17th September 2021, Mumbai:

Festive demand pushed up India’s retail sales to 88 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in August this year. As per a survey by the Retailers Association of India, retail sales had reached 72 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels in July this year. Retail businesses in North and South India indicated 98 per cent and 97 per cent sales recovery to pre-pandemic levels in August 2021 as against 78 per cent and 82 per cent sales in July 2021," it said.

Sales in Western and Eastern markets reached 76 per cent and 81 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in August 2021 against 57 per cent and 69 per cent, respectively, in July 2021.

Sales in the Quick Service Restaurants category grew by 12 per cent compared to August 2019, while 'food and groceries' category clocked a growth of 4 per cent. However, beauty & wellness, which includes salons, apparel, footwear and jewlery are yet to catch up to pre-pandemic sales levels the report says.

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI hopes, festive shopping will drive growth for most retailers this year, with the possibility of some retailers doing better sales than the pre-pandemic levels.

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17th September 2021, Mumbai:

Womenswear brand Bhanuni by Jyoti has launched a new collection at the Dubai Mall. As per Fashion Network, the collection includes brightly patterned dresses and loose-fit layers launched with Anthropologie, a women’s clothing and lifestyle retail chain with stores across Europe and the US.

Bhanuni by Jyoti has already launched its collection in a number of other Anthropologie locations internationally.

Notable items from the collection, now available to UAE shoppers, include trapeze-style embroidered maxi-dresses and floaty printed dresses with draped sleeves and skirts. The color palette is bright and resort wear inspired and fusion-style silhouettes mix western casual aesthetics with traditional Indian design.

Jyoti Sharma Bajaj launched Bhanuni by Jyoti in 2005 and the brand made its runway debut at India Fashion Week in October 2010. The brand specializes in ethnic wear and western ready-to-wear.

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15th September 2021, Mumbai:

Jockey India has announced the second phase of #BrasAsVersatileAsIAm campaign with eight new product films across its digital platforms. To be promoted on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google and other digital platforms, these product films showcase the essence of different moods and needs of a woman.

The brand is also using traditional retail and trade channels through, exclusive brand store facades, in-store visuals and POS merchandise as well.

The product films highlight Jockey’s deep understanding of the bra segment through each of the films and showcase the USPs of each product. The films project uniquely different styles that suit every mood with a focus on – magic undercup bra, t-shirt bra, nursing bra, sleep bra, lounge bra, multiway bra, plus size bra, and everyday bra.

The first phase of the #BrasAsVersatileAsIAm campaign – ‘Jockey Knows Me’ was launched last week with a 30-second TVC across multiple channels that showcased how every woman is unique and versatile in her way. The campaign aims to showcase the various needs of a woman when it comes to intimate wear and Jockey’s extensive range that is curated to meet these versatile needs of a woman. It seeks to celebrate the uniqueness of a woman and how Jockey constantly raises the bar and works towards meeting their expectations, says Karthik Yathindra, Associate Vice-President, Marketing and Product Management, Jockey India.

TOP 5:

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• Popees intends to expand its retail presence in India
• FabIndia re-opens its first store In New Delhi
• Nykaa debuts a plus-size range for Twenty Dresses, a private label
• Textiles may provide 7.5 lakh direct job opportunities under the government's PLI plan

Watch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ6v9wBHyOlRPSDgJMsJaA

13th September 2021, Mumbai:

Barely had apparel retailers in India recovered from the first COVID-19 wave, the second wave plunged the industry into darkness. Retailers are now look at the upcoming festive season to boost demand.

If, as assumed, the industry is not hit by the third wave in November, it is likely to grow 10 per cent over pre-COVID levels, says Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India. Retailers Raymond and Lifestyle also expect the industry to grow in double-digits this festive season.

Festive sales to grow 50 per cent over 2020 A spokesperson from Raymond said, there are enough signs indicating demand revival this festive season. The industry is likely to grow in double digits compared to pre-COVID levels and 50 per cent over the festive season of 2020. Most of this growth will be driven by the extended festive season this year followed by the wedding season.

