Apparels

Abercrombie & Fitch forecasts weak annual sales growth and warns of softer demand for its namesake brand. The company expects margins to be affected by higher freight costs, promotions, and a $5 million impact from U.S. tariffs. For the holiday quarter, sales were driven by a rise in its Hollister brand.

Comparing the prices of LGDs with natural diamonds, Jain explained, “A natural diamond priced at Rs 100, an equivalent LGD costs just Rs 20-25, making high-quality solitaires accessible to a much larger consumer base.”

Danish footwear company ECCO is expanding its presence in India, targeting the top 2.5 per cent of the population with premium sneakers and golf shoes.

Jewellery exports from Mumbai’s SEEPZ face a potential setback due to US President Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs, which could significantly impact India’s $10 billion annual exports to the US. SEEPZ accounts for 85% of India’s diamond-studded jewellery exports to the US, and tariffs could shift US sourcing to countries with lower tariffs, threatening jobs in the sector.

Falling US cotton prices due to China’s retaliatory tariffs may boost demand for Indian garments, textiles, and yarn. The industry anticipates cheaper US cotton and reduced Chinese competitiveness will help India expand its market share in the US and Europe. Increased imports of superior US cotton could benefit Indian textile manufacturers and exporters, leading to better profit margins.

Bangladesh’s RMG exports rose by 10.64 per cent to $26.796 billion in the first eight months of fiscal 2024–25 (FY25).
Knitwear exports grew by 11.01 per cent, while woven apparel increased by 10.22 per cent.
Home textile exports rose by 5.23 per cent. February 2025 RMG exports reached $3.244 billion.
Revised data shows a 5.22 per cent decline in RMG exports to $36.151 billion in fiscal 2023–24.

Adidas achieved strong double-digit growth in FY24, with currency-neutral sales up 12 per cent and a 17 per cent increase in footwear.
The gross margin rose to 50.8 per cent, while operating profit surged to €1.4 billion.
Q4 saw 19 per cent revenue growth, led by Lifestyle and Performance gains.
In 2025, Adidas expects high-single-digit sales growth, driven by product innovation and market expansion.

Importers now need authorisation from the DGFT, addressing concerns over increased imports of certain products from the UAE under a bilateral free trade agreement.

Adidas predicts lower operating profit for 2025, despite strong sales in 2024. Under CEO Bjorn Gulden, Adidas has outperformed forecasts, but shares fell 2.5 per cent due to a cautious outlook. Annual revenue is expected to rise by high single-digits, with North America and Greater China seeing over 10 per cent growth. Adidas aims to surpass Nike, except in the US.

Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal highlighted that, although discussions about an IPO are ongoing, the company is primarily focused on growth and maintaining consistency with customers, which is crucial for long-term success.