Apparels

Australia’s apparel and clothing accessories imports rose by 7.84 per cent to Au$9.082 billion (~$5.558 billion) during July 2024–February 2025, despite a slight MoM dip in February.
Textile yarn and fabric imports also increased, while fibre imports declined.
For FY24, overall imports and exports in the textile sector showed notable declines.

Nike and Adidas prices may rise in the US after President Trump imposed additional tariffs on Vietnamese, Indonesian, and other southeast Asian sportswear manufacturers. This escalation affects supply chains and could lead to increased costs for retailers. Brands are exploring strategies to mitigate the impact, but significant price hikes seem inevitable.

US garment retailers are urging Indian apparel manufacturers to absorb some price increases caused by President Trump’s 26 per cent tariff on Indian products, which is less than on Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Pakistan. Indian manufacturers may offer a 5 per cent discount and seek government subsidies to expand and modernize factories, enhancing their competitiveness.

Iconic Aussie brand Bonds is bringing its ‘Made for Down Under’ comfort to the US with a bold campaign starring Robert Irwin and Tkay Maidza.
Known for keeping Aussies comfy for over 100 years, Bonds now offers Americans its hardworking undies, blending cheeky charm with everyday comfort.
The campaign rolls out nationwide across digital, OOH, social, podcasts, and connected TV.

Lenskart Co-founder Peyush Bansal stresses the importance of deep customer focus for scaling businesses and lowering customer acquisition costs. He challenges the hype around omnichannel strategies, emphasizing that customers, not channels, are omni, and that the customer experience is paramount whether online or offline.

“Today, around 11% of our sales come from EBOs, and that number is set to grow. These stores offer significantly better gross margins—well above our company average of 28 to 30%—because we’re not dependent on middlemen, and we can control pricing and discounting more effectively,” said ​the company’s chairman and managing director, Hitesh Ruparelia.

Argos Watches, an Indian watch brand, secured Rs 6.5 crore in angel funding at a Rs 45 crore valuation. The brand aims to double its FY 2024-25 revenue of Rs 25.64 crore by meeting rising demand for premium mechanical watches. The funds will support product development, brand awareness, and digital expansion, including the launch of the Olympus watch.

In 2024, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the EU rose by 4.72 per cent to $18.891 billion, with trousers and shorts accounting for over 30 per cent of shipments.
Cotton garments dominated, making up 70.29 per cent of total exports.
Unisex clothing led gender-wise exports.
Europe remained the top market, though its share declined from 62.84 per cent in 2019 to 56.95 per cent in 2024.

Jain Amar has appointed Akhil Jain as its new MD and CEO. Jain, with over two decades of experience, will lead the company’s transformation. The goals include growth across physical and digital channels, fostering a unified organisational voice, and integrating technological advancements. Jain Amar aims to become IPO-ready by 2027.

The US’ new reciprocal tariffs end duty-free access for key Latin American apparel exporters under CAFTA-DR, imposing 10–19 per cent duties.
Nicaragua faces the steepest hike at 19 per cent.
Haiti’s rate jumps to 22.36 per cent, straining its garment sector.
These changes raise costs, reduce competitiveness, and may shift US sourcing strategies.