11th October 2021, Mumbai:

Baby and mom products start-up Miarcus plans to strengthen its offline network by adding five new stores in North India this year and expects to clock double-digit growth annually on the back of its retail expansion.

The brand launched a flagship store in Delhi spread across 650 sq ft at DLF Malls of India. It houses products across multiple categories, serving pregnant mothers and kids up to 4 years of age.

Miarcus Gian Singh, Co-Founder says, after a tremendous response to its online shopping platform, the brand aims to tap into this ever-growing demand for comfort and care for new mommies and their babies.

Garima Kaur, Co-Founder and Head-Offline Sales adds, the brand aims to clock in double-digit growth annually for the next three years. In terms of physical stores, it plans to open three more stores across Delhi NCR apart from one each in Lucknow and Jalandhar by December this year.

Co-founded by Gian Singh, Garima Kaur, and Preeti Chugh, Miarcus generates the majority of its sales by selling its products through its website.

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8th October 2021, Mumbai:

The Indian garment sector has requested the government to extend the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) on Rupee Export Credit Pre and Post Shipment for another two years. It will help garment exporting businesses, particularly SMEs, improve their worldwide competitiveness and stay in business.

MSMEs received a 5% interest subsidy on pre-and post-shipment rupee export credit, while non-MSMEs received a 3% interest subsidy till September 30, 2021.

In a letter to Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Raja M. Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA), pleaded for this.

He added that because exporting units do not have a level playing field in the global market when compared to competing countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia, the extension of this scheme for another two years, beginning October 1, 2021, is critical.

This will allow exporting units to plan ahead of time and take orders based on their costs.

Because competitiveness is a major requirement for MSMEs (which account for 95% of apparel exporting units) to survive in the global market at a time when India's competitors enjoy a duty-free status in the EU and UK markets, it is becoming increasingly important for MSMEs to have a level playing field and strive to stay in business.

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07 October 2021, Mumbai:

Considered the finest textiles of the world, Khadi represents true Indian luxury, says Prasad Bidapa, Fashion and Textile Curator. However, over the years, the fabric has lost its shine as young Indians are increasingly attracted by machine-made textiles.

To lure youth back to Khadi, Bidapa launched a project called ‘Rajasthan Heritage Week’ in collaboration with the state government, reports The Times of India. The project aimed to make Khadi and handloom fashionable again. It reinvented the fabric with new designs and styles.

Even now, many young Indian designers like Anushe Pirani are engaged in giving the handcraft fabric a contemporary twist. Pirani uses the fabric to make summer suits. Designer Yadvi Aggarwal, Owner, Yavi, uses Khadi to experiment with new dyeing and printing techniques.

Known as the common man’s fabric, Khadi can easily transform into a modern luxury fabric, says Anita Chandramohan, Owner, Madder Much. It can be complimented with new and intricate designs. However, accessing weavers can prove challenging for brands alongwith the challenges faced due to the high cost of sampling and designing.

Lack of awareness amongst youngsters

Another challenge faced by most Khadi brands is the lack of awareness about the fabric among Indian consumers, says Sujata Keshavan, Founder, Varana, a London-based brand catering to high-end global market. She feels brands need to be educated on the relevance and importance of handwoven textiles in general and Khadi in particular.

Meanwhile Khadi is getting a big push institutionally. Being rustic in texture and with a great ability to absorb moisture, the fabric can be used to create formless garments that are gaining popularity these days. Designer Shruti Sancheti credits this to designers responsible for reviving Khadi in the last two decades. Sancheti herself uses a lot of fresh colors and motifs and better thread counts to create modern, agile and youth-friendly garments.

Misuse of Khadi trademark

In India, the Khadi trademark is owned by the Khadi & Village Industries Commision (KVIC). The commission registered the trademark in three more countries-Bhutan, UAE and Mexico in July 2021. It was earlier registered in six countries including Germany, UK, Australia, Russia, China, and EU.

Aggarwal believes, KVIC’s new marketing strategies limit the growth of the fabric. The commission is known to have sued many designers for using the word ‘Khadi’ to describe their collection. The term Khadi is a generic word describing a handwoven or handspun fabric, she adds.