Markets in eastern India will also see strong growth during upcoming Durga Puja, opines Deverjana Iyer, CEO, Lifestyle Stores. Retailer hopes to clock a double-digit growth as sales pick up week-on-week. Beginning with Ganesh Chaturthi in September and ending in early January with Christmas and New Year, the festive season will witness strong growth in demand for apparels, affirms Sanjay Jain, CEO, PDS Multinational Fashions, which is seeing a strong recovery across all its markets.

The prelude to this growth was witnessed during the Onam festival last month that witnessed good demand despite restrictions in Kerala. Even Eid and Rakhi sales indicated a strong revival in demand. The demand witnessed during these festivals indicated customers’ desire to celebrate after being shut down for two years, adds Umashan Naidoo, Head-Customer, Westside.

Growth to be led by ethnic wear

Growth during the upcoming festive season will be led by ethnic wear and occasion wear across men, women and kids wear, adds Naidoo. He believes demand for casual wear and loungwear will also grow as staycations get bigger. Online sales will aid to this growth with most consumers moving to online platforms for purchases.

Acceleration in vaccination will boost store footfalls though online sales will also grow, adds Jain whose company PDS has already shifted to online portals for shopping over the last 18 months. However, a possible third wave could dampen prospects for the retail industry if COVID-19 cases continue to rise and fresh restrictions are imposed. Retailers are adopting a cautious approach and not adding too much inventory. They are also working with suppliers to ensure smooth deliveries, adds Kumar. They do not wish to be saddled with unsold stocks like last year, he signs off.

TOP 5:

• Vedant Fashions (Manyavar), an Indian ethnic wear company, has filed draught documents for an initial public offering (IPO)
• Aditya Birla Fashions aims for a revenue of Rs 25,000 crore by 2026
• States will compete for a place in the MITRA textiles initiative
• Coutloot receives $8 million in investment from Ameba Capital and other investors
• Akaaro, founded by Gaurav Jai Gupta, has launched a wedding collection

Watch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ6v9wBHyOlRPSDgJMsJaA

16th September 2021, Mumbai:

Leading sportswear giant adidas has launched a flagship store in New Delhi. ‘The Home of Possibilities’ store is a blend of multiple digital touchpoints, sustainability zones and embodies the future of retail experience for consumers, according to the company statement. Spread across 5,900 sq. ft. area covering four floors, the store focuses on three important aspects of experience, sustainability, and credibility.

It features 32 digital touch points powered by green energy, and encapsulates the use of advanced technology which includes immersive screens, digital plinths and ceiling screens to give customers a superior digital shopping experience.

The store’s floor is made with upcycled carbon tiles made of carbon collected from environmental pollution. It is the first LEED certified adidas store in the country. In line with adidas’ long-term vision and commitment towards sustainability, the flagship store houses a dedicated ‘Sustainability Zone’. Displaying the End Plastic Waste logo, the zone features collection adidas' best sustainable collection

To create a more inclusive space, the flagship store has been curated in a manner where products and the shopping experience have been curated to encourage movement and support them in their sport and fitness journey.

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• Inditex's net profit for the first half of the year has increased as sales have nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels
• Pratibha Syntex (India) has completed the ZDHC fundamental level
• Tirupur, India's largest garment manufacturing hub, employs illegal foreign labor!
• Joshna Chinappa, a squash player, has been named as Asics' latest brand athlete
• In India, Adidas opens its first flagship shop

15th September 2021, Mumbai:

Women’s wear brand Amrich has launched a limited-edition collection at the Mumbai boutique and e-commerce store of multi-brand luxury Indian fashion retailer Ensemble. The new collection features bright hues, floaty textiles, and relaxed-fit silhouettes.

The apple green, magenta, and white hues create the effect of a watermelon while the tie-dye prints add a resort wear feel with kaftans and robes aplenty.

