Apparels

American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has criticised the US Trade Representative’s move to impose phased fees on Chinese vessels and tariffs of 20 to 100 per cent on shipping equipment following a Section 301 probe.
AAFA, which testified against the plan, warns the measures will hurt US farmers, workers, and the wider economy by disrupting trade and raising consumer costs.

Rising gold prices in India are driving consumers to exchange old jewellery for new, with exchanges comprising 40-45% of purchases. While wedding and festive demand persist, investment in gold bars and coins is increasing due to its safe-haven appeal. Major retailers report strong revenue growth and plan further expansion, anticipating continued positive consumer sentiment.

India’s gems and jewellery industry is expected to surge from $83 billion in 2024 to $128 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5 per cent, a report showed on Monday.

Gold prices surged to a record high, fueled by concerns over global economic growth amid the U.S.-China trade war and a weakening dollar. Geopolitical tensions, including U.S. tariff policies and conflicts in Eastern Europe, further boosted demand for the safe-haven asset. While technical indicators suggest overbought conditions, analysts eye USD 3,500 as the next potential milestone.

Rangita, a D2C Indian fashion label by Stellaro Brands, is set to expand its retail presence. It will invest Rs 7-8 crore to open 25 new stores in India this year. ​​The expansion is part of Rangita’s strategy to strengthen its omnichannel footprint, combining digital-first insights with a wider offline presence across key markets in India.

A detailed analysis shows that this growth in exports of textile and apparel is driven mainly by apparel exports which grew significantly by 10.03 per cent during the current fiscal year.

Valentino’s operating profit experienced a 22% decrease in 2024, attributed to a slowdown in global luxury demand and one-off costs related to investments in directly-managed stores. Despite revenue falling 2% to 1.31 billion euros, sales remained strong in Japan, the Middle East, and the Americas, with online sales increasing by 5%.

The CFO of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri, speaks on India’s gold market outlook and the factors behind its rise in a conversation with ETCFO; says the correlation between gold prices and global uncertainty is growing complex today.

The US garners over $1 billion in annual tariffs on goods exported by Bangladesh, while the latter collects about $180 million on US products, a think tank revealed.
Though Bangladesh imposes duties averaging 6.2 per cent on US imports, when rebates are considered, the weighted average duty drops to 2.2 per cent, it noted.
The weighted average tariff on US imports from Bangladesh is 15.1 per cent.

Sosandar plc has reported a revenue of £37.2 million (~$46.5 million) in FY25, with gross margin improving to 62.5 per cent.
The profit after tax is expected to be at least £0.5 million, marking a positive turnaround.
The company ended the year with £7.1 million (~$8.80 million) net cash and opened six new stores.
Sosandar anticipates a return to sales growth in FY26 and sustainable long-term expansion.