18 November 2024, Mumbai

To celebrate India’s rich artistic heritage, Delhi-based designer Tarun Tahiliani organised the second edition of the annual ‘Tarun Tahiliani Parade at the ongoing Art Mumbai festival on Nov 14, 2024.

Combining traditional elegance with modern style, Tahiliani's showcase featured garments from his couture collection as well as pieces from his new luxury pret brand, OTT, along with striking accessories and jewelry.

The show also included a section dedicated to Tahiliani’s signature use of white and beige, two colors deeply rooted in his design language. The garments showcased in this section featured intricate crystal embellishments, delicate embroidery, pearls, and fine threadwork, embodying a timeless aesthetic.

Tahiliani’s collection at the show focused on floral motifs with some saris and lehengas inspired by 'flowers in full bloom' and the traditional Indian art form known as pichwai. The show also included heavily embroidered saris crafted by master artisans from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, paired with contemporary, stylish blouses, seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with modern silhouettes.

In a tribute to the artisans, many of the garments were accompanied by photo frames carried by models, displaying the names of the master crafts persons who brought the designs to life. This gesture celebrated the skilled hands behind the intricate work, highlighting the connection between designer and craftsman.

The final segment of the parade focused on Tahiliani’s luxury pret brand OTT. It featured a range of innovative designs including bibs, long jackets, capes, and coats. These tailored creations struck a balance between heritage and modernity, showcasing the designer’s ability to evolve traditional aesthetics while embracing contemporary trends.

A glittering homage to India’s diverse cultural heritage, the The Tarun Tahiliani Parade blended traditional elements with modern design innovations, and giving due credit to the artisans who preserve the country's rich craftsmanship.

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16 November 2024, Mumbai

Raymond has launched its refurbished store spanning 3,500 sq ft at the Galaxy High Street shopping centre in Vapi. The store offers an expanded product range and Raymond’s apparel brands including ‘Made to Measure’ and ‘Ethnix.’

The Raymond store in the South Gujarat mall measures 8,500 sq ft, spread across three floors. The store is run as a franchise outlet by Arete Group.

Galaxy High Street has always aimed to deliver a diverse and premium shopping experience, says Siraj Saiyed, Director, Arete Group of Companies The expansion of Raymond's store, with exclusive offerings like Ethnix and Made to Measure, reaffirms the brand’s dedication to meet its customers' evolving expectations.

By expanding its retail operations, Raymond aims to attract new customers from Vapi and its surrounding areas and offer branded products from Galaxy High Street.’ The Raymond store also offers personalised services such as garment fitting and customisation to its shoppers. Besides, it also features a number of exclusive product offerings.

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15 November 2024, Mumbai

Marking a significant expansion for the sustainable children's clothing brand founded by actor and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt, Ed-a-Mamma has opened its second physical store at DLF Mall of India in Noida. The store offers eco-friendly children’s and maternity wear from the brand.

Launched in 2020, Ed-a-Mamma is dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion choices with a mission to positively impact the environment. The brand focuses on children's clothing for ages 2–14, offering a wide selection of items, including shirts, dresses, shorts, tees, jumpsuits, joggers, and trousers. Each piece is crafted with comfort and functionality in mind, using biodegradable fabrics and non-toxic, AZO-free dyes, ensuring clothing that is both gentle on young skin and kind to the planet. Many of their collections feature organic materials made from GOTS-certified cotton, underscoring their commitment to sustainability.

In Sep 2023, Reliance Retail Ventures entered into a joint venture with the brand by 51 per cent stake in it. This partnership aligns with both companies' ambitions to expand the reach of sustainable fashion in India.

Operating on a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, Ed-a-Mamma's collections are available on its website and popular e-commerce platforms. The opening of the Noida store enhances the brand’s physical presence, allowing more families to discover and engage with their earth-friendly collections in person.

Sustainability is central to Ed-a-Mamma’s philosophy. The brand prioritises eco-conscious practices throughout the production process, repurposing fabric scraps to create accessories like hair bands and small bags, and including a seed ball with every purchase—encouraging children and families to plant and connect with nature.

