28th September 2021, Mumbai:

Levi Strauss & Co (LS&Co.) has released its 2020 sustainability report, which covers the business's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance as well as relevant events affecting the company and stakeholders during the year.

“Our sustainability approach centers on three key pillars - climate, consumption, and community – that include where we are investing our energy and how we perceive our duties in and beyond this moment,” said Chip Bergh, the company's CEO.

To realize our goals, we will continue to strengthen each pillar, working with humility and honesty to make substantial progress while changing our efforts to guarantee that our company becomes more sustainable day by day.”

This is the company's first comprehensive sustainability report, with a comprehensive set of disclosures tailored to suit the demands of all stakeholders.

By 2025, the business says it will have met its science-based objectives for lowering GHG emissions in its owned-and-operated facilities and worldwide supply chain, as well as fulfilling its renewable power ambitions.

By 2020, 83% of its cotton (the most often used raw material) would have come from more sustainable sources, and the denim behemoth would have increased its efforts toward a circular economy.

Suppliers had active worker well-being services at 118 sites with over 195,400 workers by the end of 2020, encouraging gains in engagement, satisfaction, and absenteeism.

In India, nine plants in the LS&Co. supply chain have received the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) certification.

The firm also operates retail locations in India, and a recent breakthrough, pre-fabricated fitting room walls, allowing the company to carry the walls with it if it moves to a new site, avoiding the waste involved with disposing of the old ones and utilizing resources to construct new ones.

This is being done in the company's stores in India as of mid-2021, with plans to spread the usage of pre-fabricated fitting room walls to additional areas in 2022. The firm has 484 clothing factories and 75 mills across the world.

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4. Maharashtra government honors VIP as 'Best Innerwear Brand' for 2021-22

5. Nike strengthens retail presences with new store at DLF Mall of India,Noida

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24th September 2021, Mumbai:

On Thursday, French Connection announced it had received a buyout offer from a consortium of buyers that included its second-largest shareholder, pushing the ailing UK fashion retailer's London-listed shares up 15%.

According to Reuters estimates, the offer of 30 penny shares from a consortium including Apinder Singh Ghura, Amarjit Singh Grewal, and KJR Brothers Ltd puts the formerly dominating player in British fashion at around 29 million pounds ($39.6 million).

The offer price is 30% more than French Connection's closing price on Wednesday.

According to Refinitiv statistics, Ghura is the company's second-biggest stakeholder with a 24.95 percent interest, while founder and CEO Stephen Marks remains the company's largest shareholder with a 41.5 percent stake.

The consortium is still being talked to, according to French Connection. After investment companies Spotlight Brands and Gordon Brothers withdrew out of early discussions to buy the company, it began looking for new bidders earlier this year.

French Connection, previously famed for its daring "FCUK" apparel line, has not been profitable in a decade, and the COVID-19 epidemic has further exacerbated sales.

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5. GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA HONOURS KAPIL PATHARE WITH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND VIP INNERWEAR AS BEST BRAND 2021-22

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23rd September 2021, Mumbai:

Kidswear brand Chiccohas launched its new Autumn/Winter collection catering from newborn kids to 5 year olds. It is designed keeping quality and comfort of the child as paramount hence leaving parents assured.

As per Textile Value Chain report, Chicco’s new range is made up of soft, high-quality fabrics such as interlock, velour, fleece, faux fur, woolen blends exclusively available in the cheerful colors like red, yellow, navy, green, pink and blue etc. The collection comprises of outfits such as trendy t-shirts, jeans, dresses, convenient sets, babysuits along with a wide range of winterwear apparels such as sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets and accessories, all catering to the needs of a fashionable yet functional wardrobe for your baby.

The range also has vivid designs and prints, embroidery, appliques, fur trimmings, bows and designs which are developed to the smallest of the details keeping in mind the comfort of the kid. We believe that a parent always looks for the most delicate, soft and natural fabrics that the little one can wear all day long and feel comfortable. Therefore, the collection features styles made with Bio-cotton which is environment friendly and supports sustainability at large.

Since inception, Chicco has been working towards offering premium and safe products in baby care industry; it brings certified quality of Oekotex Standard 100 which ensures complete comfort and safe to wear clothing. The brand ensures that all the clothes are extensively tested before reaching the stores making it the best-in-class choice for your kid’s sensitive skin.

