21 November 2024, Mumbai

Global denim brand Wrangler plans to launch a special collection of co-branded merchandise in partnership with Indian café chain Social. Unveiled at an event in Mumbai, the collection showcases the fusion of two brands that emphasise creativity and urban culture.

This collaboration brings together two dynamic brands that celebrate self-expression and creativity. It curates an experience that embodies the pulse of the city and the spirit of adventurous optimism, says Nitin Chhabra, CEO, Ace Turtle, the exclusive licensee of Wrangler in India.

Comprising a variety of apparel, the collection features oversized tees and sweatshirts for men and cropped tees for women. Each of the garment pieces in this collection has been embellished with unique illustrations that blend Wrangler’s adventurous spirit with Social’s vibrant, nightlife-inspired aesthetic.

Divya Aggarwal, Chief Growth Officer, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality, the parent company of Social, highlights, the café-chain’s co-branded merchandise with Wrangler blends music, fashion, and culture into a tangible form. Together, the two brands offer a unique way to celebrate the adventurous spirit and urban creativity that define them.

The exclusive merchandise is available across India at all Wrangler retail stores, select department chains like Lifestyle and Shoppers Stop, as well as online through Wrangler’s official India website. Additionally, customers can order the collection using QR codes available at SOCIAL outlets.

An iconic American denim and workwear brand established in 1947 by Blue Bell, Wrangler is owned by Kontoor Brands Inc, a US-based company that also manages the denim label Lee. In 2021, Kontoor Brands transferred its operations in India for Lee and Wrangler from a direct ownership model to a franchise structure, partnering with retail tech company Ace Turtle.

Bengaluru-headquartered Ace Turtle, is the exclusive licensee for several global brands in India and other South Asian markets, including Toys’R’Us, Babies’R’Us, and Dockers.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) concluded the second consecutive edition of the Brands of India trade show with remarkable success. The event, held in Dubai, showcased over 150 Indian clothing brands and white label manufacturers, marking India’s growing dominance in the global apparel sourcing market.

A vast array of apparel on display

The trade show offered a diverse range of apparel across men’s, women’s, and kids wear, including casual, ethnic, formal, denim, athleisure, winterwear, sleepwear, innerwear, tops, bottoms, scarves, socks, and more. The exhibition demonstrated the latest trends and innovative designs from India, which continues to be a preferred sourcing destination for global buyers.

Over 2000 visitors from 60 countries attended the event, further solidifying India’s appeal as a key supplier of quality apparel. Buyers from regions such as the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Greece, South Africa, and beyond, interacted with Indian manufacturers to source premium clothing. The presence of leading retailers, wholesalers, and importers underscored India’s status as a leading sourcing hub.

India's apparel exports growth

Despite global disruptions in key manufacturing hubs like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China, India's apparel export sector is on the rise. Total Indian Apparel exports are projected to reach US$ 17 billion in 2024, marking a 5-7 per cent increase from the previous year. The show also highlighted India’s increasing trade ties with the UAE, which are expected to be further boosted by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Santosh Katariya, President of CMAI, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the show, highlighting the strong participation and the high volume of order bookings and leads generated. "The diversity, competitive pricing, and quality of Indian apparel have been clearly showcased, and we are confident that this will drive further growth in our export markets," he said.

India's appeal as a sourcing hub is driven by its cost-effective labor, flexibility in production, quality control, competitive pricing, and efficient logistics systems. Exhibitors from prominent manufacturing cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Tirupur, Bengaluru, and New Delhi presented a broad spectrum of high-quality products, reflecting India's diverse manufacturing capabilities.

Positive feedback from international buyers

International buyers like Mujeeb Rehiman from Lulu Group International, UAE, praised India’s competitive advantages over China due to lower manufacturing costs and environmentally compliant factories. Rosalin Wambui Wamwiria from Kenya expressed satisfaction with the broad variety of apparel available, particularly kidswear, and expressed interest in introducing samples to her local markets.

Several exhibitors, including ColourHunt from Ahmedabad, shared their success stories of expanding their market presence across the Gulf region, Europe, and Africa. Nirav Sanghvi of ColourHunt noted that the show provided an excellent opportunity to connect with new buyers and distributors. Similarly, exhibitors like Ankhua Group and Maven reported positive engagement and significant leads that are expected to convert into orders.

