Apparels

A group of US trade bodies have urged President-elect Donald Trump to convene an inter-agency working group to fight illicit trade, protect intellectual property (IP) and eradicate counterfeits soon after assuming office.
It called for supporting passage of the SHOP SAFE Act to incentivise e-commerce platforms to improve their systems to detect and prevent the sale of counterfeits.

​The brand, which offers crystals, Swarovski created diamonds and zirconia, jewelry, and accessories, as well as home décor and crystals for automotive, is planning to open 7-10 stores across channels next year.

Political instability in Bangladesh has negatively impacted its position in US apparel market.
Despite remaining the third-largest supplier, the turmoil has led to a noticeable decline in market share compared to previous years, culminating in a decrease in imports to $5.464 billion in Jan-Sept 2024.
This trend highlights the broader implications of domestic issues on international trade dynamics.

India’s leather and footwear exports are expected to grow by over 12% to USD 5.3 billion this fiscal, driven by strong demand from the US and UK, says CLE Chairman Rajendra Kumar Jalan. He highlighted the sector’s growth potential, urging government support through the PLI scheme to achieve USD 47 billion turnover by 2030.

In fiscal 2025, Japan experienced a decrease in imports of clothing and accessories by 1.7 per cent, with similar declines in textile yarn and fabric.
However, exports in these sectors showed growth, particularly in textile yarn and fabric, which increased by 7.9 per cent, contrasting with a decline in textile machinery exports by 18.0 per cent.

The luxury industry, heavily reliant on its wealthiest clientele, is facing a potential crisis as rising prices deter consumers, particularly in China. To maintain exclusivity and value, brands must strategically adjust volumes and cater to a broader, yet still affluent, customer base by offering more accessible luxury items without compromising quality.

India’s gold market witnessed mixed trends. Jewellery demand slumped post-Diwali due to price volatility, while investment in gold bars and coins saw steady growth. Gold ETFs attracted strong inflows, boosted by market uncertainty, and the RBI continued its gold buying spree, adding significantly to its reserves.

The FTA approved by South Korea’s Parliament may boost apparel imports from the Philippines, which currently holds a negligible share.
In January-October 2024, South Korea imported $10.513 billion of apparel, with the Philippines contributing just 0.67 per cent ($70.114 million).
Fabric imports from the Philippines were similarly low.
The FTA may enable larger share for Philippines.

Bangladesh’s FY25 real GDP growth is projected to slow to 3.8 per cent due to output losses caused by the last uprising, floods and tighter policies, but is likely to rebound to 6.7 per cent in FY26 as policies relax, the IMF said.
FY25 inflation is likely to be around 11 per cent YoY (annual average) before falling to 5 per cent in FY26, backed by tighter policies and easing supply pressures.

Nike reported a decrease in Q2 FY25 revenues to $12.4 billion, a decline of 8 per cent from Q2 of the previous fiscal, with significant drops in both Nike Direct and wholesale revenues.
Its gross margin fell to 43.6 per cent due to higher discounts and a shifting channel mix, although mitigated by reduced costs.
Net income dropped 26 per cent to $1.2 billion, and earnings per share were down 24 per cent.