Apparels

Bangladesh and Ethiopia recently stressed the need to strengthen bilateral ties, focusing on trade, investment, and sectoral cooperation, as the former’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met the latter’s President Taye Atskeselassie Made in Addis Ababa.
They discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, education and agriculture.
Welcomed investment from Bangladesh in Ethiopia.

Indian garment exporters expect a strong business rebound in the second half of the fiscal year. Easing US tariff pressures are bringing buyers back. Orders for the first two quarters were booked at peak tariffs. Revenue improvement will be visible from October. Exporters are diversifying markets to Europe and Africa.

Tissot has launched its official online store in India. This makes it the first Swatch Group brand to offer direct online sales here. The move aims to connect better with Indian customers. Orders will be shipped from Tissot’s own Indian warehouse. This strengthens their online presence and complements their existing retail network.

The new policy “explicitly and unambiguously” welcomes all symbols of faith carried by team members, including the bindi, tilak, sindoor, kalawa, mangalsutra, kada, hijab, and turban.

Gold demand during Akshaya Tritiya dropped about 30% in volume as prices, up nearly 60% year-on-year, deterred large purchases. Buyers stayed within budgets, shifting to lighter jewellery, small coins and exchange-led buying, while millennials preferred solitaires in the ₹75,000–2.5 lakh range.

Denmark’s apparel imports saw a sharp YoY correction, signalling demand slowdown after strong 2025 growth.
Core categories showed resilience in share, indicating stable baseline consumption despite lower volumes.
Steeper decline in outerwear reflects weaker discretionary spending and possible seasonal effects.
The drop likely points to inventory correction and cautious retail sentiment.

UK’s clothing exports declined 7.66 per cent to £217 million (~$293 million) in February 2026, amid weak European demand and cost pressures.
Textile and fibre exports also fell year on year, though month-on-month trends show mild recovery.
Full-year 2025 exports remained under pressure, extending a post-pandemic correction.
Q4 data indicates only a partial sequential rebound.

AAFA, responding to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) request for feedback on GHG emissions reporting requirements under SB 253, urged CARB to align with existing emissions reporting frameworks and ensure flexibility in the use of standards.
AAFA recommended that CARB not mandate specific methods and allow flexibility to report using whichever method is the best fit for the reporting entity.

A distant war is impacting global luxury sales. Europe’s top luxury firms have lost billions in market value. The Middle East, a key growth market, is seeing reduced tourist spending due to travel disruptions and uncertainty. This slowdown affects major brands like Hermès, Gucci, and LVMH. Recovery for the luxury sector faces delays as geopolitical risks persist.

Gold demand and consumer sentiment remain firm ahead of Akshaya Tritiya on Sunday, April 19, as retail investors look to bullion as a preferred avenue for wealth creation. Despite elevated price levels, the festival continues to serve as a primary driver for the precious metals market, supported by a year where gold delivered gains exceeding 60 per cent.