14 November 2024, Mumbai

Wrangler, the iconic denim brand, has opened six new stores in Indian cities—Ujjain, Goa, Indore, Bilaspur, Katihar, and Bareilly—enhancing its presence in emerging markets. This expansion brings Wrangler’s exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) in India to 58, with over 80 per cent now located outside tier-1 cities.

Spanning over 1,000 sqft each, these stores are situated in popular shopping malls and high-street locations, responding to rising demand for premium denim in these regions. They offer a curated selection of Wrangler’s top denim styles and accessories, presenting customers with a modern retail experience. The move reflects Wrangler's commitment to make high-quality fashion accessible nationwide, beyond metropolitan areas.

Nitin Chhabra, CEO of ace turtle, the exclusive licensee for Wrangler in India, highlighted the rising demand from emerging markets and noted a shift toward premium products. He pointed out that Wrangler's premium collections are performing well, reflecting the brand’s growing popularity in India. Chhabra also shared that ace turtle plans to expand further by opening over 60 additional Wrangler stores across the country within the next year.

Driven by data insights from online sales, ace turtle identified these cities as high-potential areas for Wrangler’s in-store experience. The new stores underscore ace turtle's focus on combining online data with strategic offline expansion, aiming to bring Wrangler closer to customers in high-demand regions across India.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

A leading beauty and fashion marketplace, Nykaa has appointed Abhijeet Dabas as its new Executive Vice President and Business Head -Fashion E-commerce.

In his new role, Dabas will work towards expanding the global reach of Nykaa Fashion besides fostering strategic partnerships, including current collaborations with fashion retailers like Foot Locker and Revolve to strengthen the brand's presence in the fashion e-commerce sector.

Dabas’ extensive experience in expanding businesses and his deep understanding of the India’s fashion market align perfectly with goals of Nykaa Fashion, says Falguni Nayar, Executive Chairperson, Managing Director & CEO, Nykaa. His leadership will help drive the company’s growth strategy and reinforce its market position, she adds.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Dabas has held senior roles at McKinsey & Company and a range of technology and e-commerce firms, including Cars24, Swiggy, Myntra, and Lazada.

During the quarter ending Sep’24. Nykaa’s consolidated net profit rose by 66 per cent to Rs 13 crore from Rs 7.8 crore in the same quarter the previous year. The company’s revenue from operations also increased by 24 per cent Y-o-Y during the quarter to Rs 1,875 crore.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

The second edition of the Brands of India apparel trade show, organized by The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), was inaugurated on November 12, 2024, by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to the UAE. Held at Za’abeel Hall 4 in the Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition presents over 150 Indian apparel brands, highlighting a broad selection of Men’s, Women’s, and Kids’ fashion. From casual and formal wear to athleisure, winterwear, and accessories, the event serves as a unique sourcing platform for international retailers, wholesalers, agents, and e-commerce companies.

In his opening remarks, Sivan highlighted Brands of India as a strategic initiative for Indian apparel manufacturers to capitalize on the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which facilitates duty-free apparel imports. He noted the opportunity for Indian manufacturers to attract global buyers amid supply chain challenges in other manufacturing hubs like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a vital gateway to global markets.

Santosh Katariya, CMAI President, praised India’s position as a preferred sourcing destination known for low labor costs, flexible order sizes, competitive pricing, and on-time delivery. He noted that this year’s event brings together manufacturers from key production hubs such as Mumbai, Jaipur, and Tirupur, showcasing India’s manufacturing diversity and quality.

The show has drawn more than 1,500 pre-registered visitors from 60+ countries, including buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern and African nations. Notable retailers like Lulu Group, R&B and Landmark Group are among those in attendance. CMAI has extended exclusive privileges, including hotel accommodations and business matching services, to enhance buyer participation.

Running for three days, Brands of India is positioned as a comprehensive sourcing opportunity, with on-the-spot buyers also expected to attend.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

Bharat Tex 2025, a premier textile event, was showcased at a roadshow in Dubai on November 12, 2024, aimed at strengthening India’s position as a global textile hub. Organized by Indian Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), including the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and backed by India’s Ministry of Textiles, Bharat Tex 2025 will run from February 12-17 across venues in New Delhi and Greater Noida.