Keshavan too feels, the term is often misused by Indian designers. They describe their collections as being made from ‘PonduruKhadi ‘or ‘Phulia Khadi,’ which makes it difficult to trace their origins. Sancheti advises the industry to introduce regulations n to maintain quality.

Finding favor with luxury consumers

A premium fabric, Khadi can be transformed into a super luxurious premium fabric with effective promotions, says Aggarwal. For this, KVIC needs to hold a consultative session with designers and implement their suggestions.

To elevate its appeal amongst luxury consumers, designs need to be modernized and refined, adds Keshavan. For a more sustainable future, Indian designers need appreciate traditional handweaving techniques. They need to celebrate Khadi as one of India’s finest fabrics, adds Bidapa.

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11th October 2021, Mumbai:

Union Budget 2021-22 was revolutionary for more than one reason. Not only did it aim to focus on the six pillars of human development including health and wellbeing, and physical and financial infrastructure but also sought inclusive development for aspirational India. One of the highlights was the announcement of the Rs 4,445 crore MITRA scheme to set up mega textile parks across India over the next five years. The scheme aimed to add more jobs in the labor intensive sector besides making textiles more competitive. The scheme was approved by the Union cabinet recently.

Encompassing all sub-sectors

The proposed integrated textile  parks  will  be  developed  under  joint ventures (JVs) between the  Centre  and  partner  state with the latter holding 51 per cent equity. The parks will be constructed by a master developer who will invite investors to set up production units within the parks. The developer will have all development rights within the park and will acquire the park on a 25-year lease extendible by another 25 years. The Central government will fund the park’s internal infrastructure development besides offering ‘competitiveness incentive’ to the production units in the park.

Deeply fragmented, the Indian textile industry has been unable to scale up due to the past policies including those related to the growth of small-scale industries. The government aims to overcome this hurdle through the MITRA scheme. The scheme will encompass all sub sectors including technical textiles. The duration required to set up each park will depend on the time taken by state government to acquire the required 1,000 acre land. Based on this duration, the government will allocate funds to the textile units for a period of five years. Already, 10 states have evinced interest in the scheme. The government will evaluate all proposals before announcing its final decision.

Individual tax benefits for states

The global competitiveness of Indian textile and garment exports is also impacted by rising logistics costs. The MITRA scheme can help resolve this issue by helping businesses scale up and explore raw materials available in the country, opines Ajay Kumar Mall, Managing Director, Mallcom India.

The textile units to be set up under MITRA scheme will enjoy all benefits offered by the states under their textile policy or under their industrial policy. They will also enjoy tax refund benefits offered by the Centre to exporters under the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies scheme, explains Upendra Prasad Singh, Textile Secretary. The scheme will also cover taxes that do not get refunded in the normal course for exporters. It will offer investors a choice between the ‘competitiveness incentive’, or benefits under the PLI scheme.

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8th October 2021, Mumbai:

Business-to-customer event Jashn Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition will organize an ‘October Fling’ shopping event in New Delhi on October 28 at Hyatt Regency.

As per Fashion Network, the fair will offers shoppers a wide range of festive wear options for the Diwali and winter wedding season. It will mainly focus on bridge-to-luxury segment of the market and offer both traditional, western, and fusion styles.

The event will have a strict ‘no mask, no entry’ policy and will also follow full health and safety measures in line with local regulations. Stall booking is currently open for interested brands. Actress Rhea Saggu has been roped in to promote the event.

She recently did a photoshoot wearing a magenta and light pink outfit reminiscent of a modern lehenga by Delhi-based designer Pam Chhatwal with makeup by Bhawna Anand. Jashn has held shopping events in New Delhi since 2020. The shopping fair’s most recent edition took place on August 21 at the city’s Park Inn by Radisson.

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07 October 2021, Mumbai:

Spykar has launched a Chaplin-themed collection to influence the young and restless to take a cue from this classic personality and be motivated and positive even in these tough times of pandemic. Spykar has licensed Charlie’s name and image, as the Little Tramp.

This collection includes Chaplin-themed merchandise such as Charlie’s own sketch and signature printed on t-shirts, Charlie’s quotes and much more. The collection will be available on Flipkart during the Big Billion Day Festive Sale and is available on the Spykar website.

Spykar is India’s leading jeanswear brand for the youth. The brand is synonymous with the ‘Young & Restless’ generation of today. Established in 1992, Spykar has defined the rules of the fashion arena.

