Inditex and the Asian University for Women have launched a €3.75 million (~$4.14 million) scholarship programme to support 50 female textile workers in Bangladesh.
Starting next academic year, it will cover tuition, accommodation, and living costs for five years, aiming to empower women through education and promote professional development in the garment sector.

US’ 104 per cent tariff on Chinese apparel threatens China’s global competitiveness by drastically increasing product costs.
Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and India stand to gain by offering cheaper alternatives.
While Vietnam and Bangladesh are expected to gain most substantially, India and Pakistan must address infrastructure and efficiency challenges to fully capitalise on this shift.

Puma has appointed Tara McRae (48) as president of Puma North America, succeeding Bob Philion.
Tara, who rejoined Puma in 2024 as SVP Brand and Strategy, brings extensive experience from roles at Clarks, TB12 and earlier stints at Puma.
She is expected to drive growth in this key market, with a strong focus on brand, strategy and consumer engagement.

Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing, anticipates a 14 per cent surge in Q2 operating profit, reaching 125.9 billion yen, driven by strong domestic sales fueled by tourism and a weak yen. Despite expected record earnings, the company faces challenges from new U.S. tariffs, though analysts believe the impact will be less severe compared to other industries.

Trump’s tariffs that go into effect from April 9 may delay export payments, strain supplier-retailer dynamics, and push industries to seek government support.
Banks may limit loans, while cancelled US orders flood emerging markets.
Near-shoring could rise, consumer confidence may dip, and sustainability may gain traction.
Luxury would remain subdued, while US manufacturing faces major hurdles.

“Both plain (gold) jewellery at 27 per cent YoY and coins at 65 per cent YoY respectively, led this growth, reflecting high consumer preference for gold (adornment cum store of value),” the Tata group firm said.

South Korea’s apparel imports fell by 4.04 per cent to $1.944 billion in January–February 2025, driven by a drop in non-knitted apparel.
February saw a slight year-on-year rise, though imports declined month-on-month.
Exports of man-made textiles and knitted fabrics also declined compared to 2024.
In 2024, total apparel imports rose by 3.12 per cent, while textile exports saw a modest decrease.

Levi Strauss & Co expects FY25 organic net revenue growth of 3.5–4.5 per cent, with gross margin projected at 61.6 per cent and adjusted EBIT margin at 11.4–11.6 per cent.
Q1 FY25 revenue rose 3 per cent (reported) and 9 per cent (organic), with strong DTC and e-commerce growth.
Net income reached $140 million, and adjusted EPS rose to $0.38 from $0.25 in Q1 FY24.

Outzidr, a GenZ-focused women’s fashion brand, has raised Rs 30 crore in seed funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners. The company will use the funds to enhance brand visibility, improve supply chain agility, and expand its tech-driven product model.

LVMH announces new appointments: Ramon Ros named CEO of Fendi from July 1, 2025; Daniel DiCicco becomes president and CEO, Mainland China for Louis Vuitton from April 28, 2025; Charlotte Coupé appointed CEO of Kenzo from May 1, 2025.
Sylvain Blanc departs Kenzo.
The changes aim to drive growth and strengthen brand desirability.