Bata India has announced Sanjay Rao will take over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer effective on August 24, 2026. He replaces Gunjan Shah. Rao brings over two decades of retail and consumer leadership experience from international markets. Bata Group sees India as a key growth market. Rao’s appointment aims to drive consumer relevance and product strength for Bata India.

Gold imports into India have dropped sharply. The government’s decision to increase import duty is proving effective. Higher gold prices and reduced jewellery demand also contributed to this trend. Increased global gold recycling is another factor. Official gold inflows have also moderated. The government is not pursuing gold monetisation due to past challenges.

India’s apparel exports are set for a significant boost with the new UK Free Trade Agreement, finally removing a long-standing 10-12% tariff disadvantage against competitors like Bangladesh and Cambodia. Industry leaders anticipate improved price competitiveness, attracting fresh investments, increasing exports, and creating substantial employment opportunities across various garment categories.

Rising GLP-1 use is reshaping apparel demand by accelerating size changes and wardrobe replacement.
The challenge for brands is not simply stocking smaller sizes but adapting sizing, inventory and product design to changing body measurements.
Dynamic size planning, fit-based data and transitional garments will be essential to reduce returns, avoid inventory mismatches and capture new demand.

Located at DLF Mall of India, the store houses the brand’s makeup and fragrance portfolio, including complexion, eye and lip products, along with the Maison’s fragrance range and the Velvet Collection.

Indian apparel exporters face pressure as US buyers demand discounts of up to 10%. This comes as India’s readymade garment exports have declined for six consecutive months, largely due to weaker demand in the United States. Competitors like Vietnam and Indonesia are gaining ground.

Morocco’s apparel exports fell 8 per cent year on year to $892.82 million in Q1 2026, with weaker shipments to key European markets.
Spain remained the largest destination, accounting for over 63 per cent of exports.
Despite the quarterly decline, annual apparel exports rose to $3.94 billion in 2025, highlighting the sector’s long-term growth.

Replica World Cup shirts for German players faced a temporary shortage of the letter ‘V’. High fan demand for shirts of Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav, and Aleksandar Pavlovic depleted supplies. Adidas confirmed the issue was quickly resolved. Football tops with the letter ‘V’ are now available again online. The German team will switch to Nike from 2027.

UK clothing exports fell 3.04 per cent YoY to £223 million in April 2026 amid weak European demand, cost pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
Textile fabric and fibre exports also declined.
In Q1 2026, clothing exports dropped 7.87 per cent, extending a broader downward trend seen since 2023, while upstream segments showed relative resilience.

Swiss Military is targeting a significant increase in its premium travel gear market share in India. The brand plans to expand its retail presence and invest in manufacturing. This strategy aims to capture a larger portion of the growing Indian travel market. New product lines will cater to different consumer segments.