Palmonas, a Pune-based demifine jewellery brand, has secured ₹55 crore in a Series A round led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. The company plans to use the funds to aggressively expand its offline presence, aiming for 100 company-owned stores across India.

India’s apparel industry warns of an existential crisis as US tariffs on exports will soar to above 50 per cent from August 27, 2025.
Exporters face a tariff gap of over 30 per cent against competitors, risking three million jobs and 20,000 factories.
Industry leaders urge urgent fiscal support and stronger diplomatic engagement until a bilateral trade pact is secured.

AKINNA, a luxury leather handbag brand founded by Annika Saraf and Sanchit Goyal, has secured its first pre-seed/seed funding round led by Zeropearl VC. The funds will fuel production scaling, team expansion, and brand-building efforts to enhance AKINNA’s global presence.

Agilitas Sports has appointed Gourishanker Jha as its Chief Digital and Technology Officer (CDTO) to spearhead the company’s technology and digital strategy. Jha’s extensive experience in digital product engineering and AI-driven transformation will be crucial in building a digital backbone for Agilitas. This appointment comes as Agilitas prepares for multiple brand launches in 2025, aiming to redefine the sportswear experience.

Executive Director Samrath Bedi says longevity in beauty comes from credibility — not discounting, not speed — as the company deepens its omni-channel and globalisation play without diluting its core.

Early rains in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh have sparked a diamond rush. Farmers and villagers in Kurnool and Anantapur districts are searching for precious stones. Many hope to change their fortunes by finding diamonds in rain-washed lands. Some have sold stones for significant sums. The activity is a seasonal tradition, driven by hope and folklore. Concerns about exploitation persist.

Most major fashion brands lack transparent renewable energy targets, limiting progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy supply across global supply chains, a SEforALL report said.
It cautions that if current trends continue, GHG emissions from fashion are expected to rise by more than 60 per cent by 2030.
The report also called for the urgent need to align the industry with the UN SDG 7 and 5.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to the US surged 24.49 per cent in the first six months of 2025 to $4.24 billion, led by trousers and shorts, which made up 45.65 per cent of shipments.
Despite a heavy effective tariff burden of 35–36.5 per cent, Bangladesh has retained its dominance in bottom-wear exports due to strong price competitiveness.

Gujarat’s textile industry is urging the government to extend the Gujarat Textile Policy 2024 benefits to processing units within municipal limits, currently excluded. Industry leaders are seeking support for technology upgrades and pollution control measures, advocating for benefits similar to garmenting units with advanced, water-efficient technologies. They also propose lowering the employment threshold for labor-intensive unit benefits to 2,000 employees.

Gold prices are expected to consolidate in the near term, maintaining a positive outlook due to heightened expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate cut in September. Traders will closely monitor US macroeconomic data and Fed officials’ speeches for insights into monetary policy.