14 November 2025, Mumbai 

Cantabil Retail India Ltd. is not just expanding; it's strategically capturing the emerging purchasing power in smaller Indian cities, using recent tax reforms as a significant tailwind.

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The company, a long-standing, mid-premium family fashion brand with over 600 stores nationwide, is heavily invested in an aggressive, debt-free growth model.

Following the catalytic effect of GST 2.0 on volume growth, with the GST rate on apparel priced under ₹2,500 significantly reduced, which covers an estimated 60% of Cantabil's sales (average price point around ₹1,150), the company has directly passed the savings to consumers.

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This transparency and effective price reduction is strengthening consumer confidence and volume uptake, particularly in price-sensitive Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

Cantabil’s growth plan hinges on adding 70–80 new stores annually, largely on high streets in these high-potential non-metro cities.

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The goal to hit ₹1,000 crore in revenue by FY27 is thus a direct result of pairing a targeted retail footprint expansion with a tax-driven boost in affordability and consumer trust, validating the immense potential of India's evolving domestic consumption story.

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12 November 2025, Mumbai 

A brand under the Godrej Enterprises umbrella, India Circus by Krsnaa Mehta has opened its largest retail location to date at IREO Mall in Gurugram, marking a decade of vibrant and contemporary Indian design.

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Spanning nearly 2,000 sq ft, the new flagship store is an expansive celebration of the brand's journey, which began with prints and has grown into a comprehensive lifestyle portfolio.

The immersive space showcases a wide range of products across home décor, dining, fashion, accessories and wallpapers.

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Krsnaa Mehta, Founder and Executive Director, notes, the Gurugram store reflects the significant demand and growth the brand has experienced over the past ten years.

The decision to choose Gurugram was strategic, recognizing the area as the NCR’s business and lifestyle hub, with a consumer base that is discerning, design-literate, and proud of their roots.

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The store itself is designed as a curated gallery, weaving together India's cultural heritage with a modern, functional approach

As part of its ongoing expansion, India Circus plans to further strengthen its local presence with another store opening soon at Silverglade Mall in Gurugram.

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12 November 2025, Mumbai 

International menswear brand, Selected has refurbished its brand identity in India with a new refined and understated logo.

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In India, Selected has always been known as Selected Homme. With the rebrand, the brand transitions to one unified name, ‘Selected’ bringing the menswear offering in line with the brand’s global identity.

This move creates a stronger, more recognizable presence while reinforcing the brand’s commitment to delivering premium, contemporary style.

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‘Selected’s rebrand marks a significant step forward for the brand in India. By adopting a singular, cohesive identity, the label aligns seamlessly with its global vision while building a sharper, more impactful presence in the Indian market, says Sumit Dhingra, CEO & Country Director, Bestseller India.

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Beyond the logo, this evolution will extend across every touchpoint, from collections to packaging, hangtags to signage, as well as the brand’s digital presence and in-store experience.

One will see this change reflected everywhere through refined typography, thoughtful material choices, and considered details – ushering in a new era for Selected.

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14 November 2025, Mumbai 

Aza Fashions, an established force in India's multi-designer luxury retail sector with a global e-commerce footprint and a network of physical boutiques, has unveiled 'ROAR,' an exclusive capsule collection in collaboration with style icon Shilpa Shetty Kundra.

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This launch signals a strategic shift in the narrative around the traditional Indian saree, positioning it not as mere ethnic wear but as a powerful, versatile garment for the contemporary woman. Rather than simply showcasing glamour, the collection focuses on wearability and self-expression, translating the actress's renowned bold and unconventional personal style—itself inspired by her mother's unique saree drapes—into pre-draped, effortless silhouettes like skirt-sets and draped kaftans.

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'ROAR,' with its mix of fierce animal and botanical prints, directly addresses the modern consumer's demand for high-fashion pieces that are easy to manage across various occasions, from destination weddings to red-carpet appearances.

