Apparels

Garment manufacturing costs in Asia have risen 10–20 per cent in 2026, with a clear shift in cost composition.
Logistics and energy have emerged as key volatility drivers, while raw materials remain dominant and increasingly unstable.
Labour’s relative importance is declining.
Competitiveness now depends on managing multi-layered cost risks, not just low-cost production.

China’s apparel exports showed a dual trend in 2025, with declining volumes and prices amid rising global competition, even as the US remained a premium market.
Export values and shipments fell, reflecting demand normalisation and sourcing shifts.
Despite pressure, China retained strong scale and higher value realisation in US-bound exports.

Shares in the Swedish group slipped as much as 6.6% after soft March ‌sales overshadowed a ⁠slightly ⁠bigger-than-expected rise in December-February profit thanks to tight cost control. A jump in energy prices since the start of the Iran ​war has fuelled concerns over inflation and cooled consumer demand, threatening to pressure retailers.

British clothing retailer Next warns of rising costs and weakening consumer demand due to the Iran war. The company anticipates potential price increases in June if the conflict continues. Next has factored in extra costs but has offset them for now.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Uniqlo have formed a landmark partnership featuring prominent “Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium” branding across the venue.
The collaboration, Uniqlo’s first major US sports deal, will include fan events, LifeWear giveaways, and dedicated in-store displays in California to strengthen engagement with both Dodgers fans and Uniqlo customers.

The e-auction, scheduled for April 27 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), will be conducted under the supervision of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai. It involves the sale of the company’s “precious inventory” that was earlier attached by the Enforcement Directorate and later released for liquidation.

Bags manufacturer Zouk is in early discussions with Tata Capital and IvyCap Ventures to raise $30-35 million, people in the know of these talks said. Bengaluru-based Slikk, which is backed by Lightspeed and Nexus Venture Partners, is in talks with Susquehanna Asia VC to raise $15-20 million.

New Zealand’s apparel imports fell 11.5 per cent YoY to NZ$373.7 million in January-February 2026, with declines across both knitted and non-knitted segments amid cautious demand and inventory adjustments.
Exports also weakened, while fabric imports and exports showed modest growth, indicating resilience in textile inputs despite overall softness in apparel trade.

Anta Sports has reported revenue of RMB 80.22 billion (~$11.62 billion) in 2025, up 13.3 per cent, strengthening its China market leadership with a 21.8 per cent share.
Operating profit rose 15 per cent, supported by margin improvement and strong growth across brands, especially Fila and Descente.
Solid cash flow, rising R&D investment, and ESG progress further reinforced its global top three position.

H&M has reported net sales of SEK 49,607 million (~$4.72 billion) in Q1 FY26, with sales down 1 per cent in local currencies.
Improved cost control lifted gross margin to 50.7 per cent and operating profit rose 26 per cent.
The net profit increased to SEK 704 million (~$75.05 million), while inventory fell 16 per cent.
Currency effects weighed on revenue despite stronger margins and improving sales.