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27th September 2021, Mumbai:

VIP Innerwear was named the best innerwear brand for 2021-22 by the government of Maharashtra at an event hosted by the Global India Business Forum on September 23, 2021. Kapil Pathare, Director, VIP Clothing was felicitated with the ‘Business Excellence and National Achievers Award.

He was honored for leading an impressive transformation of VIP Clothing and infusing dynamism in the company since taking over in 2001.

From a traditional manufacturer-marketer-distributor of innerwear, he transformed the company into a modern and market-savvy organization. The robust infrastructure, dedicated team, able leadership, and right attitude helped the company succeed and excel.

Engaged in manufacturing and marketing innerwear, lingerie, readymade garments, socks, and other accessories, VIP helps brands grow from mass brands to premium brands. VIP Clothing is present throughout the spectrum of the innerwear industry, with VIP innerwear in budget and economy segment straddling across all demographic segments.

Frenchie is the generic brand in briefs that owns the crown of transformation of the traditionally conservative innerwear market. Frenchie X is present in the premium segment for youth where most of the action is seen a lot of international brands are trying to enter.

The group has a dealer network of 550 and 110,000 retail outlets in India alone with scope for further growth, which the group is intent on exploiting. VIP Clothing today boasts of six regional offices with a sales force of over 150 highly motivated individuals marketing our products throughout the major towns.

Dear Reader, we at DFU Publications are committed to providing the latest news updates on trade development and insights, to keep our readers informed. Stay tuned. Subscribe to our newsletter.  

TOP 5:

1. Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce company, collaborates with PUMA on the ‘1DER' line, which features batsman KL Rahul

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3. Myntra to offer 1 mn styles from about 7,000 brands at the 'Big Fashion Festival'

4. Maharashtra government honors VIP as 'Best Innerwear Brand' for 2021-22

5. Nike strengthens retail presences with new store at DLF Mall of India,Noida

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22nd September 2021, Mumbai:

Material subsidiary of Future Lifestyle Fashions, Future Specialty Retail (FSRL) has received notices for termination of agreements for use of Brand Lee Cooper for apparel and footwear. The notice has been sent by the license owner on account of default in financial impact amid pandemic. The license owner has denied FSRL’s request to restore license.

In turn, FSRL has negotiated with present licensee to continue to have distribution rights for Indian territory to distribute products under the Brand Lee Cooper through its owned and third-party (excluding licensee) offline stores The company’s management team observed that all adequate steps are being taken to restore the equivalent size and scale of business and re-align its operations under the proposed distribution rights. The management envisaged that the termination notice would not have any significant impact on its business operations.

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27th September 2021, Mumbai:

Strengthening its retail presence in India, Sportswear major Nike has added a new store in the national capital region of Noida. As per Fashion Network, the new two-story, 743-square-meter store is located at DLF Mall of India offering an extensive range of Nike merchandise in the region for men, women, and kids.

Tarundeep Singh, Senior Director, Nike India, says, the brick-and-mortar spaces remain integral for consumers to achieve the best brand experience. With the opening of Nike at Mall of India, the brand is set to propel its consumer-direct strategy through the integration of digital and physical retail.

The best Nike products and offerings have been carefully selected for this community, and the store has been conceptualized with multiple touchpoints for a fully immersive and seamless Nike experience that is personalized and unique, he adds.

Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Nike continues to strengthen its retail and digital presence as it sees huge growth potential in the Indian market in the next few years.

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4. 'Manyavar-Mohey' receives flak for advertisement featuring Alia Bhatt

5. GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA HONOURS KAPIL PATHARE WITH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND VIP INNERWEAR AS BEST BRAND 2021-22

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23rd September 2021, Mumbai: 

Metro Brands’ sub-brand Mochi Shoes has launched a new collection of sustainable shoes made from recycled plastic. Titled, 'Ecoz', the collection is made by converting discarded PET bottles into recycled yarn which, is converted into fabrics to manufacture shoes, reports Fashion Network.

Priced Rs 2,890 onwards, the collection will available be in over 100 stores across India. It will also be available on leading e-commerce platforms across the country.

First opened in Bengaluru, Mochi has over 104 outlets spread over more than 50 cities throughout the country. It offers a wide range of shoes. Customers can also find boots, loafers and corporate casuals to wear for semi-formal events and office team outings.