The Dubai roadshow emphasized the potential for expanding India-UAE trade under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and boost India’s role within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Santosh Katariya, President of CMAI, highlighted Bharat Tex as a testament to India’s dedication to establishing itself as a leading global textile hub, focusing on innovation, collaboration, and the core principles of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Scheduled to span 200,000 sq meters, Bharat Tex 2025 will host over 5,000 exhibitors and attract more than 6,000 international buyers and 120,000 trade visitors from over 120 countries. The event will display India’s full textile value chain, from fibers, yarns, and fabrics to home furnishings, apparel, and textile machinery, showcasing both traditional and technical textiles.

During the roadshow, Akhilesh Kumar, DDG, Ministry of Textiles, emphasized India’s strong infrastructure and incentives for global investors, while Swayamprava Pani of the Ministry highlighted Bharat Tex as a unique platform for Indian and global textile leaders to connect.

The presentation by CMAI Chief Mentor Rahul Mehta underscored the vast potential in India’s textile industry, from traditional crafts to organized, capital-intensive production. Shaleen Toshniwal, Vice Chairman of MATEXIL, stressed the sourcing advantages for MSMEs from manufacturing hubs like Ichalkaranji and Tiruppur.

With support from MATEXIL, WWEPC, and HEPC, the event drew 150 industry attendees from across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, coinciding with CMAI’s ‘Brands of India’ apparel showcase at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

Fashion emerged as the fastest-growing sector in India’s e-commerce segment whose gross merchandise value grew by 12 per cent to $14 billion in 2024, as per a report by RedSeer Strategy Consultants. Ethnic wear, jewelry, and women’s accessories, particularly unbranded items, gained popularity in Tier II and smaller cities.

Recorded between Sep 15-Oct 31, the e-commerce sector’s growth was primarily fueled by a strong consumer spending in Tier-II and smaller cities, with notable increases in categories like fashion, , beauty, personal care, home furnishings, and groceries.

There was a growing demand for ethnic fashion from consumers in the Tier II cities, highlights the report. The demand spanned both premium and budget-friendly products, indicating a wider acceptance of e-commerce in these regions.

The 2024 festive season highlighted the spending potential of the Tier II + consumers, says Kushal Bhatnagar, Associate Partner, Redseer Strategy Consultants. These consumers deepened their trust in e-commerce, signaling continued growth in the sector over the next few years, he notes.

Despite slower growth in new shopper acquisitions, spending per shopper rose by 5 per cent-6 per cent, suggesting a maturing shopper base of approximately 250 million annual online customers. Driven by attractive discounts, consumers spending in smaller cities rose by 13 per cent in 2024. Prepaid transaction gained more popularity as they enhanced the consumers’ shopping experience in these regions.

Premium and international brands also performed well in tier 1 markets, with direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands seeing significant growth due to increased visibility through digital channels. This robust performance underscores the evolving preferences of Indian consumers, as e-commerce continues to broaden its reach across the country.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

The Q2, FY25 net profit of Dollar Industries increased by 7 per cent to Rs 27 crore ($3.2 million), from Rs 25 crore in the same period last year.

The company’s revenue for the quarter rose by 8 per cent to Rs 447 crore as against revenues of Rs 413 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year.

During H1, FY25 spanning April-Sep’24, Dollar Industries added 17 new distributors as part of Project Lakshya, boosting its revenue contribution from this initiative to 31 per cent. The company aims to generate 65-70 per cent of its coming from distributors associated with Project Lakshya by the 2026 financial year.

Vinod Kumar Gupta and Binay Kumar Gupta, Managing Directors, say, the company’s total income rose by 8.5 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 48.02 crore during Q2 FY25, and by 5.5 per cent Y-0-Y to Rs 782.44 crore in H1 FY25. It’s profit after tax increased by 6.6 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 26.51 crore during the quarter.

