverse demographics.

Raymond’s partnership with Franchise India offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to invest in the premium ethnic wear market. These investors getan access to multiple flexible franchise models (FOFO, COFO, FICO), allowing them to get involved at varying levels and capital investment, to suit individual business goals.

The new Ethnix by Raymond stores will not only boost Raymond’s revenue but also expand its retail presence besides providing direct engagement opportunities with customers across India.

Terming this expansion as a major milestone for both the companies, Gaurav Marya, Founder & Chairman, Franchise India, the shared vision of both the enterprises will provide investors with opportunities to benefit from the premium ethnic wear segment, with the flexibility of multiple franchise models ensuring entrepreneurs tap into the booming premium ethnic wear market by aligning their business objectives with this growth opportunity.

Leading ethnic wear brand Sabhyata has achieved another milestone by opening a new store at the Lulu Mall in Lucknow.

Known for offering traditional yet modern ethnic wear to Indian women, the brand regularly launches its distinguished styles in new markets across India.

First established in 2003 with the opening of its flagship store in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, the brand Sabhyata has now become synonymous with ethnic fashion. It offers a wide variety of garments including kurtas, kurtis, patialas, churidas, salwars, dupattas, etc.

The brand crafts each of its garment pieces with due diligence, focusing on providing stylish, affordable options for women, blending traditional Indian aesthetics with modern-day sensibilities

Expanding its product portfolio, home décor and lifestyle brand India Circus by Krsnaa Mehta has launched its own fashion vertical with a new clothing collection.

Including a wide variety of clothing, the collection offers co-ord sets, kurtis, kaftans for women while the men’s range includes shirts and scarves.

Krsnaa Mehta, Founder, India Circus, more than just clothing, the fashion vertical is an expression of personal style. It celebrates the artistic legacy of India with each of its garment pieces. The collection is available for purchase exclusively on India Circus’s online store.

India's apparel retail landscape is witnessing a fight for dominance between high streets and malls. While malls have long been the preferred destination for shoppers seeking a variety of brands and a curated experience, high streets are seeing a resurgence, due to factors like convenience, affordability, and a personalized shopping experience.

High streets on the rise

High streets are gaining momentum, particularly in Tier II and III cities. The catalyst for growth are many while a growing middle class with higher spending power is driving demand for fashion and apparel in smaller cities. What works for high streets is their convenience and accessibility for local shoppers compared to malls, which are often located on the outskirts of cities. And lower rents and operational costs allow retailers to offer more competitive prices and achieve higher profit margins.

High street retailers mostly have strong community ties and offer personalized service and customized products. What’s more, now high streets are offering competitive retail experience, challenging the dominance of malls. Premium domestic brands including Taneira, Fabindia, American Eagle are looking at high streets for opening new stores even as several MNC brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Jack & Jones are setting up shop on prominent high streets.

A recent study by Knight Frank highlighted that high street retail spaces in India generated an average of Rs 30,893 per sq. ft in 2023, significantly higher than the average for malls. While big brands like Zara avoided high street stores, post-Covid the scenario has changed significantly. With some high streets revamping their parking facilities and offering wider walking bays many retailers including luxury brands are now opening stores there.

Abhishek Sharma, Senior Director, Retail Agency at Knight Frank India points out, the number of luxury brands on high streets has gone up significantly post-Covid. If 100 luxury brands opened shops on high streets pre-Covid, now the number is almost 135 to 140. For example, Brooks Brothers recently opened a store in Bengaluru’s 100 Feet Road, a reflection of the growing popularity of high streets.

Also, the success of local fashion brands like Citykart illustrates the potential of high streets. Citykart, with its focus on affordable fashion and a strong presence in Tier II and III cities, has achieved remarkable growth through its high street strategy.

Table: High streets vs malls

While malls offer higher footfall, high streets can be more profitable due to lower operating costs. Malls generally drive higher sales volumes due to the concentration of shoppers and diverse brand offerings. However, high streets offer higher profit margins due to lower rents and operational costs, even with potentially lower sales volumes. As Anuj Kejriwal, CEO & MD of Anarock Retail points out, occupancy cost has traditionally been higher in malls than in high streets. However, the gap has been reduced significantly for both models to come at par led by the changing dynamics of consumer approach.

