Apparels

India’s luxury watch market is projected for robust annual growth of 11-12%, fueled by an expanding affluent population and rising wealth among HNIs. Consumers are increasingly trading up to premium timepieces, with the share of luxury watch sales jumping significantly.

India’s merchandise exports to the US contracted by 11.9 per cent YoY in September, after recording a 7-per cent YoY growth in August, while exports to non-US markets expanded by 10.9 per cent YoY in the month, accelerating from a 6.6-per cent YoY growth in August, Crisil recently said.
RMG exports contracted—from a YoY drop of 2.6 per cent in August to a decrease of 10.1 per cent YoY in September.

Austria’s apparel imports fell 11.9 per cent to $3.77 billion in Jan–Jul 2025, as European retail demand weakened amid slower sales.
Trousers and shorts maintained the largest share at 25.12 per cent, reflecting steady demand for practical essentials, while dresses and jerseys saw steeper declines.
Retailers’ shift towards year-round garments indicates a broader move away from seasonal fashion.

With the future of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act in limbo, Kenya is seeking to diversify its export markets by attracting Turkish textile and garment manufacturers.
It is citing its existing preferential access to the EU market through the Economic Partnership Agreement to attract Turkish investment.
Kenya expects Turkish companies to set up manufacturing units in its territory.

Japanese sportswear brand ASICS has opened its first company-owned company-operated store in India at DLF Mall of India, Noida. Inaugurated by global CEO Yasuhito Hirota and India & South Asia MD Rajat Khurana, the store offers a comprehensive experience across running, sport, and apparel. ASICS India aims to expand its retail footprint to 200 stores by the end of 2026.

D2C brand Scarters targets 50% year-on-year growth in FY26, driven by new cabin luggage and suitcase launches expected to significantly boost average order values. The bootstrapped company, evolving from work accessories to a lifestyle ecosystem, is focusing on design-led innovation and strategic collaborations to expand its premium offerings.

A perfect storm of events, including a surge in Indian demand for silver during festival season and a boom in solar power, drained global inventories. This led to unprecedented shortages and price hikes, causing a market breakdown not seen in decades. International investors and hedge funds also piled into silver, exacerbating the squeeze.

Japan’s apparel imports in Jan–Aug rose 7.01 per cent to $15.65 billion, driven by a shift towards cotton garments, which gained market share from 31.59 to 33.52 per cent in three years.
Manmade garments fell to 46.10 per cent as consumers favoured comfort and sustainability.
Imports were dominated by trousers, jerseys, and T-shirts, while unisex styles led the market with a 37.52 per cent share.

US trade body AAFA recently said it does not believe the application of the Section 301 tariffs to remedy China’s ‘harmful’ trade practices and policies has been an effective tool.
It recommended the US administration to determine if any of the exclusions listed should qualify for permanent or more-longer term exclusion periods to give US companies more predictability.

Chinese company October 4128 (BD) Ltd will invest $19.72 million to set up a high-end garment manufacturing factory at the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram.
The company will annually produce 3 million pieces of ski, snow sports, hunting and motor riders’ gear, insulated winter coats, down jackets and pants, rain gear, work wear, running wear, yoga wear and water sportswear.