Delhi-headquartered Relaxo Footwear, a prominent manufacturer and retailer of footwear, has inaugurated a new experiential store for Sparx at the Vegas Mall in Dwarka, New Delhi. This expansion includes the option for doorstep delivery services, enhancing customer convenience.

Expressing his delight over the inauguration of the store, Ramesh Kumar Dua, Managing Director, Relaxo Footwear, emphasises, the store aims to provide unmatched convenience and choice to customers. Focusing on the premium categories, the store will transform the footwear industry in India, he adds.

Established in 1984, Relaxo has emerged as one of India's largest footwear manufacturers, boasting brands such as Relaxo, Sparx, Flite, and Bahamas. The company operates a robust network of over 350 retail outlets and maintains a strong presence on major e-commerce platforms and large format stores.

For the financial year concluded on March 31, 2023, Relaxo Footwear reported revenue amounting to Rs 2,782.77 crore, underscoring its significant presence and market influence in the footwear sector.

Liberty Shoes has launched a new holiday collection of footwear that focuses on both style and comfort. The collection offers a variety of slip-ons, sneakers, Flip-Flops, and casual sandals.

The Slip-ons offered in the collection are an ideal for last-minute holiday gatherings, while sneakers provide a casual yet stylish alternative. The Flip-Flops collection caters to those looking to the escape from the travails of the urban life. The range of casual sandals balances comfort and sophistication for festive occasions.

The brand provides not just fashionable but also comfortable footwear options through meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail in each pair. The holiday collection enables individuals to make a lasting impression at any festive affair. Fusing fashion with functionality, it becomes a symbol of timeless elegance.

Harshavardhan Chauhaan has been appointed as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Trident Group following his four-year tenure at Spencer’s Retail.

From 2020-24, Chauhaan played pivotal roles at Spencer’s Retail, overseeing initiatives in brand marketing, consumer analytics, digital and performance marketing, and eCommerce and omnichannel marketing.

Prior to that, he served as the Central Head of Marketing & Phygital (Digital Transformation) at DLF Ltd from 2017 to 2020.

His professional journey encompasses significant positions at ShopClues, Godrej Group, ITC Ltd, Hindustan Unilever, Reckitt, and Accenture. Chauhaan's expertise in the retail, eCommerce, and Martech sectors has garnered recognition, including his inclusion among the 50 Most Influential Retail, eCommerce & Martech professionals in India by CMO Asia – Africa – GCC Retail Congress.

Indian footwear brand, Solethreads aims to generate a net sales value of Rs 100 crore in FY 24 and Rs 250 crore in FY 25. The brand plans to increase its offline distribution besides collaborating with premium trade partners for signature stores, and capturing a larger share of the online market.

Launched in 2019 with a mission to revolutionise comfort-centric footwear in a market dominated by flip-flops, Solethreads is led by a dynamic team, including Gaurav Chopra, Sumant Kakaria, Vikram Iyer, and Aprajit Kathuria, The brand prioritises innovation, design, and manufacturing to cater specifically to Indian consumers.

Investing significantly in R&D and manufacturing, Solethreads boasts over 20 styles, each incorporating proprietary technologies like SuperFoamTM and TruBounceTM, ensuring unparalleled comfort and functionality. Their partnerships with established brands like Mochi and presence across various e-commerce platforms reflect their strategic expansion efforts.

Moreover, Solethreads emphasises seamless order fulfillment to enhance the consumer experience, with SolethreadsCart.com facilitating real-time order tracking for trade partners. Their commitment to innovation and efficiency extends to their marketing endeavors, as seen in their association with Kalki Koechlin for the 'Comfortably You' campaign, challenging stereotypes and embracing quirkiness.

House of fashion brands, Brand Studio Lifestyle (BSL), has embarked on an expansion drive covering Middle East countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
The expansion will be carried out in partnership with UAE-based e-commerce platforms like Styli, Noon, Namshi, and Centrepoint.
Further, BSL will also expand its presence into South & South-East Asia, and European markets.
Shyam Prasad, CEO, Brand Studio Lifestyle says, the company’s expansion in the GCC market targeted to providing a diverse range of fashion offerings to its global clients. The company aims to develop a robust fashion supply chain to deliver the latest fashion styles in the market.
Nirmal Jain, CEO, Styli, (Landmark Group) adds, the partnership will enable Style to promote its fashion and Gen Z centric brands’ portfolio of brands in the Middle East.
Founded in 2015, the Bangalore-based Brand Studio Lifestyle grew at a CAGR of 3.8 per cent in the last eight years.

19 January 2024, Mumbai

India's leading fabric manufacturer, Siyaram's is doubling its store presence in the midst of a challenging textile industry.

Outlook

This confidence stems from the long-term positive outlook for the Indian textile market, which is expected to grow at a 10 percent CAGR to reach $350 billion by 2030.

The company's omnichannel approach, which combines physical stores with online sales, is essential for reaching a wider audience and driving growth.

Innovation drives growth

Siyaram's is also focusing on innovating its product lines and communication strategies to connect with younger consumers. This is crucial for the brand's long-term success, as the youth market is a major driver of growth in the Indian textile industry.

In future, Siyaram's needs to ensure that its product lines are priced competitively and marketing campaigns resonate with young consumers.

The company needs to effectively integrate its online and offline channels to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers.

The company's focus on expansion, innovation, and connecting with younger consumers will be key to success.

Data-point

As per a FICCI-Wazir Advisors report, driven by a growing domestic market and exports, the Indian textile and apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10 percent to reach $350 billion by 2030 from $165 billion in 2022.

However, the sector faces several challenges, including rising input costs, competition from global players, and a slowdown in demand.

