Classic American shoe brand, Rockport is debuting into the Indian market in partnership with Brandman Retail. The brand aims to reach 19,000 pin codes in the country through major online retailers including Flipkart, Tata CLiQ Fashion and Luxury, Nykaa Fashion and Men, Myntra, and Brandman's own website.

Kashika Malhotra, Head -Business Development, emphasizes, Rockport’s quality and innovative designs,these prove as a perfect fit for the growing demand for high-quality footwear in the region. They plan to launch this iconic brand in South Asia to emphasize on its blend of performance, comfort, and style.

The brand’s debut collection targets the modern consumer who needs shoes that can handle the demands of work, casual outings, and travel. Besides India; Rockport's also expanding into Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives, making it a regional play.

With a history dating back to 1971 in Massachusett, Rockport offers a wide range of footwear, from boots and flats to heels and sneakers. In 2023, Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) acquired Rockport, paving the way for this international expansion.

Established in 2021, Brandman Retail specializes in introducing global footwear, apparel, and accessory brands in India. They handle everything from retail management to licensing and e-commerce, representing brands like New Balance, Saucony, G/FORE, and On. They've got a mix of online and brick-and-mortar presence, with 12 exclusive stores, 11 New Balance stores, 2 Sneakrz outlets, and their own direct-to-consumer platform. This venture will help Brandman Retail capture 5 per cent share in the Indian footwear market.

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) reported a 4 per cent year-on-year growth in India’s retail sector for February 2025, highlighting key trends across regions and categories.

RAI’s 59th Retail Business Survey indicates that retailers are prioritizing margin protection and stock management amid global tariff shifts and economic uncertainties. “Retail performance in India shows a modest 4 per cent year-on-year gain for February 2025. Categories such as food and grocery, QSR, and consumer durables have reported specific upticks,” said RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan.

Among regions, North India led with 5 per cent sales growth, followed by West India at 4 per cent, South India at 3 per cent, and East India at 2 per cent.

Category-wise, food and grocery registered the highest growth at 11 per cent, while consumer durables and quick-service restaurants (QSR) both saw a 5 per cent rise compared to February 2024. Other retail categories showed steady but slower growth.

Retailers continue to adapt to evolving market conditions, with strategic stock management and efficiency improvements shaping business operations. Despite ongoing economic challenges, the sector remains on a path of steady adjustment rather than rapid expansion.

Making a significant turnaround from the Rs 18 crore loss registered in FY23, Decathlon India reported Rs 197 crore profit in FY24. However, the brand’s revenue growth remained modest, increasing by only 2.2 per cent to Rs 4,008 crore.

Operating on a direct-to-consumer model, Decathlon India designs, manufactures, and sells sports gear through its 90 retail stores and e-commerce platform. The company is mainly engaged in sale of sports products although it also earns Rs 58 crore from interest and other non-operating income.

Decathlon’s recent profitability is a result of the stringent cost-control measures implemented by the company. The brand reduced its procurement costs by 4.3 per cent to Rs 2,448 crore. It also decreased its overall revenues by 4.5 per cent to Rs 3,797 crore due to controlled spending on power, rent, advertising, and other operational costs.

In the next 3 to 5 years, Decathlon India aims to double its revenue to Rs 8,000 crore. However, the company faces challenges in maintaining growth in a consumer market that is not expanding as rapidly as anticipated.

While Decathlon has successfully established itself as a leading sports retailer in India, it now faces increased competition and needs to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, particularly in e-commerce. The company is exploring new strategies, including utilizing third-party channels, to reach a wider audience.

As Decathlon enters its 16^th year in India, it may need to diversify its product offerings and explore new market segments to sustain its growth trajectory. The company's future success will depend on its ability to adapt to the changing market dynamics and continue to innovate.

Amazon India will waive referral fees on over 12 million products priced below Rs 300 from April 7, benefiting small businesses.

It will also lower shipping and weight handling fees. The move follows regulatory scrutiny over marketplace practices.

Amazon hosts 1.6 million sellers, with over 90 per cent being small and medium businesses.

Boosting its presence in the state’s men’s clothing market, Arrow has opened its largest store in Punjab.

Located in Model Town, Jalandhar, the store spans over 2,000 sq ft and is designed to provide a high-end shopping experience for men who value classic style and modern refinement.

Showcasing Arrow’s updated brand image, this large, multi-level store blends modern design with a top-tier retail experience. The store has been designed with sleek and contemporary to enhance its sophisticated atmosphere, allowing customers to explore the brand's latest collections in a smooth and engaging way.

Featuring a wide range of men's clothing, the store offers refined formalwear, adaptable smart casuals, and elegant formal wear. It has a well-organized layout that enables customers to browse and purchase the newest styles for various events, notes Anand Aiyer, CEO, Arrow.

Located in the center of Model Town, Jalandhar, the new Arrow store aims to transform the shopping experience for style-conscious men. Characterized by a sophisticated yet modern ambiance, the store’s interiors create a welcoming environment that matches Arrow's signature style.

With this strategic expansion, Arrow reinforces its commitment to providing world-class men's clothing while meeting the growing demand for premium fashion in Punjab. The opening of this store is a significant step in the brand's growth, paving the way for further expansion in Northern India.

Launched by ABFRL, the modern Indian man's wedding wear brand, Tasva has unveiled its flagship store in Pune in collaboration with renowned couturier Tarun Tahiliani.

Spanning 2,400 sq ft, the new store underscores Tasva's dedication to delivering luxury and elegance through meticulously crafted garments and a unique shopping experience.