They are available in shades like black, brown, white and even blue denim.

Apart from this, Mochi also offers comfortable floaters in leather designs, casual floaters with midsoles and sandals in ethnic materials to wear with sherwanis and other Indian outfits.

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4. 'Manyavar-Mohey' receives flak for advertisement featuring Alia Bhatt

5. GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA HONOURS KAPIL PATHARE WITH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND VIP INNERWEAR AS BEST BRAND 2021-22

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22nd September 2021, Mumbai:

Mochi Shoes, a sub-brand of Indian footwear retailer Metro Brands, has developed the 'Ecoz' range of sustainable shoes manufactured from recycled plastic.

The Ecoz line, according to Mochi, is produced from discarded PET bottles by turning them into recycled yarn, which is then turned into materials to make shoes. “We thought about what we can do as a brand to be more sustainable and came up with this concept to manufacturing shoes out of recycled plastic,” Alisha Malik, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for Metro Brand Ltd said in a statement.

We think that saving the future may be accomplished by recycling the present. The Ecoz range of shoes is all about appreciating the environment, so let's all be wonderful and rescue the earth together.” The Ecoz collection will be sold at over 100 outlets throughout India and will start at Rs 2890 ($40).

The collection will also be sold on major e-commerce sites around the country.

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25th September 2021, Mumbai:

India’s biggest sportswear brand by revenue, Puma has roped in cricketer KL Rahul to roll out 1DER, an affordable range of athleisure brand. Priced to woo masses—from Rs 1,499 to Rs 4,999—1DER includes a wide array of footwear and apparel for men, and would be rolled out on Flipkart.

The launch also marks a decade of partnership between the homegrown ecommerce player and Puma.

For Flipkart, an affordable and stylish athleisure brand makes immense business sense as it will help the company to bridge the gap between metros and Tier II and beyond, where people seek the best of current fashion trends but have limited access from a selection, range and affordability perspective.

As a category, sportswear and athleisure have seen phenomenal growth on Flipkart, close to 60 per cent over last year. While the pandemic forced people to work from home and prioritise their health and fitness, athleisure fashion made most of the tailwinds.

1DER aims to cater to the needs of young working professionals and college students, says Abhishek Ganguly, Managing Director, Puma India.

TOP 5:

1. 'CMAI' urges government to review GST rates increase on fabrics and garments

2. Raymond launches new collection with designer 'Suket Dhir'

3. Amitabh Bachchan roped in as 'VKC Group’ new brand ambassador

4. 'Manyavar-Mohey' receives flak for advertisement featuring Alia Bhatt

5. GOVERNOR OF MAHARASHTRA HONOURS KAPIL PATHARE WITH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AND VIP INNERWEAR AS BEST BRAND 2021-22

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23rd September 2021, Mumbai:

Men’s fashion and lifestyle brand Villain Lifestyle plans to soon launch a campaign featuring its Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt as new brand ambassador.

The men’s lifestyle brand plans to make deeper inroads in the fashion market by entering new product categories like footwear and accessories. It currently offers perfumes, hoodies, and t-shirts.

A D2C (direct-to-consumer) brand, Villain is exploring synergies with major e-commerce players to widen its reach in the country. The brand is the latest venture of entrepreneurs AshutoshValani&Priyank Shah, in partnership with KGF-famed Rocking Star Yash.

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22nd September 2021, Mumbai:

On the strength of strong holiday season sales, Woodland, the top footwear and performance gear brand, expects sales to recover in the current fiscal year.

The Aero Group owns the brand, which intends to expand its offline network to boost sales and anticipates more foot traffic following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions across the country.

Woodland has approximately 500 company-owned stores and 5,000 multi-retail outlets across India and will celebrate three decades in the industry next year.

By the fiscal year 2025, it aims to reach revenues of Rs. 2,500 crore (US $ 346.2 million).

In FY2019-20, the firm made about Rs. 1,200 crore (the US $ 163 million), but in the pandemic-hit FY2020-21, the figure was closer to Rs. 700 crore.

It is now evaluating its offline retail strategy and plans to open more locations beginning next year.

“If the Diwali season goes well and our online partners like Amazon and Flipkart, who have big plans for the upcoming festive season, also do well,” Harkirat Singh, the company's MD, told a news agency, “then the business will be back to normal and we will try to achieve the same target that we achieved in FY2019-20.”

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