A strong demand, an increasing focus on higher-margin products, and strategic initiatives have positioned the company well to achieve its future revenue and profitability goals, emphasise the directors.

A major player in India's innerwear segment, Dollar Industries claims a 15 per cent share of the organised market.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

The Q2, FY25 net loss of Indian Terrain Fashions widened to Rs 22 crore ($2.7 million) as against Rs 8 crore reported in the year-ago quarter.

The company’s revenue for the quarter declined by 39 per cent to Rs 86 crore, as against Rs 140 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Indian Terrain attributed this revenue decline to a weak demand across retail and wholesale channels coupled with closure of non-performing exclusive brand outlets and large format stores. Charath Narsimhan, Managing Director and CEO, Indian Terrain says, this growth is attributed to a change in the consumer behavior and spending patterns, coupled with reduced footfalls in stores.

The brand aims to capitalise on the growing trends of casualisation and premiumisation in the apparel segment while prioritising profitability over volume-driven growth. Supported by an early festive and wedding season, demand is anticipated to recover n H2, and the brand remains on track to achieve improved margins and operational efficiency in the coming quarters, he adds

Indian Terrain Fashions retails across the country through its 234 exclusive outlets, multi-brand outlets, large format stores, and e-commerce platforms.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

A leading menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion Retail, Peter England has collaborated with renowned director and TV host Karan Johar to launch a new Bollywood-inspired wedding collection.

Inspired by the glamour of Bollywood’s superstar weddings, the collection features a variety of stylish pieces including chic two-piece and elegant three-piece suits, luxurious velvet bomber jackets, timeless bandhgalas, and modern abstract shirts.

Emphasising the collection’s appeal, Anil Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, Peter England, says, through this collection, the brand aims to empower grooms and groomsmen to take center stage at every wedding, just like the heroes in our beloved Bollywood films. The collection strikes the perfect balance between international trends, high-quality fabrics, and a touch of Bollywood magic.

The collection is available in over 150 stores across India, as well as on Peter England’s online platform, with delivery to 25,000 pin codes nationwide.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

India's retail sector is witnessing a resurgence, with leasing activity across the country's top seven cities exceeding expectations. A recent JLL India report reveals that despite limited new retail space additions, gross leasing activity reached an impressive 5.3 million sq ft in the first nine months of 2024, and is projected to surpass 6.5-7 million sq ft by year-end. This rise is driven by a number factors, including rising consumption, the entry of international brands, and the evolving strategies of domestic retailers.

Key findings of the JLL India report

Robust leasing activity: Gross leasing across the top seven cities (Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad) is expected to reach 6.5 - 7 million sq ft by the end of 2024.

Limited new supply: Despite limited new retail space additions of just over 1 million sq ft, demand remains strong.

Concentration in metros: Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai lead the pack, accounting for 59 per cent of total leasing activity.

Sectoral breakdown: Fashion and apparel dominate with a 37per cent share, followed by food & beverage (18per cent) and entertainment (12per cent).

Luxury segment growth: High-end brands secured 0.15 million sq ft of space in the first nine months, primarily in Delhi NCR and Mumbai.

International retailer entry: 20 new international retailers entered India in the first nine months, with Delhi NCR being the preferred entry point.

Domestic retailer dominance: Domestic retailers accounted for 78per cent of gross leasing, occupying over 4 million sq ft.

Rise of D2C brands: Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands are increasingly leasing physical spaces, contributing to about 7per cent of total gross leasing.

Changing dynamics in Indian retail space

Several factors contribute to the dynamism and growth observed in the Indian retail market. A growing middle class with increased disposable income is pushing consumer spending and driving demand for retail goods and experiences. And consumers are increasingly seeking premium products and experiences, leading to an increase in demand for luxury retail spaces. Brands too are recognizing the importance of an omnichannel approach, integrating online and offline channels to provide a seamless shopping experience. This has led D2C brands to venture into physical retail.