For Aza, this collaboration represents a calculated move to capture a younger, style-conscious demographic by merging their platform’s curated luxury credibility with the immense brand equity and fitness-focused empowerment message of Shilpa Shetty Kundra. It is an effort to drive global access to innovative Indian couture.

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12 November 2025, Mumbai 

The multi-brand luxury brand Carma has opened a new store in Fort, Mumbai, offering metro shoppers a curated selection of designer wear from India.

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Conceptualized to blend heritage with modern design, this South Mumbai boutique features a high-end selection of traditional and occasion wear for women.

The new store houses brands including Varun Bahl, Puneet Kapoor, Label Ankita, Nidhika Shekhar, Drishti Chhabra, Mithi Supari, Devkalii, Ivory by Dipika, Vrinda by Pundrik, Ease, Asma Husain, Sainy Garg, Jiviva, Kashmiraa and Kajol Goyal.

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Established in 1986, Carma also operates stores in New Delhi and Hyderabad. The business offers personalized consultations, along with digital services like virtual appointments and assisted shopping.

By opening in Mumbai, Carma intends to connect with a new consumer base in the popular Fort shopping district.

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12 November 2025, Mumbai 

The classic kurta-pyjama, long seen as a symbol of South Asian heritage, is having a modern renaissance. Once reserved for festivals and ceremonies, it has been reinvented as a statement of everyday style a reflection of India’s cultural self-confidence meeting global fashion sensibilities. This evolution, often dubbed ‘The Great Unstitch’, has turned the once-humble garment into a powerful economic force within India’s booming men’s apparel industry.

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From ritual wear to runway relevance

For decades, the kurta-pyjama was an occasional indulgence, worn at weddings, Diwali gatherings, or religious functions. But in the last few years, it has entered the mainstream as part of wardrobes, workplaces, and wedding selfies. Its rebranding from a traditional outfit to a contemporary lifestyle choice reflects broader shifts in India’s economy and culture.

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The data backs the transformation.

Sources: Business Research Insights, IMARC Group, Technopak This table underscores a telling trend: men’s ethnic wear is outpacing the broader menswear market, expanding nearly three times faster than Western apparel.

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Rising incomes, rising confidence: the economic tailwind

The growth of India’s aspirational middle class especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities has turned fashion into a key expression of identity. With household disposable income per capita projected to reach Rs 2.2 lakh by FY2028 (CRISIL), spending on premium and branded ethnic wear has grown. For many young Indians, particularly in semi-urban markets, a stylish kurta or bandi jacket has become a marker of taste and success akin to owning a well-fitted suit in the 1990s. This shift has created a fertile market for both organized and designer-led players who are redefining men’s celebration wear.

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How e-commerce wove ethnic wear into everyday life

If disposable income was the spark, digital retail was the accelerant. The explosion of e-commerce and social media has turned ethnic wear into an always-available, always-visible fashion category.

Table: India online apparel market 2030 projections

The fusion effect

The modern Indian man no longer sees tradition and trend as opposites. The kurta-pyjama has evolved in silhouette, fabric, and styling to keep pace with the country’s changing fashion vocabulary. The rigid rule of pairing a kurta with a pyjama has broken down, giving way to the wildly popular Indo-Western look, where tradition meets comfort. The most visible element is the Nehru jacket or bandi jacket, which is now a versatile wardrobe staple. Pairing an intricately embroidered jacket with a plain kurta and trousers instantly transforms the outfit for a formal or semi-formal look. The pajama or churidar is frequently replaced by dhoti pants, Jodhpuri trousers, or even well-fitted chinos/jeans for a younger, casual twist.

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The modern men's kurta ensemble is defined by its dramatic cuts, fabric innovation, and focus on versatility.

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Regional artistry goes mainstream

Artisanal crafts like Lucknowi chikankari, Banarasi silk, and Rajasthani block prints have moved from local boutiques to e-commerce storefronts. What was once regional exclusivity is now part of a nationwide design language, thanks to digital logistics and online curation.