Designed to offer an immersive experience, the store resonates with the evolving tastes of India's cosmopolitan men. It blends heritage-inspired aesthetics with contemporary sophistication, reflecting Tasva's vision of redefining modern Indian menswear.

Showcasing Tasva's festive collection, the store features stunning kurta sets and bundis, with vibrant screen prints and modern silhouettes adding a fresh twist to traditional attire. The wedding collection offers luxurious sherwanis, achkans, Indo-Western outfits, and bandhgalas, crafted from opulent fabrics and detailed with intricate embroidery.

Ashish Mukul, Brand Head, Tasva says, every detail, from the store design to the layout, has been meticulously curated to create a smooth and immersive shopping journey, offering clients a unique Tasva experience. With highly trained stylists providing personalized advice and assistance, the Pune store ensures an unmatched retail experience.

Tarun Tahiliani, Creative Director, Tasva shares, the brand reimagines Indian menswear with a superior fit that rivals the precision of Western tailoring, seamlessly infused into traditional attire. Every garment designed by the brand is meticulously crafted to provide a sharp, refined silhouette while ensuring effortless movement and comfort.

With a growing presence in major cities across India, Tasva continues to set new standards in premium ethnic menswear, offering garments that celebrate tradition, craftsmanship, and modern sophistication.

Reliance Trends has teamed up with actor and film producer Mahesh Babu and his daughter Sitara to launch their new summer occasion wear collection for men, women, and children, with a campaign called ‘New Times, New Trends.’

The new collection celebrates India's rich cultural heritage with a modern twist, offering stylish and versatile options for the summer and holiday season, as per a press release by Reliance Trends. The campaign features a range of casual wear, western styles, and festive ethnic outfits, and includes a promotional film starring Mahesh Babu and Sitara, designed to showcase a fresh visual direction for the brand.

Reliance Trends' in-house labels are highlighted in the collection, including Avaasa's ethnic wear for women, Fig's contemporary workwear, and Dnmx's youth-focused denim. The collection also features offerings from the retailer's national and international brand portfolio.

With over 2,000 stores in more than 1,000 cities, Reliance Trends continues to expand its reach in India's apparel market. The brand aims to provide a mix of affordability and trend-driven fashion across multiple product categories. The new collection is currently available in Reliance Trends’ stores and online, with the campaign's promotional film live across digital platforms.

Bestseller, a major fashion company, has expanded its leadership team by appointing Sumit Dhingra as the Country Director for the Indian market, effective June 1, 2025.

Having over two decades of experience in the fashion and lifestyle industry, Dhingra has held leadership roles at various leading global and Indian fashion brands.

In this new position, Dhingra will be responsible for driving the growth and expansion of Bestseller's brands, including Jack & Jones, Vero Moda, Only, and Selected Homme, throughout India.

Anders Holch Povlsen, CEO, Bestseller, states, armed with an extensive experience in the fashion industry and a leadership style that aligns with Bestseller and its objectives in India, Dingra  will contribute to the brand’s growth in the country.

Dhingra adds, Bestseller has established itself as a significant player in the Indian fashion landscape and he looks forward to collaborating with the team to deliver excellence in the Indian market.

Continuing its aggressive retail expansion, premium menswear brand Reid & Taylor has opened a new 1,000 sq ft store at the Samdariya Mall in Jabalpur.

Providing a high-end shopping experience, the new store showcases Reid & Taylor's signature range of refined menswear, including expertly tailored suits, shirts, trousers, and accessories, all crafted with top-tier quality and craftsmanship. The brand aims to continue appealing to the sophisticated tastes of Indian consumers with its blend of timeless elegance and modern fashion.

Subrata Siddhanta, CEO-Apparel & Retail, Reid & Taylor, states, a significant milestone in the brand’s retail expansion, the new store will help Reid & Taylor expand its presence across India besides providing customer an easy access to the brand’s premium menswear collections in prime locations. Through this store, the brand aims to establish itself as the top choice for modern men who appreciate high quality, fine craftsmanship, and lasting sophistication, he adds.

The Jabalpur store launch is part of a broader retail expansion plan, with the brand aiming to open 40 stores by the end of 2025. Reid & Taylor's expansion will begin in Mumbai, followed by growth in Gujarat and other key regions across India. This initiative is supported by a detailed brand strategy, ensuring a well-organized and effective expansion to improve accessibility and customer engagement.

Reid & Taylor's dedication to excellence is evident not only in its premium products but also in its thoughtfully designed retail spaces, which aim to provide an immersive and seamless shopping experience. With a vision to solidify its position in the Indian menswear market, the brand is set to redefine premium retail through its ongoing expansion.

Making its debut in the capital city, American denim brand True Religion has launched its first store in Delhi. 

Located at Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, this 1,100-sq-ft store features the brand’s signature denim styles, as well as men's and women's apparel and accessories. The store's opening event included an appearance by Aman Gupta, Co-founder, Boat and prominent investor, along with fashion enthusiasts who explored True Religion’s latest collection, which combines premium denim with trendy casual wear designs.

True Religion has mastered the balance of style and comfort. Their graphic tees and hoodies complement the denim perfectly for a laid-back yet fashionable look, says Gupta.

The new store displays True Religion’s latest Spring/Summer 2025 collection featuring premium fabrics, signature stitching, and cuts designed to help the wearer stand out.

Founded in 2002 by Jeffrey Lubell and Kym Gold, the American denim label, True Religion is headquartered in California.

With the opening of this new store, True Religion introduces its iconic denim and premium collections to Delhi’s fashion-forward shoppers, adds Apoorv Sen, COO, Iconic Fashion.