Conclusion and future prospects

With the backing of the Ministry of Textiles, the Government of India, AEPC, and other key organizations, Brands of India has set a strong precedent for future editions. As Indian apparel continues to make a mark on the global stage, events like this will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the country’s garment export sector. The show’s growing importance for international buyers is expected to yield an estimated US$ 350 million in business over the next three years.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

Apparel brand Blackberrys plans to launch its new brand film and campaign along with its wedding collection in partnership with US based communications agency Leo Burnett.

Catering to modern, aspirational men, Blackberrys’ new wedding collection offers a range of suits and caters. The campaign for this collection focuses on using clothing to communicate authenticity and shows a ‘Blackberrys’ man at various points during an Indian wedding ceremony. It is driven by a powerful insight- ‘the best style statement is being yourself.’

The wedding collection enables customers to not just look good but also feel good - allowing them to move with confidence.

Launched in 1991, Blackberrys currently has over 390 brick-and-mortar stores along with more than 1,300 retail touch-points spread across India. The business aims to celebrate individuality and focus on craftsmanship.

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21 November 2024, Mumbai

Expanding its products offering, apparel brand Zero Tolerance has launched a new winter capsule range for men and women. Merging eco-conscious production with fusion style design, the collection also marks the label’s foray into everyday wear.

Comprising over 90 per cent handmade garments crafted from organic cotton, the collection for the first time utilises stonewash finishes on organic fabrics. Traditionally reserved for denim, this innovative finishing technique signifies the brand’s dedication to conscious production at every stage.

Featuring elements of patchwork, the collection also adds textures to its garments. The outerwear in this collection has been made using traditional style Aari and Zardozi embroidery techniques. Inspired by heritage Kalamkari designs, the motifs add a touch of history to Zero Tolerance’s youthful separates. A few of the notable items in the collection include double breasted blazers, graphic sweaters, and patchwork trousers in a colour palette of monochrome and neutral hues.

The brand Zero Tolerance was founded by Prakhar Rao, Designer and Creative Director to showcase South-Asian history and heritage in a modern way. The brand showcased its collection ‘Karm’ during the recent London Fashion Week 2024. Generates zero industrial pollution, the brand’s production process causes no depreciation of natural resources, says the label.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

Beverly Hills Polo Club, under Apparel Group, is championing breast cancer awareness this October through two impactful initiatives in the UAE and GCC. With 23 stores in the UAE and 126 across the GCC, the brand is leveraging its extensive reach to drive awareness and raise funds.

In partnership with the Al Jalila Foundation, Beverly Hills Polo Club will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of pink items at its Dubai Mall outlets. This initiative combines fashion with philanthropy, encouraging shoppers to contribute to breast cancer support through their purchases.

The brand is also participating in the Ladies Charity Cup at the Al Habtoor Polo Club, an exclusive polo event spotlighting top female players. Contributions from the event will promote breast cancer awareness and showcase the brand’s commitment to women’s empowerment in sports.

Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting important causes such as breast cancer awareness and contributing positively to the community.

Beverly Hills Polo Club continues to strengthen its reputation as a socially responsible brand by aligning with meaningful causes and fostering community engagement, embodying Apparel Group’s broader philanthropic vision.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

Fashion brand Beyoung has teamed up with e-commerce platform Noon.com for its debut in the Middle East market. Launched in 2017, Noon will support Beyoung’s foray into key regions including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt as a part of the brand’s global expansion strategy, which aims to open 300 stores worldwide over the next three years.

Shivam Soni, CEO and Founder, Beyoung, says, the UAE has a significant, untapped market of consumers looking for value-for-money premium fashion, and Beyoung’s entry into this region marks a crucial step toward reaching the global mass market, including underrepresented Tier II, III, and IV cities.

Founded in 2018 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Beyoung currently has a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Rs 200 crore, aims to achieve a GMV of Rs 600 crore within the next three years.

The brand has already established a physical presence in several Indian cities, including Udaipur, Bhilwara, Kota, and Lucknow. As India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) market continues to grow, it is expected to reach $100 billion by 2025, driven by an expanding base of around 200 million digital shoppers.

By entering the Middle East through its partnership with Noon, Beyoung positions itself to capture a broader international audience while continuing to grow domestically in India's booming e-commerce and fashion sectors.

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21 November 2024, Mumbai

Indian menswear brand Snitch has expanded its retail operations by launching its 32nd India store in Kalyan.