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18 November 2024, Mumbai

Reflecting its evolving identity and values, Jagran Group-owned renowned socks brand Balenzia has been officially rebranded to SocksXpress. Besides renaming the brand, the process involved revamping of SocksXpress’ packaging, in-store displays, social media presence, and website, while also preparing to launch a vibrant new range of sock designs.

Rahul Gupta, Founder and Director, SocksXpress says, the new name reflects the brand’s clarity, individuality, and self-expression. Straightforward and memorable, the name captures the brand’s goal to be a go-to brand in the socks category.

This rebranding also makes SocksXpress the leading destination for sock enthusiasts in India besides maintaining focus on international markets. The brand plans to launch new product lines and collaborative collections through its existing store network and direct-to-customer e-commerce platform.

With the new identity, SocksXpress aims to strengthen its position in the socks category, offering an expanded selection that emphasises creativity, quality, and a bold approach to self-expression.

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16 November 2024, Mumbai

Itrh has launched a limited-edition party wear collection in collaboration with Nykaa Fashion's private label, RSVP. Scheduled for launch just in time for the winter festive season, the collection is hugely inspired by the disco era of the 1980s, gives a refreshing and youthful look to partywear.

Mohit Rai and Ridhi Bansal, Founders, Itrh, opine, ‘the Itrh for RSVP collection’ channels the high-energy and glamorous atmosphere of the disco age, taking cues from its legendary nightlife scene. The collection brings the spirit of that era to life, be it Madonna’s iconic crucifix jewelry or Cher’s dramatic deep necklines and flowing sleeves Inspired by the electrifying energy of that musical period, the designers have added their own modern twist to the collection like a jumpsuit-corset saree.

The collaboration aims to make Itrh's luxury designs more accessible, with prices starting from Rs 3,495, available through Nykaa Fashion's online store.

A few of the key pieces in this collection include draped evening gowns, chic strappy mini dresses, sporty maxi dresses, hooded styles, and statement jumpsuits. The overall aesthetic blends 'Pastel Bling' with 'OTT Glam,' offering bold, yet elegant looks perfect for the party season.

Nykaa Fashion’s collaboration with Itrh aims to deliver luxe, statement-making fashion that’s attainable, says Nisha Pikle, Head-Western Wear and Accessories, Nykaa Fashion. The RSVP x Itrh collection blends sophisticated elegance with a bold, edgy vibe, empowering women to shine with confidence, she adds.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

Fueled by urbanisation, evolving demographics, and a rising sense of fashion consciousness, the Indian lingerie market is projected to rise from $5.06 billion in 2024 to $9.57 billion by 2030. As per a report by Global News Wire, the market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 11.20 per cent during this period.

One of the most crucial factors driving this growth is the rise in the e-commerce sector, which has significantly improved access to lingerie across India, including in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption, fast-tracking the e-commerce landscape by one to two years and creating opportunities for both established brands and newcomers. This digital shift has enabled lingerie brands to foster deeper customer connections, offer personalised shopping experiences, and gain a clearer understanding of consumer preferences.

At present, there is a demand for offering comfort, style, and functionality amongst Indian consumers. There is a growing trend towards products blending support with aesthetics. Additionally, the demand for size-inclusive collections, diverse options, and sustainable products is influencing purchasing decisions.

Brands are responding to demand by expanding their offerings, introducing innovative materials, and staying in tune with market expectations, reflecting an agile approach to changing consumer needs.

However, the market faces challenges. Cultural taboos around lingerie shopping, a sensitivity to price, and infrastructure and distribution limitations continue to pose obstacles. To address these issues, brands and retailers are implementing strategies like targeted marketing campaigns and strengthening distribution networks to harness the growing demand in the sector.

Regionally, northern India leads the market, benefiting from higher disposable incomes, greater fashion awareness, and a more developed retail ecosystem. Urban centers in this region are driving growth, reflecting a synergy between consumer demand and strategic brand placement.

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16 November 2024, Mumbai

B2B marketplace, Zyod is set to expand its operations to over 40 countries, leveraging its scalable technology platform and vast network of SMEs. As the platform grows globally, it remains committed to introducing 100,000 styles monthly while maintaining consistent quality and efficiency.

