Flipkart-owned online fashion retailer Myntra expects to achieve a Rs 500 crore turnover from sportswear retailer Puma over the next one year. Both plan to deepen their engagement by launching Puma’s global sneaker collections and expanding its kids wear and women’s wear collections.

Puma is the top-selling international sportswear brand on Myntra. The brand’s market share soared on the platform within the sportswear and athleisure category since unlocking started. The brand’s work from home trend will continue to expand into the next year and benefit from increased demand. It retails through over 370 doors in India but draws a significant share of sales from online channels as it was an early adopter of e-commerce in India.

The increased collaboration between Puma and Myntra comes at a time when India's top online retailers are stitching exclusive tie-ups with offline retailers and expanding their range in view of more permanent shift in shopping habits owing to COVID-19. More shoppers from India’s smaller cities are expected to come online now. Amazon, Walmart-backed Flipkart and Reliance Retail’s Ajio are actively eyeing a share of India’s massive retail market across grocery, electronics and fashion. Already, Flipkart Group has bought a minority stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) for Rs1,500 crore.

Ethnic wear retailer Fabindia has launched a ‘White Glove Service’ to ameliorate its online shopping experience for customers as well as other home-shopping initiatives.

Through this service, shoppers can scan a code displayed in the store’s window display which then allows them to browse customized catalogues and look books at their leisure from their own home, FabIndia shared on Facebook. Users of the service are also able to try products out at home before committing to a purchase.

Other online-offline initiatives FabIndia has recently launched include enabling shoppers to arrange to have new collections showcased at their society premises and a personal shopping service. Customers can use messaging app WhatsApp to speak with a personal shopper who will send photos of recommended items and help shoppers choose items which, upon purchase, are them delivered to their houses following safety guidelines.

FabIndia also recently launched wedding themed collection ‘Rajwada’, inspired by India’s royal traditions, the brand announced on Facebook. The brand has also launched a line of Ayurvedic supplements and wellness products to respond to the increased popularity of health-centred goods and natural remedies, a trend spurred on by COVID-19.

Designer KH Radharaman has launched a new womenswear label ‘Alamelu’ featuring woven textiles and a global aesthetic.

The label’s maiden collection, titled ‘Architexture’, takes its inspiration from both architecture and textiles and mixes structural silhouettes with rich, handloom fabrics.

Oversized tunics, metallic tailored trousers, double-breasted suits, and overcoats are fabricated from Ikatweaves.Radharaman’s global perspective shines through in his rendering of Houndstooth check, Uzbeki motifs, and polka-dots inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in silk threads. The season-less collection is designed to be dressed up or down and worn by women across the world, according to Radharaman.

The brand recently launched with multi-brand luxury Indian fashion retailers Ogaan and Ensemble in their respective boutiques. Its next steps will include international expansion through e-commerce and retail presence in strategic global locations.

Shailesh Chaturvedi, the CEO-designate, Arvind Fashions, expects its portfolio of casual clothing brands will help the fashion retailer emerge stronger from the new wave of pandemic. BSE-listed Arvind Fashions currently operates brands like US Polo, Aeropostale, Flying Machine, Sephora, etc among other chains.

For the second quarter, the company reported a 56 per cent drop in revenues to Rs 463.81 crore while losses at the Bengaluru-based retailer widened to Rs 217.79 crore. In September, Arvind called off its franchisee partnership with Gap Inc. six years after the Bengaluru-based company signed a master franchisee for India and Arvind and US fashion group are currently looking for a buyer for Gap's India business. The company is also ramping up its work from home portfolio in the upcoming spring/summers collections.

Rangriti, a value fashion brand from the promoters of Indian ethnic fashion brand BIBA, recently opened new stores in Uttar Pradesh at Ghazipur, Hardoi, Akbarpur, and y Lucknow. All these stores will reflect a flawless fusion of style and affordability, from a perfect blend of lively colors to beautiful designs.