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The brand wars

Manyavar, the market maker: When Vedant Fashions launched Manyavar in 1999, it transformed ethnic wear retail from an unorganized cluster of local boutiques into a category-defining segment.

Manyavar positioned the kurta and sherwani as celebration wear, turning them into aspirational purchases. Its campaigns featuring Virat Kohli and Ranveer Singh elevated ethnic attire to premium status.

The brand expanded via a Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) model, maintaining consistency across over 500 stores and strong representation in diaspora markets.

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Manyavar’s success proved that cultural authenticity, when coupled with design innovation and brand storytelling, could yield scale comparable to Western wear giants. The success of Manyavar attracted major corporate players, further pushed up the market's transformation.

Tasva (Aditya Birla Fashion + Tarun Tahiliani): Launched aggressively, focusing on bridging the gap between designer wear and accessible luxury. Tasva has reportedly seen its business double in the last year, with an expansion plan to add hundreds of new stores, highlighting the market’s enormous potential.

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Ethnix (by Raymond): Raymond, an established giant, also scaled up its Ethnix line to target Tier-II and III cities, which comprise an estimated 85 per cent of the market, with competitively priced, modern ethnic wear.

Fabindia Men: Fabindia operates in a distinct niche, prioritizing craft, sustainability, and authenticity. While Tasva and Ethnix focus heavily on wedding and celebratory occasion wear (sherwanis, indowestern suits), Fabindia Men offers a wider range of ethnic apparel, including options for daily wear and conscious consumers.

The brand’s aesthetic is classic, relying on the intrinsic value of its fabrics and handiwork. Consumers who prioritize ethical sourcing, natural materials, and authentic Indian craft over fast fashion or high-gloss occasion wear.

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With handloom and sustainable focus it offers a lifestyle choice that stands apart from the occasion-wear-dominant market.

Table: Big brands in men’s ethnic wear market

Global demand for Indian aesthetics

As Indian diaspora communities grow in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, demand for ethnic menswear abroad is rising sharply. Export-oriented D2C brands like Kalki, Qbik, and Rohit Bal Men now cater to NRIs seeking designer looks delivered worldwide.

As per IMARC, the global ethnic menswear export market from India is expected to exceed $1.5 billion by 2028, driven by weddings, cultural festivals, and film-inspired fashion.

Thus the Indian men’s kurta-pyjama has transcended its traditional confines.

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No longer symbolic of just heritage, it now represents a modern Indian masculinity that is confident, expressive, and globally aware. With fashion cycles shortening, fabrics diversifying, and digital sales multiplying, the line between ethnic and everyday wear continues to blur. The next phase of this $38-billion market will likely be defined by sustainability, personalization, and export growth where the unstitched will keep weaving new stories.

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 12 November 2025, Mumbai 

Delivering a strong performance, Baazar Style Retail reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 51 crore during Q2. FY26 while revenue from operations increased by 71 per cent Y-o-Y.

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This strong growth also propelled the company’s quarterly revenue to Rs 340 crore, up from Rs 198.8 crore recorded in Q2 FY25.

This impressive performance was largely attributed to the company’s strategic expansion efforts and operational efficiency, particularly in its target markets.

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Baazar Style Retail has been aggressively expanding its footprint, focusing on Tier II and Tier III cities where it is seeing robust demand for its value-fashion offerings.

The increase in revenue correlates directly with the addition of new stores and the maturation of previously opened locations.

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The company continues to capitalize on the highly competitive value-fashion segment, providing affordable apparel and lifestyle products that resonate strongly with budget-conscious consumers.

Improved supply chain management and inventory turnover contributed to the profit turnaround, ensuring better margins despite a challenging retail landscape.

The combination of aggressive store rollouts and targeted merchandise strategies positions Baazar Style Retail as a significant growth player in the organized value-retail sector.

The positive results demonstrate the success of the company’s strategy to blend affordability with modern retail experiences.

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11 November 2025, Mumbai 

Fashion and lifestyle brand Wrogn as launched its fifth store in Bengaluru, India, located inside Lulu Mall. This opening further solidifies the brand's physical retail presence in the metropolitan area.