Starting as solely a men’s denim brand sold at multi-brand outlets, Spykar has expanded its portfolio to become a one-stop-shop for casual wear ensemble for both men and women available pan India across 230 exclusive outlets, 900+ multi-brand outlets, all key large format stores, and e-commerce portals.

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8th October 2021, Mumbai:

Business-to-business manufacturing giant based in Ludhiana, Trident Group has launched its own direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce portal – myTrident.com. It features products such as towels, bedsheets, bathrobes, rugs and cushions from the house of Trident Group.

The Trident group began with a solitary unit making high-quality yarn. However, in due course, the group catapulted to become the largest manufacturer of terry towels and one of the largest integrated home textile manufacturers in the world; a feat nonpareil. Today, it has travelled far beyond being a home textile manufacturer, by successfully diversifying into paper, chemicals, energy, etc.

From Punjab to the homes of millions of customers across 100 countries, Trident is on a verge of becoming the most trusted brand that takes conscious care of its customers, employees and all stakeholders.

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8th October 2021, Mumbai:

The largest exporter of home textiles after China, India witnessed a significant increase in home textiles shipments this year. As per a Textile Value Chain report, India’s exports of home textiles including blankets and travelling rugs increased to $108.24 million in July 2021 from around $79.01 in June 2020.

Similarly, exports of bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen increased by 81.8 per cent to $1,260 million while exports of curtains, drapes, interior blinds, valances grew 5.20 per cent to $89.35 million. Furnishing exports except for mattresses, also increased to $1,247.32 million from $805.09 million recorded at the end of July 2020.

US, largest importer of blankets and travelling rugs

The US remained the largest destination for Indian export of blankets and travelling rugs. India’s exports of blankets and travelling rugs to the US increased from $9.33 million in the January-June 2020 period to $10.7 million during the corresponding period of June 2021. India’s exports revenues from the US increased from $0.43 in July 2020 to $0.5 million in July 2021.

Australia emerged as the second largest export destination for blankets and travelling rugs from India during the year through its exports declined by 4.9 per cent. In July 2021, India exported $1.74 million worth of blankets and travelling rugs to Australia against $1.83 million exported during July 2020.

Products worth around $1.7 million were exported from India to China, Canada, and Sweden in July 2021 while exports to the UAE increased 13 per cent to $1.56 million during January -July of 2021.

Sharp rise in export of curtains, drapes, interior blinds, valances

India’s exports of curtains, drapes, interior blinds and valances to the US increased 72.71 per cent to $46.51 million in 2021 from $26.93 million in 2020. In both years, the US remained the largest importer in the category.

It was followed by France and Germany with Indian exports to both countries amounting for $6.24 and $5.56 million in July 2021. India’s exports of curtains, drapes, interior blinds and valances to China recorded a marginal increase of 5.2 per cent from January-July 2021.

On the other hand, exports to the UAE dropped 85.51 per cent from $38.37 million in 2020 to $5.56 million in July 2021.

US’ furnishing imports’ share rises

India’s exports of furnishing articles, except mattresses, etc to the US increased to 724.39 per cent by July 2021 from $455.57 million in July 2020. US’s global share in the imports of these products increased to 58.08 per cent. UK’s and Germany’s global share increased 4.95 per cent and 3.49 per cent respectively to $61.72 million and $43.49 million by July, 2021.

The global share of Canada and Australia recorded a massive increase of 94 per cent with imports worth $39.12 million and $37.08 million January-July 2021 period. Imports of UAE and Spain reached $21 million by the end of July 2021. Imports of other countries totaled $235.84 million.

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07 October 2021, Mumbai:

For the first time, Designer Arpita Mehta launched a complete bridal wear line on October 6 at the Fashion Design Council of India x Lakme Fashion Week’s second edition with a future-facing take on the traditional bride’s wardrobe.

Arpita Mehta’s new bridal wear line was designed specifically for intimate nuptials for post-pandemic brides-to-be, the brand announced in a press release. Garments including sleeved boleros with mirror work, lehengas, cholis, and dupattas featuring delicate embellishments and could be worn long after the big day.