Located on the ground floor of Kalyan Metro Junction Mall, the store is spread across 2.070 sq ft and caters to the growing demand for contemporary men’s fashion in the Kalyan region

Launched to address the style needs of Kalyan’s fashion –conscious consumers, the store offers a wide range of menswear options including elevated basics and versatile everyday wear. Its opening is a significant milestone in the brand’s journey and makes the brand’s unique styles available to customers, says Siddharth Dungarwal, Founder and CEO.

Snitch’s expansion into Kalyan also emphasises its commitment to reshaping men’s fashion retail in India. Renowned for its modern styles and distinctive designs, the brand strengthens its market position with each of its new store launch. Reflecting its focus on quality and contemporary style, the new Kalyan store is yet another step in Snitch’s strategy to bring its unique menswear collections closer to customers.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

A premium fashion and lifestyle brand from Reliance Retail, Azorte has debuted into the Amritsar market with its first store in Nexus Mall, Rajinder Nagar.

The expansive 18,000 sq ft store represents a fusion of contemporary fashion, technology, and sustainability, aimed at redefining the modern retail experience. The store blends cutting-edge fashion, tech, and sustainability into a space that redefines modern retail, says Hari Krishnan, Head-Visual Merchandising, Azorte.

Tailored to meet the diverse fashion and lifestyle needs of women, men, and children, the store boasts of advanced features like smart trial rooms, self-checkout kiosks, interactive screens, and mobile scan-and-pay options, designed to enhance customer convenience and engagement.

Making its debut in September 2022, Azorte launched its first store in Bengaluru. The brand now operates over 15 stores across major cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune.

Parent company, Reliance Retail plans to open 250 Azorte stores within the next two to three years as part of its aggressive expansion strategy.

A subsidiary of Reliance Industries, Reliancce Retail manages a portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands such as Reliance Trends, Avantra by Trends, Fashion Factory, and Centro. The company’s omnichannel network spans over 18,771 stores across grocery, consumer electronics, fashion, lifestyle, and pharmaceutical sectors.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

A leading textile and garment manufacturer, Suditi Industries has acquired Gini & Jony, a renowned children’s wear brand with a 44-year history in India. This acquisition supports Suditi’s goal to strengthen its presence in the kidswear market, utilising its integrated manufacturing capabilities, advanced supply chain, and technology-driven strategies.

Through this acquisition, Suditi aims to transform Gini & Jony into a major player in the kidswear sector. The company plans to expand the brand’s reach through an omni-channel strategy that includes Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs), Large Format Stores (LFS), and e-commerce platforms. It will merge Gini & Jony’s longstanding heritage with Suditi’s operational expertise to redefine the kidswear landscape in India and enhance value for shareholders.

Highlighting the importance of this acquisition, Pawan Agarwal, Managing Director, Suditi Industries, states, the brand’s legacy aligns perfectly with the company’s vision to dominate the kidswear segment, especially in the wake of the market’s post-COVID recovery. Suditi Industries will reinvigorate the brand by merging its heritage with the company’s capabilities to offer exceptional quality to the Indian market.”

Suditi's extensive manufacturing capacity will help drive Gini & Jony's growth, with the company capable of producing over 100,000 garments daily. This scale translates to approximately Rs 6 crore in daily sales potential, underscoring the opportunity to expand Gini & Jony’s market presence, adds Agarwal.

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21 November 2024, Mumbai

The 2024 festive season has given a huge boost to India’s online retail sector. Criteo, the global commerce media company, has released its latest findings on the festive shopping, revealing big sales, evolving consumer journeys, and key trends across product categories.

Online sale sees a jump

Average online retail sales during the peak Diwali week (October 25-31) saw a remarkable 14 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Online traffic to retail sites too saw an impressive 42 per cent rise in October compared to September. But what was interesting is that shoppers in India took an average of 15 days from initial product view to final purchase, highlighting a thoughtful approach to festive spending. Some shoppers even took over six weeks to make their decisions, the study shows. Consumer electronics with 41 per cent and fashion 20 per cent dominated online shopping carts in the weeks leading up to Diwali.

Table: Category wise sales performance

Criteo's data reveals a fascinating trend, the emergence of the ‘Long Diwali’ shopper. These consumers begin browsing for Diwali gifts and necessities weeks in advance, carefully considering their options before making a purchase. One shopper Criteo tracked first viewed a high-end smartphone on September 12th. They revisited the product page several times over the next six weeks, comparing prices and reading reviews before finally purchasing it on October 28th, just days before Diwali. This behavior underscores the increasing importance of retargeting strategies and personalized recommendations for retailers.