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The new Lulu Mall location is expected to enhance Wrogn reach within Bengaluru’s highly competitive retail market and support its current omnichannel strategy. It offers a key touchpoint for customers to experience the brand's offerings firsthand.

Wrogn other existing stores in Bengaluru are strategically situated in prominent locations, including HSR Layout, Indiranagar, Jayanagar, and Jala Hobli, reflecting the brand's consistent expansion across the city.

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Co-created by cricket star Virat Kohli and launched by Universal Sportsbiz, Wrogn specializes in a wide selection of men’s casual wear, footwear, and accessories, targeting young, style-conscious consumers.

The brand's growth trajectory received a major boost in 2024 when Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail acquired a significant stake in the company through its subsidiary, TMRW.

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The launch at Lulu Mall underscores Wrogn’s dedication to providing a seamless shopping experience that combines style, quality, and accessibility for its growing customer base in Bengaluru. This move is part of Wrogn’s broader vision to expand its physical retail presence across major Indian cities, enhancing brand visibility and solidifying its position as a leading urban fashion brand in India.

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13 November 2025, Mumbai 

The narrative in Indian retail is undergoing a decisive transformation. The earlier obsession with scaling store counts and geographical sprawl is now being replaced by a sharper focus on operational efficiency and unit-level profitability. This shift is most visible in the fast-paced, trend-driven fashion and apparel sector, where unsold inventory can swiftly turn into dead capital.

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While conglomerates like Reliance Retail continue to dominate overall revenue through sheer breadth, the most profitable and agile players like, DMart, Zudio, and V-Mart are proving that sustainable profitability in retail is not about who is biggest, but who is smartest.

In today’s apparel economy, productivity per square foot and inventory velocity are stronger determinants of value than total store count.

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How efficiency became the core fabric of fashion retail

In fashion retail, inefficiency has a tangible cost. Every markdown, every delayed season cycle, and every warehouse full of unsold stock erodes profitability.

The most successful players in India’s retail ecosystem have mastered efficiency as a strategy by streamlining logistics, minimizing markdowns, and extracting maximum value from each retail square foot. The Indian apparel efficiency spectrum can be understood across four retail models.

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Table: The Indian apparel efficiency spectrum

This spectrum shows that Indian value-fashion success is being driven by efficiency-first models that mirror the speed and precision of global fast fashion without the debt and discount dependency.

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Zudio, redefining fast fashion through operational precision

The story of Zudio, Trent Ltd.’s breakout value fashion chain, is a masterclass in disciplined execution. It is India’s answer to Primark meets DMart, a model that rethinks fashion not as glamour, but as a finely tuned logistics business. Zudio spends almost nothing on advertising.

Instead, it reinvests savings into lower price points, turning affordability into a viral marketing engine powered by social media buzz. Everyday Low Pricing (EDLP) in focus. Unlike traditional retailers that rely on end-of-season sales, Zudio’s no-discount model ensures every sale happens at full margin, avoiding the erosion of brand and profitability.

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The Franchise-Owned, Company-Operated (FOCO) model allows franchisees to bear store-level capex, while Trent retains control over merchandising and operations. This results in rapid, asset-light expansion with profit metrics that outpace the broader market.

The outcome is clear. Zudio’s sales per sq. ft. are roughly Rs 16,300 annually, almost double the industry average, and its inventory turnover rate refreshing nearly 60 per cent of products weekly keeps stores perpetually fresh and cash cycles short.

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Reliance Trends the empire approach to fashion retail

At the other end of the spectrum lies Reliance Trends, a vertical under Reliance Retail’s mammoth 19,000-store portfolio. Its approach is rooted in scale, ecosystem leverage, and platform integration.

Reliance operates across store formats multi-brand outlets, large-format stores, and digital platforms like Ajio creating a dense omnichannel network that spans India’s urban and semi-urban markets.

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Reliance Trends benefits from the parent company’s deep logistics, data analytics, and supply chain infrastructure. This allows product availability and pricing control unmatched by smaller players.

