Designer Meesha and Trisha Khanna, founders of Meesha Scarf, have launched their first apparel collection through their new venture Studio 23.

Studio 23 has launched with a dedicated e-commerce store. Its maiden womenswear collection features sarees as well as kaftans, separates, and wrap dresses in graphic, retro prints. Aiming to be as sustainable as possible, the brand manufactures clothes by using scraps. Inspired by their family’s ‘Shop No 23’ in New Delhi’s Shankar Market, the brand plans to expand its product lines while retaining its roots in the Indian textile industry.

The brand aims to known as a lifestyle fabric store and a one-stop shop for all fabric needs- clothing and home. It recently completed an interior refurbish project in Goa-Amrapali House of Grace, run by Simran Singh.

A strong believer in the adage, never waste a crisis, apparel brand Raymond Lifestyle has set itself on a mission to make a positive impact on the society through its innovative offerings. Led by Joe Kuruvilla, CEO the brand introduced many best-in-class products besides launching new sustainability initiatives last year which helped it achieve a fantastic performance in the fourth quarter. The company also redefined its offerings by pivoting a mixed portfolio including casualwear brands such as ColorPlus, Parx, etc.

A less dressier range of formalwear

Armed with a strong set of ethics, product, quality and manufacturing, Raymond has built a great reputation in the market. The fantastic set of trade partners has helped the brand become a stronger voice in the fashion industry. In future, the brand aims to revamp formalwear offerings by introducing a less dressier range of clothes, Kuruvilla informed Free press journal in an interview. It recently launched a new wedding collection that included more ethnic rather than western garments.

Aiming for a global digital network

Raymond also aims to digitally connect its network of 10-11 manufacturing units across the world to cater to the needs of global consumers. One of its major goals is to convert the 1,500 brick-and-mortar stores into 21st century stores. This would help online consumers click and collect their clothes from a nearby store or get them delivered.

Working for European markets earlier, Kuruvilla had realized consumers were looking for complete solutions rather than just products. At Raymond, he focused on product innovations using tools and automation. The amalgamation of technology with consumer insight along with the adoption of mind-to market strategy helped the brand innovate faster during difficult times. He aims to leverage these technologies to transform Raymond into a 21st century company.

Apparel brand for men Turtle Limited has roped in Kolkata-headquartered Shreyansh Innovations as its creative agency. As part of the mandate, Shreyansh Innovations will handle the creative duties for mainline as well as digital and has already started working on different campaigns for the brand's collections. Shreyansh Innovations has worked with brands such as Lux, Emami, Aqualite, PS Group, 11 Wickets, among others.

In over 25 year journey of Shreyansh Innovations, the agency has successfully completed creative works for over 250 real estate projects across various cities. Having worked with the finest developers and with an extensive team dedicated only for real estate works, Shreyansh Innovations growth in this sector is inevitable. Their contribution in any project starts right from project planning until the development is sold out.

Ananth Narayanan, Former CEO, Myntra, plans to build brands for online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. and Flipkart that would tap into India’s growing e-commerce market.

As per Bloomesberg Quint, Narayanan’s goa is to build technology-led ‘House of brands that’s ready for e-commerce age, built from India but for the global market”.

The startup aims to acquire 50 brands over three years and build the expertise to scale them. He said they’re looking for profitable brands in segments like home, personal care, beauty and apparel that are doing $1-10 million in revenue.

Narayanan who had joined online pharmacy startup Medlife as Co-founder and CEO in 2019, stepped down in March this year following its acquisition by rival Pharm Easy. His latest venture, Mensa Brands has already raised $50 million from the likes of Accel, Falcon Edge Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, and others.

Mensa Brands joins the growing club of startups such as Global Bees, Bzaar, GOAT Brand Labs, 10club among others, that are trying to replicate the success of Thrasio in US.

One of the first apparel groups to go online during the pandemic, Arvind Fashions has launched ‘specially made units’ or ‘SMUs’ to focus on e-commerce operations.

SMUs guarantee full price for garments

As per Kulin Lalbhai, Director, these units will help the company design and sell garments at full price by leveraging data and consumer insights generated by e-commerce channels. During the year ended March 2021, the company’s online channel’s revenues doubled to Rs 705 crore compared to previous year. They also increased their share in the company’s total sales from 14 per cent last year to 32 per cent during FY21.

Of the total online sales generated by Arvind Fashions this year, 35 per cent came from direct-to-consumer channels such as its portals nnnow.com, while the remaining came from third-party portals including Flipkart. Arvind Fashions has had a tie-up with Flipkart for around seven years via various brands such as Flying Machine. The company also received Rs 260 investment from Flipkart for its subsidiary Arvind Youth Brands after the first lockdown. It now plans to launch specially curated products for the online channel to boost profit margins, adds Lalbhai.