The bottomline is high streets are gaining prominence due to evolving consumer preferences and urban regeneration initiatives. Malls face challenges with increasing competition and changing demographics. At the same time, malls remain popular as they provide a one-stop shopping and entertainment destination. However, well-planned high streets with a strong local focus are also emerging in these cities.

The future of fashion retail in India is likely to be a hybrid model, with both high streets and malls co-existing. High streets are expected to continue their growth, with consumer demand for unique experiences and brand-centric environments. Malls will need to adapt by offering more experiential retail, curated brand mixes, and omnichannel strategies to remain competitive.

Luxury clothing brand Ekaya Banaras will showcase its collection of handloom sarees and other fusion style designs at the joint trunk show to be held from Oct 17-19 in Chennai.

To be held in partnership with multi-brand Indian fashion boutique Amethyst, the Trunk Show will offer Chennai’s luxury shoppers a broad selection of festive fashion and gifting choices. It will showcase a wide range from classic Banarasi silk and georgettes to sheer organza and pieces that highlight the time-honored crafts.

Jewelry brand Amrapali will also present its collection of numerous unique items made from rare gemstones and using heritage craft techniques such as Jadau to set the colorful gemstones in gold.

For the first time in the brand’s history, Reid & Taylor launched its shirting range alongside its suiting range in the brand’s Autumn/Winter collection.

The collection was launched during Reid & Taylor’s Autumn/Winter booking conference in Malaysia. Held from June 23-27, 2024, the five-day conference was attended by over 400 channel partners from across India.

Organised by the Finquest Group company, the conference served as a platform to showcase the brand’s latest collections and create a roadmap for the brand's future direction.

Presented by Ajay Agarwal, Group CEO, the new collection reflects Reid & Taylor's commitment to excellence. In this collection, Reid & Taylorfocuseson delivering premium-quality fabric that meets the evolving needs of its consumers, emphasizes Agarwal.

The fashion subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, Aditya Birla Digital Fashion Ventures has acquired an additional stake in the Wrogn, an apparel brand backed by Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

The company increased its stake in the brand from the current 32.84 per cent on a fully diluted basis from 17.10 per cent. The stake was acquired for a capital of Rs 75 crore.

Aditya Birla Digital Fashion Ventures will now own 12,225 compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) in the brand.

Incorporated in 2012, Virat Kohli-backed brand, Wrogn is engaged in manufacturing, marketing, and distribution (both online and offline) of fashion apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand increased its revenues from Rs 344 crore in FY23 to Rs 243 crore in FY24.

Aditya Birla Group's fashion and lifestyle arm TMRW acquired a 16 per cent stake in Wrogn's parent Universal Sportsbiz for Rs 125 crore in June 2024. TMRW owns majority stakes in seven D2C fashion brands for a total investment of Rs 444 crore such as Bewakoof, Urbani, Juneberry, etc.

Sports brand Puma has roped in Bollywood actor Ibrahim Ali Khan as brand ambassador to promote its Palermo range of sneakers in the India.

Besides Khan, the campaign film for the range also features actor Ayesha Kanga along with up-and-coming creators and regional influencers. It has been shot across Mumbai, Kolkata and Shillong.

Karthik Balagopalan, Managing Director, Puma India says, the campaign film showcases a versatile and dynamic lifestyle favored by today’s youth. The new Palermo range by Puma captures India’s distinct cosmopolitan street style, he adds.

Named after the Italian city of Palermo, the Palermo sneaker originated in the 1980s UK terrace culture, where football fans revolutionised style with luxury fashion and high-end trainers. The range is available on the brand’s website and retail stores across India.

One of India’s greatest designers, Rohit Bal presented his latest collection, Kaaynaat: A Bloom in the Universe, at the finale of this season's LFW X FDCI 2024 held at the Imperial Hotel in New Delhi.

The model lineup to showcase the collection aligned perfectly with the designer’s vision as supermodels Lakshmi Rana and Sheetal Mallar created a mesmerising sight with their iconic twirls in Bal's kalidaar dresses.

A poetic tribute to the beauty of nature, Bal's collection featured exquisite hand-painted motifs of roses, peacocks, horses, and parakeets, each piece contributing to the visual feast. The entire showcase was a celebration of nature’s artistry on the runway.

While many designers struggled to make a lasting impression at the fashion show, Rohit Bal proved to be the saving grace at LFW X FDCI 2025. His mastery of craft and storytelling set him apart, leaving fashion enthusiasts in awe.