Festive shopping trend this season has highlighted the continued growth of e-commerce in India. The extended consideration period highlights the need for retailers to engage shoppers throughout their journey, providing relevant information and offers at each touchpoint. Criteo's insights provide valuable guidance for retailers as they navigate the evolving Indian e-commerce landscape. By understanding consumer behavior and leveraging data-driven strategies, businesses can optimize their campaigns and capitalize on the growing opportunities in this dynamic market.

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20 November 2024, Mumbai

Rising pollution levels in North India have impacted footfalls in malls across Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, and tier 2 cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, and Chandigarh. Despite the drop, many shoppers are choosing malls over high streets due to their enhanced air quality measures.

Harsh Vardhan Bansal, co-founder of Unity Group, noted a decline in footfall as people choose to stay indoors due to poor air quality. However, he highlighted that serious shoppers are gravitating toward malls, attracted by their safer indoor air environment.

Malls in the NCR region are deploying advanced HVAC systems with HEPA filters to ensure indoor AQI remains between 30-40, even as outdoor AQI averages around 300. Select City Walk in Delhi uses centralized filtration systems and real-time monitoring to enhance customer trust, according to JayenNaik, COO, Nexus Select Trust.

Efforts to engage visitors include promoting sustainability practices like carpooling and public transport, said Naresh Tyagi of Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.

With pollution driving many residents to the hills or indoors, industry leaders are bracing for continued disruptions during this crucial festive quarter.

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19 November 2024, Mumbai

India's luxury market is growing with the allure of brand-new, sparkling luxury items remaining strong and along with it a new trend is emerging, where pre-owned luxury items are becoming trendy. Driven by a combination of sustainability concerns, the rise of Gen Z, and the convenience of e-commerce, this segment is expected to grow significantly in coming years.

A market ripe for taking

Currently valued at $618 million, the pre-owned luxury market in India is projected to reach 1.56 billion by 2032, at CAGR of 10 per cent. This increase is due to factors like acceptance of pre-owned luxury goods across diverse categories, from watches and handbags to jewelry, fashion, and even art and antique furniture. Tata CLiQ Luxury's foray into the pre-owned market exemplifies this trend. Launched earlier this year, the platform already boasts of an impressive catalogue of high-end brands like Rolex, Omega, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. By focusing on stringent quality checks and transparent product information, Tata CLiQ Luxury is successfully building consumer trust in the pre-owned segment.

Table: Pre-owned luxury market growth

(Source: Industry research and analysis, estimates based on market trends)

There are several factors contributing to the pre-owned luxury market in India. Sustainability is a major one. Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their consumption habits. Pre-owned luxury offers a sustainable alternative, promoting circular fashion and reducing waste. Then there is the whole aspect of Gen Z influence. This digitally native generation, known for its strong values around sustainability and ethical consumption, is a key driver of the pre-owned luxury trend.

E-commerce boom is another catalyst with platforms like Tata CLiQ Luxury, Ajio Luxe etc offering convenient and trustworthy channel for buying and selling pre-owned luxury goods, ensuring authenticity and quality. And pre-owned luxury often provides access to rare, discontinued, or vintage pieces, offering a unique appeal and a sense of exclusivity.

Global overview

Globally, the pre-owned luxury market has taken off in a big way. As per Blueweave Consulting the worldwide market is expected to reach $50.22 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.32 per cent. This growth is due to similar factors as in India, with sustainability and value consciousness playing significant roles.

However, the promising outlook is not all positive as the pre-owned luxury market in India faces many challenges. First is the concern around authenticity and quality. Platforms need to invest in robust authentication and quality control measures to alleviate these concerns. Also its important to change perceptions as the traditional association of luxury with newness needs to be addressed. Educating consumers about the benefits of pre-owned luxury is crucial.

However, these challenges also present opportunities. For example, blockchain technology can be leveraged to ensure product authenticity and traceability, boosting consumer confidence. Moreover, collaborations between luxury brands and pre-owned platforms can further legitimize the market and drive growth.

The bottomline is pre-owned luxury market in India is expected to grow as sustainability concerns continue to increase, Gen Z's influence expands, and e-commerce platforms innovate, this segment is set to become a major force in the Indian luxury landscape. By addressing the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities, the pre-owned luxury market can create a more sustainable and inclusive luxury ecosystem in India.

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