The brand launched by designers Amit Vijaya and Richard Pandav after graduating from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. The brand’s name represents its vision of true luxury that comes from a confluence of fine natural fabrics, elegant cuts and precise finishes with an essence of tradition to create a distinct look. Made with the confluence of fine natural fabrics and atypical textile treatments, the label depicts the richness of Indian artisanship.

TOP 5:

• Cotton production in India may drop by 1%, according to Fitch Ratings
• Popees intends to expand its retail presence in India
• FabIndia re-opens its first store In New Delhi
• Nykaa debuts a plus-size range for Twenty Dresses, a private label
• Textiles may provide 7.5 lakh direct job opportunities under the government's PLI plan

Watch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ6v9wBHyOlRPSDgJMsJaA

13th September 2021, Mumbai:

Gaurav Jai Gupta's clothing brand Akaaro will present its first bridal wear line named ‘Meen’ at the upcoming Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (IOTA2) fair in Australia this month. As per Fashion Network, the collection includes 16 lightweight lehengas.

Meen, which means ‘fish’ in Sanskrit, features weaves crafted from silk and 5 gm gold plated zari yarn. The color palette of the collection comprises bright reds, golds, magentas, and turmeric yellows and it makes minimum use of decorative motifs.

Designed for the modern woman, the collection was launched on the brand’s dedicated e-commerce site ahead of the upcoming winter wedding season. This month will also see the brand travel to Australia. “We are thrilled to be representing India at (IOTA21) happening in Australia this month,” the brand announced on Facebook.

The IOTA is a curation of artists and designers from countries across the Indian Ocean Rim including Australia, India, Iran, Tanzania, Kenya, the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Thailand among others. The event is taking place throughout the month and, Akaaro will present its collection on September 19 at an exhibition named ‘Curiosity of the Cloth’.

TOP 5:

• Vedant Fashions (Manyavar), an Indian ethnic wear company, has filed draught documents for an initial public offering (IPO)
• Aditya Birla Fashions aims for a revenue of Rs 25,000 crore by 2026
• States will compete for a place in the MITRA textiles initiative
• Coutloot receives $8 million in investment from Ameba Capital and other investors
• Akaaro, founded by Gaurav Jai Gupta, has launched a wedding collection

Watch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ6v9wBHyOlRPSDgJMsJaA

16th September 2021, Mumbai:

Tirupur, India's largest garment manufacturing city, employs illegal immigrant labor. According to media estimates, around 20 Bangladeshi nationals have been apprehended in Tirupur, a textile town in West Bengal, in the last three months.

Surprisingly, some of them possessed false Aadhaar cards, while others didn't bother to acquire paperwork at all, yet they were still able to get work in various garment manufacturing plants.

Although Bangladesh's clothing manufacturing business offers more prospects than India's, Bangladeshi employees are drawn to Tirupur because of the higher compensation. In India, a worker may make nearly twice as much as in Bangladesh. A factory owner was reported in the media as saying, "If one individual succeeds to visit Tirupur and find a job, he would try to bring his friends and family within the following year." They communicate in Hindi and Bengali and blend in with other temporary employees living in leased housing. According to the police, they would fly to Bangladesh, visit their relatives, and then return to Tirupur. We don't dig any deeper when they generate Aadhaar cards. The garment units would solely focus on getting work done due to a severe labor shortage.”

According to reports, some Bangladeshis will have prior expertise and will work as tailors or cutting masters, while those without prior experience would begin by packaging and gradually learn specialized labor.

MP Muthurathinam, President of the Tirupur Exporters and Manufacturers Association, believes that a method to maintain track of guest workers is long overdue. “At the moment, there is no registration system in place.

They come here and stay in the accommodations of their choice.

Some people relocate to Coimbatore, Erode, or Karur. As a result, a state-wide registration of foreign workers must be established. “The State Government should provide them an identity card,” he added. In 2018, the local police started a mission to gather information on all foreign workers and build a database, but the epidemic and a lack of staff made it impossible to complete.

According to a police spokesman, now that Covid is down, authorities will begin collecting information on migrant workers.

Watch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ6v9wBHyOlRPSDgJMsJaA