In future, the platform aims to target underserved markets such as Africa and South America besides strengthening relationships in established regions like Japan, the Middle East and the United States. It also plans to expand to Bengaluru, Ludhiana and Tirupur to build an even more diverse and decentralised manufacturing network, says Ritesh Khandelwal, Co-founder.

Since its inception in Jan’23, Zyod has expanded to 18 countries, working with over 350 brands globally, while reaching an annual GMV of $18 million. Some of its clients include Reliance, FirstCry, Rare Rabbit, Anthropologie, NEXT, Boohoo, Landmark Group, Joop & Gypsy, Aminas Collection, Cactus Rose, Ancestry, Tata Cliq, Allen Cooper, TIGC, Libas, Covers Story, Muse and Payal Singhal, etc.

In June this year, Zyod raised $18 million in Series A funding in a mix of equity and debt funding. The funding was led by venture firm RTP Global, while the debt capital was raised from Stride Ventures, Trifecta Capital and Alteria Capital. Last year too, ZYOD raised $3.5 million in seed funding from Lightspeed India and other investors.

The funds are being used to expand the platform’s technology infrastructure, expand its manufacturing capabilities and scale its operations to new markets. A significant portion of these funds has been allocated to developing its AI-driven fashion forecasting tools and ERP systems, as well as training and integrating local SMEs into our supply chain, adds Khandelwal.

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16 November 2024, Mumbai

Leading socks manufacturer, Bonjour is set to grow at a projected rate of 10-13 per cent next year, according to Raj Kumar Jain, Managing Director.

Since its establishment in 1988, Bonjour has seen steady progress. Currently, the brand operates 15 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) and has a presence in over 12,000 multi-brand outlets (MBOs) with the support of 180 distributors.

The company reports an annual turnover of Rs. 250 crore, with 80 per cent of revenue coming from domestic sales and 20 per cent from international markets. Around 85 per cent of the brand's revenue is primarily generated offline with e-commerce contributing 12 per cent and quick commerce making up the remaining 3 per cent

To expand its reach, Bonjour focuses on strategic licensing agreements, partnering with well-known brands like Hush Puppies for socks and Warner Bros for licensed products featuring popular characters such as Barbie, Ben10, Superman, and Batman. These collaborations allow Bonjour to leverage the popularity and customer base of these global names, creating co-branded products that combine its hosiery expertise with the appeal of its partners.

Bonjour's product range is divided into three key brands: Bonjour, Vami, and Bontact. The flagship Bonjour brand offers a broad range of high-quality socks to suit diverse needs, including cotton, sports, ankle, compression, thermal, and kids' socks. Vami, the second brand, is dedicated to women’s apparel, featuring stylish yet comfortable items like leggings, jeggings, blouses, innerwear, and winter wear.

The third brand, Bontact, caters to demanding environments with specialized products such as defense socks, waterproof gloves, tactical gear, and extreme cold weather clothing, focusing on durability and functionality.

Bonjour’s partnerships with leading brands have resulted in a wide variety of socks, attracting both its loyal customers and fans of partner franchises. These exclusive collections emphasize innovative designs and materials, reinforcing Bonjour’s market position.

The Indian socks market is rapidly expanding, with Statista projecting revenues to reach $184.60 million in 2024 growing at the CAGR of 4.23 per cent from 2024-2028. Despite this positive trajectory, the market remains largely unorganised, offering significant untapped potential. Streamlining this sector could enhance the industry’s development and position India as a global leader in socks manufacturing.

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15 November 2024, Mumbai

A new report released this Wednesday by Redseer Strategy Consultants reveals a dynamic picture of India's evolving fashion market. It highlights the growing dominance of new-age, digital brands and the struggles faced by traditional players. The report, titled ‘Future of Fashion in India: New-Age vs Legacy’, looks at the factors driving this change and gives insights into the strategies brands must adopt to thrive in this new era. The report, which analyzed data from the recent festive season (September 15 to October 31), reveals that the sector achieved 12 per cent year-on-year growth, reaching a gross merchandise value (GMV) of approximately $14 billion.