The stores will present Rangriti's festive collection which is about an Indie chic and vibrant look. These quality-driven alluring pieces are available in all colors ranging from vibrant hues to earthy muted tones. The range is designed in a way that allows you to easily move from a traditional look to a fusion one with comfort and style.

The brand recently opened its 100th store in Ghazipur and the 20th in Uttar Pradesh. The store offers a wonderful mix of traditional and contemporary styles ranging from kurtas, dresses, a range of bottom wear, gowns, sharars, and suit sets which are a great fit for your everyday and occasion wear.

The third quarter profits of Urban Outfitters, owner of brands Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain and Bhldn increased 38 per cent year-over-year, thanks to strength in the Urban and Free People brands, along with reduced overhead expenses. For the three-month period ending October 31, the company’s total revenues declined from $987 million to $969 million. However, many of the company’s losses were in the food and beverage business. Its apparel brands, Urban Outfitters, Free People and even Nuuly increased their profit margins, year-over-year.

Urban Outfitters’ revenues increased from $374 to $394 million; that of Free People’s increased to $206 million from $205 million a year ago, while Nuuly logged $6.7 million in revenues, up from more than $2 million last year. However, the revenues of Anthropologie declined to $358 million from $398 million a year ago.

As a result, the company’s profits increased to $76.7 million for the quarter, from $55.6 million a year earlier. Not surprisingly, comparable retail segment net sales were flat for the quarter as a result of negative retail store sales and reduced in-store traffic with coronavirus cases on the rise and many consumers still fearful of in-person shopping experiences.

By brand, comparable retail segment net sales increased by 17 percent at Free People and 4 percent at Urban Outfitters, but fell by 9 percent at the Anthropologie Group.

The company ended the quarter with $624 million in cash and cash equivalents and 630 stores, or 250 Urban Outfitters locations, 234 Anthropologie units and 146 Free People shops, in addition to the company’s e-commerce businesses and catalogues. Free People also opened its first FP Movement stand-alone store during the quarter.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which lays down norms on quality and safety of goods sold in the country, has been negotiating with various stakeholders to set new standards for several issues ranging from standardization of invoices and websites.

The Bureau aims to set standards for services provided by ecommerce companies and aggregators like Flipkart, Ola, AirBnB, etc. These standards will touch upon areas which are outside the scope of the ecommerce policy in order to avoid any overlap.

It also plans to introduce certification for secure websites in order to curb the menace of fly-by-night operators in the digital commerce industry. The certification will help consumers to identify the reliable operators. The bureau has set up various committees to decide these standards. All major companies including Snapdeal, Flipkart and JioMart are a part of these committees.

Myntrahas signed a licensing agreement with the Elle brand, owned by the French Conglomerate Lagardère Group to produce, distribute and promote the Elle jewellery collection in India.

The Elle jewellery collection will be pre-launched on the Myntra platform with over 150 styles across earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and sets at a price range of Rs 600 ($8) to Rs 2500.

Myntra offers the perfect platform for Elle to launch its fashionable Parisian lifestyle-inspired jewellery in India. The strength of its brand portfolio allows Elle to broaden its cross-category representation. With the launch, Myntra aims to further strengthen itsjewellery portfolio.”

The Elle brand is owned by the Lagardère Group based in France, and Lagardère Active Enterprises is the dedicated business unit of the Lagardère Group, running the non-media brand extension worldwide.

Strengthening its India presence, Swedish apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has opened its first store in Lucknow. The store is located in Phoenix Palassio Mall is spread over 21,600 sq. ft. It will operate with all safety measures and social distancing norms.

H&M launched its first Indian store in 2015 in Delhi. Currently, the brand has 48 stores in India across cities the Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Amritsar, Indore, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Mohali, Mysore, Ahmedabad, and Raipur. In future too, it will continue to open new stores in India though it will close down 250 stores globally. The company sees huge potential for growth in the Indian market and plans to open one more store in Bhubaneswar this year.