Quicker business to cash conversion

Another reason, Arvind Fashions aims to focus exclusively on online business is the speed of this business, says Lalbhai. Each process in this business from receiving orders to being paid for their completion is quicker. The clothes are made as per orders and shipped immediately. Manufacturers also receive their payments on time due to faster cash conversions, adds Lalbhai who focuses on flexible production with low volumes for this business

Even though the company is bullish about online growth, it is not completely ignoring brick-and-mortar stores. The company’s offline retailers plan to open stores gradually in the first week of June, shut since April to control the spread of the second wave in India.

The FY21, Q4 income of India's leading retail store chain V Mart Retail increased to Rs 356 crore compared to Rs 333 crore in the corresponding period of prior fiscal. The company’s EBITDA during Q4 FY21 increased to Rs 34 crore from Rs 28 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Sales reached 110 per cent of the corresponding sales for the same quarter of FY20-21. It also managed to recover footfalls by over 80 per cent for the quarter as a whole. The company is currently concentrating on streetwear, sweatshirts, hoodies and ladies dresses categories, informs Lalit Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director.

During the quarter, the company continued to focus on digitization and strengthening across the front-end and back-end operations with agility, prudence and customer centricity. It aims to create an innovative and compelling shopping experience for its customers by improving its website and mobile app interface.

Global sports brand Puma has extended its partnership with former Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh. As per Business Insider, Singh will now be the face of Puma Motorsport in India and showcase his passion for fast cars and sports-inspired fashion. With this, Singh will also join the brand’s global league of legends like Thierry Henry, Boris Becker and Usain Bolt.

Globally, PUMA is associated with Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, BMW M Motorsport and Porche Motorsport. With India being one of the biggest markets for PUMA motorsport, the brand looks to capitalise on the growing demand for streetstyle products inspired by performance gear.

Abhishek Ganguly, Managing Director, Puma India & Southeast Asia says, Singh’s relentless courage and indomitable attitude perfectly embodies the spirit of the brand. Whether it’s his sporting exuberance or his sense of style, Singh has always been a role model of innumerable Indians. His love for F1, fast cars and orientation towards sports-inspired fashion makes

As per a recent report on crop estimates, Statistics Committee of Cotton Association of India (CAI) expects total cotton stock during the month of May to reduce by four lakh bales to 356 lakh bales of 170 kg each from previously expected 360 lakh bales.

The CAI expects total cotton stock in the North zone to remain static at 65.50 lakh bales while stocks in the Central zone is expected to reduce by one lakh bales to 194 lakh bales down from 195 lakh bales estimated during last month.

Cotton stock in Gujarat is also expected to reduce by one lakh bales while stock in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is expected to remain at the same level as previous month.

CAI expects cotton stock in the Southern zone to reduce by three lakh bales to 91.50 lakh bales.

Based on the data provided by Telengana Cotton Millers & Traders Welfare Association, cotton stock in Telangana is expected to decline by three lakh bales whereas cotton crop stock in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is likely to remain at the same levels as estimated previously. There will also be no change in the cotton stock in Orissa.

Cotton consumption increases to 220 lakh bales

From October 2020 to May 2021, CAI’s total supply of cotton bales was 473.44 lakh cotton bales. These supplied included the cultivation of 340.19 lakh bales upto May 31, 2021, import of 8.25 lakh bales and opening stock of 125 lakh bales.

CAI estimates cotton consumption from October 2020 to May 2021 have reached 220 lakh bales while exports till May 31, 2021 was 58 lakh bales. By the end of May 2021, CAI had 195.44 lakh bales of cotton stock with textile mills and 105.44 lakh bales of stock with CCI, Maharashtra Federation and others.

Export estimates increased

Till the end of cotton season that is September 30, 2021, CAI estimates supply of 491 lakh cotton. Supplies included opening stock of 125 lakh bales, cotton crop for the season at 356 lakh bales and import of 10 lakh bales.

For the entire year upto September 30, 2021, an estimated 325 lakh cotton bales were consumed inIndia. This is 10 lakh bales more than the cotton consumed in previous year on account of brisk demand for cotton yarn despite lockdown and disruptions.

Encouraged by this increase, CAI has increased exports estimate for the season from previous estimate of 70 lakh bales to 72 lakh bales. During 2020-21, CAI estimates India’s cotton production reduced to 356 lakh bales from previous estimate of 360 lakh bales made during the last month

Cotton stock with mills and others

The country’s cotton imports too are expected to fall to 10 lakh bales from previous estimate of 11 lakh bales. Till May 31, 2021, India imported about 8.25 lakh bales while exports increased by 2 lakh bales.

Currently, cotton mills in India have around 90 lakh cotton bales in godowns. This is an average stock for 101 days. On the other hand, CCI, Maharashtra Federation, MNCs, Ginners, Traders, MCX etc, estimated to have a total stock of about 105.44 lakh bales.

In all, spinning mills and stockist have 44 lakh cotton bales with them. As on September 30, 2021, the committee has 94 lakh cotton bales.