Study highlights

Underperformance of the fashion market: The Indian fashion market’s has seen a slowdown in FY 2023-24, with uneven performance across major players. The sluggish growth over the past 1-1.5 years, has seen many established brands grappling to maintain consistent revenue growth. This underperformance is attributed to both macroeconomic factors and structural changes within the industry.

Rise of digital brands: Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands are capturing market share, challenging traditional players with their agility and digital-first approach.

Shifting consumer preferences: Consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, demand trend-forward designs, personalized experiences, and accessible price points.

Growth of fast fashion: The fast fashion segment is booming, and expected to reach $50 billion by FY31, with growing demand for affordable and trendy clothing.

Struggles of legacy brands: Traditional brands, accustomed to relying on vast retail networks, are finding it challenging to adapt to the digital-first landscape. Their slower pace of innovation and limited online presence hinder their ability to compete effectively.

The study shows fashion category has seen remarkable growth, during the festive season exceeding expectations with a threefold growth rate compared to baseline months. This performance is due to several factors. Demand for ethnic wear and accessories soared, particularly in Tier-II+ cities, where shoppers embraced traditional styles and celebrated festive occasions. It also shows unbranded ethnic wear, jewelry, and women's accessories gained significant traction, offering affordable options for fashion-conscious consumers.

And inTier-I cities, premium and international brands continued to attract consumers, catering to a more affluent customer base.

Table: Market segments and growth

Metric FY 2022-23 growth FY 2023-24 growth (projected) Overall Fashion Market 8% 5-7% New-Age Brands 30-40% 25-30% Legacy Brands 2-5% 0-3% Online Fashion Penetration 15% 20%

Trends shaping the future

The Redseer study shows online channels will continue to drive growth, with social media and e-commerce playing pivotal roles in brand discovery and engagement. Personalization is key and brands that leverage data to personalize offerings and create unique customer experiences will gain a competitive edge. Sustainability has gain traction and consumers are increasingly prioritizing ethical and sustainable fashion, pushing brands to adopt responsible practices. And while seeking trends and quality, consumers remain price-sensitive, creating opportunities for brands that offer value for money.

The Redseer study also showed smaller cities played a pivotal role in the festive season's success, with 13 per cent rise in spending. Increased access to discounts and a wider selection of products enabled consumers in these regions to purchase high-value items, contributing significantly to the overall GMV.While new shopper acquisition slowed, existing customers showed 5-6 per cent increase in spending, indicating a maturing market and deeper retail wallet penetration.The report also observed a notable increase in prepaid transactions, particularly in Tier-II+ cities, enhancing the shopping experience and fostering trust among consumers.

The Redseer report underscores the significant shift underway in India's fashion industry. As digital natives continue to disrupt the market, legacy brands must embrace innovation and adapt their strategies to cater to the evolving needs and preferences of the modern consumer. The future belongs to brands that can seamlessly integrate online and offline experiences, personalize offerings, and respond swiftly to trends while maintaining a focus on sustainability and value.

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16 November 2024, Mumbai

American lifestyle brand Converse has roped in Indian actors Harshvardhan Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor as its newest ambassadors in India. This partnership aligns with Converse’s first store launch in the country, on the Linking Road in Mumbai.

This collaboration with the Kapoor siblings emphasises the brand’s dedication to encourage young people to express their true selves. The move coincides with the opening of Converse’s flagship store, which promises a unique shopping experience and marks a new chapter in India’s dynamic sneaker culture.

Originally founded in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, Converse is known globally for its footwear, apparel, and accessories. The brand, which has undergone several ownership changes over the years, is now a subsidiary of Nike, Inc

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15 November 2024, Mumbai

Making its brick-and-mortar debut in India, renowned US-based apparel and accessories brand, Amiri has opened its first exclusive outlet at The Chanakya, a high-end shopping mall in New Delhi.

The launch event was attended by prominent sports icon, Shubman Gill. The mall encouraged visitors to explore Amiri's "elevated relaxed styles" at the new store.