Malls meanwhile are evolving into experiential spaces that offer more than just shopping, with entertainment, dining, and social interaction becoming key components. This attracts a wider range of consumers and encourages longer visits. India's growing economy and consumer market are attracting international retailers, leading to increased competition and a more diverse retail landscape.

The JLL India report highlights the strong growth of the sector, with leasing activity expected to maintain momentum in the coming years. The rise of omnichannel retail, the focus on experiential retail, and the influx of international brands are shaping the future of the Indian retail landscape, offering numerous opportunities for both domestic and international players.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

To capitalis on the emerging opportunities in India’s fashion retail sector, Cantabil aims to expand its store network and strengthen its market presence.

In Q2, FY25, Cantabil Retail India reported revenues worth Rs 151.2 crore and a net profit worth Rs 6.6 crore. In H1, FY25, the company’s revenues increased by 13 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 279.1 crore while its profit after tax (PAT) rose to Rs 18 crore. The company’s EBITDA expanded by 16 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 73.9 crore over the half-year period.

As a part of its retail expansion in India, Cantabil has opened 23 new EBOs across various states, including Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, increasing its store count to over 550 nationwide. The brand’s volume grew by 29.4 per cent in H1, FY25.

Vijay Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director. Cantabil Retail India, says, in H1. FY25, Cantabil Retail achieved an impressive volume growth of 29.4 per cent. Notably, this success was accomplished despite challenging market conditions and adverse weather conditions, particularly the heat wave in North India and extended monsoon, which impacted consumption.

Bansal outlined the company’s strategic focus on enhancing customer access and brand presence. The company focuses on enhancing customer convenience, reinforcing the brand’s presence, and driving growth through expanded reach; entry into newer markets; diversification across segments and categories and elevating the shopping experience.

Cantabil anticipates consumer spending will improve as the festive and wedding seasons coincide with a favorable economic environment. The combination of above-normal monsoons, festive season, and wedding season is expected to drive improvement in discretionary spending. Additionally, the government focus on consumption stimulus will further boost demand, notes Bansal adding that companies with strong brand loyalty and customer connections are well-positioned to benefit from these conditions.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

Reliance Retail is temporarily shutting down stores in its department chain Centro to revamp the format with a focus on its own brands and labels. The closures affect three stores, with up to 24 more expected by month-end.

The decision follows a shift in strategy after Reliance took over Future Group's Central stores in 2022, rebranding them as Centro.

Executives have confirmed that brand partners were notified to remove inventory and fixtures, as Reliance halts merchandise display, storage, and sales at these locations for renovations.

While the future of global and local brands in the revamped format remains uncertain, the retailer plans to use the space for a shop-in-shop model featuring its own brands, such as Azorte and Yousta, alongside international names like Gap and Superdry.

Centro, which competes with brands like Shoppers Stop and Lifestyle International, currently stocks around 450 brands. This move comes amid a slowdown in India’s retail growth, with a 4 per cent expansion in sales last year after a post-Covid surge.

Reliance Retail's fashion and lifestyle division also saw a decline in revenue for the first time since the pandemic, citing weak demand and efforts to improve margins.

In response to market challenges, Reliance has reduced expansion, closing more stores than it has opened this fiscal year, with a net addition of only 110 stores in the first half, compared to 610 last year.

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13 November 2024, Mumbai

Clothing brands owned by the Aditya Birla Group, Aurelia and W, have teamed up with the customer acquisition platform, Swop store to enhance their retail footprint and offer exclusive deals to shoppers in India. This strategic collaboration aims to strengthen the connection between these well-known fashion brands and their customers.

Ayush Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder, Swop store, opines, this alliance will offer greater benefits to the platform’s users. Currently featuring over 200 brands including Bombay Shaving Company, Mokobara and Snitch, Swop store focuses on enhancing consumer engagement by simplifying the brand discovery process for online shoppers.

While Aurelia is known for its women's ethnic wear, W offers a range of women's clothing and accessories. Both brands operate through their e-commerce platforms and brick-and-mortar stores across the nation.

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