Latest Textile Events

In a groundbreaking move, Linen Club, a leading linen brand under the Aditya Birla Group, has launched an unprecedented campaign celebrating the annual Sankranti festival. The campaign, a first of its kind by any textile fashion brand in India, focuses on the age-old tradition of Bhogi, symbolizing new beginnings during the harvest season.

Letting go for new beginnings: Bhogiritual as a life lesson

Capturing the essence of Sankranti, the campaign emphasizes the significance of 'letting go off the old,' a crucial custom in Andhra Pradesh. The Bhogi ritual involves discarding old belongings into a ceremonial fire, paving the way for a fresh start and an annual shopping spree for farmers.

360-degree campaign: Linen Club's unique approach

The 360-degree campaign, activated across digital platforms, offline media, brand stores, and radio, invites everyone to share what they resolve to 'let go off' to embrace new beginnings. Linen Club sees the Bhogi ritual not just as a custom but a valuable life lesson, promoting evolution and embracing the new.

Melodious festive song and folk melody integration

Accompanying the campaign is a festive song, 'Linen Club SankrantiSambaralu,' performed by award-winning singers GeethaMadhuri and LollaVenkataRevanth Kumar Sharma. The unique endeavor by a fashion brand to present a local folk melody aligns Linen Club with its customers during their most important annual festival.

Celebrating authentic aesthetics: Linen Club's expertise

The campaign brings alive the authentic aesthetics of the festival and showcases Linen Club's expertise with a wide palette of fabrics and apparel. The film, directed by NirupamParitala and Surya, beautifully captures a Sankranti morning, emphasizing celebration, prosperity, and new beginnings.

A heartwarming story: Tradition, family, and new Beginnings

The video story features a Sankranti morning with a family preparing for the Bhogi ritual. The grandfather imparts wisdom to the grandson about the importance of letting go of the old. A touching moment arises when the child, inquiring about throwing away anger, prompts the grandfather to reconcile with his estranged daughter.

Passion, authenticity, and expertise: Linen Club's commitment

Satyaki Ghosh, CEO, Domestic Textiles, Grasim Industries, Aditya Birla Group, expresses excitement, stating that Linen Club's campaign pays homage to Andhra Pradesh's rich culture. The brand's commitment to customer engagement and sustainability is evident in its premium linen fabrics and festive apparel range.

Experience the spirit of Sankranti with Linen Club, embracing tradition while making room for new beginnings through the purity of linen.

A premier name in children's fashion, Momatos has unveiled its highly anticipated exclusive store in Ahmedabad, marking a significant milestone in its journey to revolutionize the industry.

Featuring an extensive range of premium attire for girls, including frocks, gowns, ethnic wear, lehengas, shararas, and western wear, alongside an impressive selection for boys, comprising suits, party wear sets, ethnic wear, and blazers, Momatos ensures that every child can express their unique style. The brand also specialises in special duo collections to celebrate bonds through fashion.

Setting itself apart with a robust core team, a network of over 100 vendors nationwide, and a commitment to providing the latest and trendiest clothes for children aged 0 to 14, Momatos aims to redefine children's fashion.

The children's apparel market in India, estimated at Rs. 83,000 crore, is growing at more than 10 per cent per annum, making it one of the fastest-growing segments.
Indian parents are seeking fashionable yet quality apparel for their children, especially for special occasions. Identifying this gap, Momatos is offering top-notch clothing options backed by exceptional customer service, says Naveen Nebhnani, CEO.

With an active franchise segment and established stores in various cities, including Agra, Bhilwara, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Pune, Secunderabad, and Udaipur, Momatos continues to expand its footprint. The brand plans to launch more stores in Hyderabad, Pune, Secunderabad, and Indore.

Rooh by Shivani has launched the new GOTS-certified Peach Silk Collection that adheres to strict ecological guidelines. Free from the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, the collection is available in a color palette of cobalt blue, blush pink, and greens.

Blending luxury and elegance with compassion and sustainability, the new Peace Silk Collection inspires consumers to shift to conscious consumption. The collection features classic silhouettes, innovative pattern cutting, and natural dyeing methods, which further enhance its sustainability aspect. The artisanal embellishments featured in the collection not only enhance the individually of each garment but also supports traditional craftsmanship.

Outfits in the collection can be layered or styled in multiple ways, making the range more versatile. The collection also promotes the concept of slow fashion with each garment having a narrative of its own.

Aimed at tapping the burgeoning affluent market in India, Tata Capital, the financial services arm of the $144 billion Tata Conglomerate, is set to acquire a 13 per cent stake in the domestic fashion brand Rare Rabbit at a valuation of $300 million.

Rare Rabbit, founded in 2015 by the family-run company Radhamani Textiles, specializes in men's shirts and other apparel, offering a stylish range priced between $20 and $80. With a significant presence through 90 retail outlets across India and a robust online platform, Rare Rabbit has become a notable player in the fashion industry.

This investment by Tata Capital reflects the broader trend observed among conglomerates, with the likes of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance showing a keen interest in the premium fashion segment. Tata Capital's infusion of $40 million into Rare Rabbit underscores its commitment to being part of the evolving landscape of the Indian fashion and clothing sector.

It's noteworthy that major domestic and international brands including Tommy Hilfiger and Uniqlo, have been drawn to the opportunities presented by the Indian market. Concurrently, retail giants like Reliance and the Tata Group are strategically positioning themselves by catering to the middle-class segment, offering a diverse range of mid-range clothing options through their expansive networks of outlets across the nation. In essence, Tata Capital's investment in Rare Rabbit signifies a strategic alignment with the dynamic shifts in consumer preferences and the conglomerate's commitment to exploring and investing in sectors poised for growth in the Indian market.