Challenging the Karnataka High Court order, Flipkart and Amazon India have appealed to the division bench to stall the Competition Commission of India (CCI) probe on the ecommerce majors. The Karnataka High Court had last week dismissed a plea by Flipkart and Amazon India to stall investigations on them by the CCI on charges of deep discounting and biased treatment towards select sellers.

CCI had had ordered a probe against the two companies in January last year, saying it had "prima facie" evidence to begin an investigation under Section 26 (1) of the Competition Act, 2002. Amazon and Flipkart protested saying the regulator should have consulted the companies and allowed them to make their case before ordering a probe.

Apart from the allegation of deep discounting, small online sellers and offline traders have been complaining of preferential treatment by e-tailers to certain vendors. In this regard, they cited Cloudtail and Appario Retail, among the largest sellers on Amazon India, which also owns minority stakes in them. Certain sellers on Flipkart have also been named in the complaints to CCI, saying they were working very closely with the e-tailer to control inventory and pricing among other things.

Indian apparel company Shiv Naresh has replaced Li Ning as the official sponsor for sporting kits for the Tokyo-bound Indian delegation. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) dropped Li Ning unceremoniously last week after facing uproar for continuing with the Chinese brand apparel despite announcing intention to cut ties last year after the Galwan Valley clash.

Shiv Naresh, one of the regular suppliers of sports kits before IOA’s Rs 6 crore contract with the Chinese company, will supply new kits for the India squad without any branding. The Sports Ministry has given its consent to refund the amount. It is understood that the IOA had to hand Li Ning over Rs20 lakh to break the contract.

The Indian sports apparel company will be paid as there will be no branding on the kits, which will have to be of a new design.

COVID-19 has given Indian textile machinery manufacturers a rare opportunity to expand their share not just in the domestic but also international market. In FY2021, India’s textile machinery exports did not perform as per expectations. As per Textile Value China, machinery exports to all major destinations except Turkey dwindled. Exports to Germany declined to $5 million during the year from $6million in FY20 and $7 million in FY19. Oman imported the least number of machines in FY21 with purchases amounting to $17 million.

Malaysia, the largest importer of textile machinery from India

India’s textile machinery exports to Vietnam dropped from $30 million in FY19 to $15 million in FY20 and further to $6 million in 2021. Exports to the Netherlands also dropped from $20 million in FY19 to $6 million in FY21. Indonesia’s imports dropped from $10 million in FY19 to $9 million in FY20 and further to $7million in FY21. By value, Malaysia was the largest importer of textile machinery from India. Imports increased from $4 million in FY20 to $18million in FY21. Imports by Benin also increased from $2million in FY20 and $1 million in FY19 to $16 million in FY21. Uzbekistan’s import decreased from $19 million to $8 million.

Weaving machine exports to all expect Bangladesh decline

In FY21, India exported weaving machines worth $3 billion to Vietnam. This was a $2 million decline from exports worth $5 billion in FY20. India’s export of weaving machines to UAE and Turkey during FY21 amounted to $2 million while during FY20 it amounted to $1 million. Among these two countries, UAE imported weaving machines worth $19,000 while Turkey imported machines worth $95,000 during FY19. Bangladesh’s import of weaving machines during FY21 increased to $4 million from $2 million in FY20. Exports to Tanzania, Brazil, Egypt and Mexico dwindled by $1 million in FY21 while exports to Indonesia dwindled from $2 million in FY19 and 2020 to $91,000.

Germany imports highest number of knitting machines

Germany emerged the highest importer of knitting machines from India in FY21. The country’s imports of knitting machines increased from $1 million in FY19 and $18,000 in FY20 to $2 million in FY21. The second highest importer of knitting machines from India was Nepal which imported machines worth $45,000 in FY21.

Ethiopia imported knitting machines worth $27,000 in the FY21 while Malaysia imported machinery worth $22,000. Turkey’s import of knitting machines declined to $3,000 in FY21 from $25,000 in 2020. Japan imports declined from $44,000 in FY19 to $16,000 in FY21. Italy’s imports drastically fell from $1 million in FY20 to $3,000 in FY21.

Netherlands tops auxiliary machine imports in FY21

Netherland was the highest importer of auxiliary machines from India in FY21. Imports increased from $14 million in FY19 to $19 million in FY20. Germany’s imports declined from $30 million in FY19 to $10 million in FY21. China’s import of auxiliary machines dropped from $19 million in FY19 to $12 million in FY21. Japan’s imports surged ten times to $10 million in FY21 as did Malaysia’s imports which reached $7 million in FY21 from $1 million in FY20.

Bangladesh’s imports dwindled to $8 million in FY21 from $11 million in FY19. Similarly, Italy’s imports declined from $13 million in FY19 to $7 million in the next financial years. Auxiliary machine imports by Indonesia, Turkey and Singapore declined to $6 million, $5 million and $4 million during the year.

While the pandemic has led to wide decline in demand for textile machinery business, future prospects for India appear to be brighter with the country expected to be one of the leading exporters of textile machines in FY21.