Bollywood star Shanaya Kapoor also graced the event, showcasing sporty pieces from Amiri's latest collection. The store’s interior boasts a bright, minimalist design, featuring a crisp white color scheme accented with natural wood details and a soft baby blue floor. This sleek aesthetic is designed to emphasise the brand’s bold clothing and sculptural handbags, which are displayed on open shelving.

Amiri's arrival at The Chanakya adds to the mall’s diverse mix of luxury brands, both Indian and international, including Chanel, Brioni, Ethos Summit, Janavi India, Mont Blanc, Outhouse, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent, Ted Baker, and Rolex. The Chanakya spans 189,000 square feet and is a development of the DLF Group.

Founded by Mike Amiri in Los Angeles in 2014, the brand is heavily inspired by the West Coast’s music and skateboarding culture. Beyond its new physical presence in India, Amiri continues to operate globally through its direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform.

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14 November 2024, Mumbai

In a move that has sent ripples through the global e-commerce technology landscape, Indian e-commerce giant Meesho has announced it will open-source its sophisticated machine learning (ML) platform. This groundbreaking decision, revealed at the recent Nvidia Summit in Mumbai, promises to democratize access to cutting-edge AI technology and fuel innovation across the industry.

Meesho's ML platform, renowned for its ability to handle millions of requests per second with lightning-fast response times, has been instrumental in the company's meteoric rise. By open-sourcing this technology, including its feature store and model orchestrator, Meesho is empowering developers and data scientists worldwide to leverage the power of AI for enhanced e-commerce experiences. "We believe this move will empower developers and data scientists everywhere to leverage the power of AI more effectively," said Debdoot Mukherjee, Head of AI at Meesho.

A game-changer for e-commerce

This open-source initiative has the potential to revolutionize e-commerce in several ways.

Creating a level playing field: Smaller businesses and start-ups can now access the same powerful AI tools as industry giants, fostering a more competitive and innovative landscape.

Boost AI development: By providing a robust foundation, Meesho's open-source platform will enable developers to build and deploy AI solutions faster, reducing development time and costs.

Enhanced personalization: AI-powered personalization is key to delivering tailored customer experiences. Open access to Meesho's technology will enable businesses to create more targeted product recommendations, personalized promotions, and customized shopping journeys.

Improved efficiency: AI can streamline various aspects of e-commerce operations, from inventory management and fraud detection to customer service and logistics. Meesho's platform can help businesses optimize these processes for increased efficiency and cost savings.

The impact of AI in e-commerce is already evident in several successful cases. For example, Amazon uses AI for personalized product recommendations, targeted advertising, and efficient warehouse operations. Similarly, Alibaba uses AI-powered chatbots for customer service, image recognition for product categorization, and predictive analytics for demand forecasting.Shopify offers AI-driven tools to help merchants personalize marketing campaigns, automate tasks, and analyze customer behavior.

Meesho's own success story is a testament to the transformative power of AI. The company has leveraged AI to enhance various aspects of its platform, including generative AI for simplified product listings that helps sellers easily create compelling product descriptions. It offers multilingual support which enables translating product information and facilitating voice search in various Indian languages.Optimized customer service using AI that helps to improve call center efficiency and customer satisfaction.

What sets Meesho's platform apart is its exceptional speed and scalability. The system can handle millions of requests per second with 99 per cent of them processed in under 10 milliseconds. This remarkable performance is achieved through a highly optimized architecture designed to handle the demands of a massive e-commerce platform.

By open-sourcing this technology, Meesho is enabling other businesses to build similarly robust and scalable ML systems, potentially revolutionizing their operations and customer experiences.

Meesho's decision to open-source its ML platform is a testament to the growing importance of collaborative innovation in the AI era. As more companies incorporate AI, one can expect to see an acceleration in the development and adoption of AI-powered solutions across the e-commerce industry and beyond. This move not only benefits developers and businesses but also empowers consumers with more personalized, efficient, and enjoyable online shopping experiences. Meesho's contribution to the open source community is a significant step towards a future where AI truly democratizes the digital landscape.

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