However, the trade-off of scale is evident. While Reliance Retail’s EBITDA margin stands at approximately 8.6 per cent, higher than DMart’s 7.6 per cent, its profit per store at around Rs 0.6 crore is a fraction of DMart’s Rs 6.5 crore. The profit engine here is not unit efficiency but the network effect of a massive retail ecosystem.

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V-Mart, the Tier II & III efficiency engine

In smaller-town India, V-Mart Retail is writing its own efficiency playbook. By focusing squarely on Tier II and Tier III markets, V-Mart bypasses the inflated real estate costs of metros and uses a cluster-based logistics model to enhance supply efficiency. Each cluster comprising 10-15 stores within a 150 km radius shares warehousing and inventory systems, reducing distribution costs by over 25-30 per cent compared to national averages.

This approach keeps product availability high, dead stock low, and customer loyalty steady in value-conscious regions.

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The hidden metrics behind fashion retail profits

When comparing Indian fashion retailers, efficiency can be quantified through a few critical indicators.

This data reveals that efficiency-driven retailers generate up to 10× higher profits per store than their scale-heavy counterparts.

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When bigger isn’t better

Studies using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) on Indian retail models indicate that aggressive expansion without operational optimization leads to technical inefficiency.

Retailers that prioritize scale before process optimization often face rising costs per square foot, falling stock productivity, and eroding margins. In contrast, efficiency-focused players, Zudio, DMart, and V-Mart achieve higher productivity per input unit, meaning every rupee spent on logistics, real estate, and inventory generates proportionally higher output.

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Efficiency as the new luxury

As India’s fashion retail matures, the competitive edge will increasingly lie in lean systems, rapid stock cycles, and data-backed merchandising, rather than splashy expansions. Retailers that treat every store as a profit center not a branding outpost will define the next phase of Indian retail evolution.

In short, the market is rewarding those who understand that in the age of fast fashion and faster capital cycles, efficiency isn’t the byproduct of success it is the product itself.

12 November 2025, Mumbai 

V-Mart Retail narrowed its Q2, FY26 net loss to Rs 8.9 crore while their revenue from operations increased by 22 per cent Y-o-Yduring the quarter. This growth was driven by a continued addition of new stores, particularly in Tier II and III cities.

Driven by a favorable consumer sentiment, the company’s same-store sales also grew while successful promotional strategies contributed to increased sales at existing locations. The company's focus on affordable apparel and lifestyle products continues to resonate well with budget-conscious consumers, driving foot traffic and higher transaction volumes.

The narrowing of the net loss, combined with the strong revenue growth, signals improving operational leverage and efficiency for the value-fashion retailer.

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11 November 2025, Mumbai 

A premier retail destination in Bengaluru, Orion Mall has announced the opening of the debut Gant 5.0 concept store in South India.

The development marks a significant step in the mall’s ongoing mission to bring globally loved and forward-thinking brands to Bengaluru shoppers.

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The new Gant 5.0 concept store redefines the premium casualwear retail experience, seamlessly blending Scandinavian aesthetics with global sophistication.

Designed to offer an immersive and contemporary shopping environment, the space clearly reflects the brand’s core values of heritage, innovation, and effortless style.

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Known worldwide as a pioneer of the ‘American sportswear’ movement, Gant continues to evolve its retail design philosophy. The Gant 5.0 concept focuses on creating warm, welcoming spaces inspired by natural textures, light wood finishes, and clean design lines.

Crucially, this new store seamlessly integrates digital touchpoints and experiential zones, inviting shoppers to interact with the brand in a more personalized and engaging way.

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Located on the Ground Floor of Orion Mall, the Gant store showcases the brand’s signature collection of timeless essentials- ranging from classic shirts and chinos to contemporary lifestyle apparel- designed to appeal to today’s modern, style-conscious consumer.

With the opening of Gant 5.0, Bengaluru shoppers can now experience the future of fashion retail, where craftsmanship meets technology.

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