Apparels

A study by the FibER Hub at Northumbria University, in collaboration with The Microfibre Consortium (TMC), has revealed that clothes shed microfibres throughout their lifespan, including natural fabrics like cotton.
The research aims to understand microfibre loss in various environmental settings and inform sustainable textile development.

Puma shares fell 18 per cent after reporting lower-than-expected Q4 sales and a dip in annual profit, raising concerns about its competitiveness with Adidas and Nike. The disappointment follows Adidas’ strong performance. Puma’s new Speedcat shoes have underperformed, and its 2027 profit margin targets may shift focus from boosting sales, risking future growth.

Associated British Foods revised its annual sales forecast for Primark to “low-single digit” growth for 2025 after a 1.9 per cent like-for-like sales drop, primarily due to a 6 per cent dip in the UK and Ireland market. Despite new store openings, challenging autumn conditions and cautious consumer sentiment impacted overall performance.

With global retailers scrambling to find alternative suppliers amidst the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, industry stakeholders urge the Indian government to introduce significant budget reforms in the textile sector.

Indian Minister Piyush Goyal and EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic met to discuss a Free Trade Agreement, aiming for greater market access.
India’s garment exports to the EU reached $5.410 billion in Jan–Oct 2024, with a 3.63 per cent share.
Despite some fluctuations due to Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, EU apparel imports totalled $192.397 billion in 2023.

Adidas has reported Q4 2024 revenue of €5,965 million (~$6,215.5 million), up 24 per cent YoY, with currency-neutral growth of 19 per cent.
Gross margin rose to 49.8 per cent, and operating profit reached €57 million (~$59.42 million).
Full-year revenue grew 12 per cent currency-neutral to €23,683 million, with operating profit up €1 billion to €1,337 million.

While many brands in the garment and footwear sector have committed to multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at addressing living wages, there remains limited evidence of real-world impact, a Platform Living Wage Financials report found.
Nearly three quarters of assessed companies disclosed the names and locations of their tier-1 suppliers, indicating progress in supply chain transparency.

Gold prices rose by 1% on Tuesday due to a weakening dollar after US President Trump’s policy announcements. This led to a pause in gold purchases by Indian consumers. The industry is cautious as further dollar weakening could push prices higher. Jewellers are waiting for price stability and clarity on Trump’s tariffs, impacting sales and customer behavior.

Oman seeks enhanced trade ties with China and hopes for a swift GCC-China FTA finalisation.
China’s apparel exports to Oman have declined steadily, from $242.050 million in 2021 to $99.445 million in 2023, with 2024 unlikely to match prior years.
Fabric exports also dropped, from $46.397 million in 2021 to $34.290 million in Jan-Nov 2024, reflecting a downward trend in textile trade.

China’s luxury market experienced an 18-20% decline in 2024, signaling an end to its exponential growth, with sales stagnating this year. Despite stimulus measures, consumer confidence remains low due to a property crisis and employment concerns. Competitive pricing on e-commerce platforms also impacts traditional luxury shopping destinations like Hainan.