The collection has a color palette of classic reds and delicate pastels, hues of dust pink, mint, fuchsia, and scarlet. Textiles include organzas and the mix of traditional craft techniques and minimalism creates a modern take on bridal wear.

Mehta presented the collection in an opulent villa to evoke the feeling of an intimate yet decadent wedding. The presentation and the collection itself both reflect the return of celebrations with a new focus on smaller gatherings with close friends and family

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9th October 2021, Mumbai:

Shahi Exports, India's largest clothing exporter, is recognised for putting a significant emphasis on talent development and employee welfare.

The recent Hunarbaaz Award of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, highlighted this. This prize went to Jhumuri Prashan, Rajeswari, Anusaya Bhoi, Shabnam Khatoon, and Shabnamasha Tuti.

According to the firm, they are women with special needs who were taught at sewing skills training centres.

The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) of the Ministry of Rural Development runs these centres in conjunction with the Government of Odisha's Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and the Jharkhand State Livelihoods Promotion Society.

The business added, "We welcome these young trainees and wish them all the best for their career at Shahi." Under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development, the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, has established the 'Hunarbaaz Puraskar' of DDU-GKY and Self-Employment Training Institute.

The Ministry of Rural Development hosted DDU-Hunarbaaz GKY's Puraskar Samman event on the occasion of Amrit Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Hunarbaaz Puraskar was given to 66 youngsters from 12 states throughout the nation by the Ministry.

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 07 October 2021, Mumbai:

The festive season in India comes as a silver lining amongst the dark COVID-19 clouds that rattled the textile market over the last two years. Not just India, the crisis shook businesses across the world as shops remained closed.

To stay afloat, some retailers shifted their business online while others stuck to physical stores. The festive season presents an opportunity to boost sales. Most people buy new clothes during the season, sending apparel sales to unprecedented heights.

Not just physical retailers but also e-commerce players look forward to this season as an opportunity to attract new customers, says a BW Disrupt report.

Intense competition drive online sales

Realizing the importance of this season, e-commerce players introduce attractive discounts and offers on their platforms. There is intense competition amongst players to attract maximum number of customers. Last season saw almost 75 per cent fashion revenues coming from online sales, a result of a change in mindset of Indian customers. Customers across age groups are driven towards online mode of shopping due to its convenience and transparency.

Rising exports and PLI scheme to drive market growth

Worth $100 billion in FY19, the domestic textiles and apparel market is likely to grow to $190 billion by FY26, as per India Brand Equity Foundation. Rising exports are expected to uplift not just the domestic but also global textile market. Renowned for their unique designs and intricate details, India’s textile exports are likely to grow around 25 per cent this year, as per a recent ICRA report.

The newly introduced PLI scheme has reduced taxes on raw materials, encouraging more entrepreneurs to invest in the textile business. Reduction in raw materials costs will automatically decrease fabric and price of end garment. This will enable more customers to purchase these products.

Building businesses with festive sales

Discounts are the best way to boost festive sales, believe retailers. Online retailers regularly use discounts to attract new customers and broaden their client base. These discounts help them attract value seekers looking for good quality products at low prices.

Even difficult times can help retailers grow their business by maintaining a positive outlook, and planning and executing sales carefully. They can use the festive season to convert their current losses into profits and build future business.

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07 October 2021, Mumbai:

Designer Tarun Tahiliani launched a new collection ‘The Reunion’ at the second edition of the Fashion Design Council of India and Lakme Fashion Week’s joint showcase on October 5. At FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week, Tahiliani presented a vibrant preview of his men's and women’s wear collection with snippets from his full fashion film.

The preview showed a riotous party, models gracefully wandering around pristine gardens, and a sumptuous banquet. The full version of the fashion film will be shown on day two of the fashion week, October 7, to showcase the full story of the collection.

The Reunion was inspired by heritage Indian craft techniques, motifs, and traditional architecture. With classic traditional silhouettes and opulent embellishments, the collection was a classic rendition of the desi splendour Tahiliani has become known for.

Running till October 10, FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week is broadcasting shows on the FDCI’s website and social media platforms including Facebook. The fashion show’s sponsors include Nexa, Rise Worldwide, Ajio, and Trell, etc. It will feature designers and brands including JJ Valaya, Arpita Mehta, Mohammed Mazhar, and finale designer Gaurav Gupta.

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