Apparels

Bangladesh apparel exporters are adopting digital monitoring, data-driven production and AI tools to raise productivity, reduce downtime and improve quality.
Some factories report gains of up to 25 per cent versus manual monitoring, though results vary by technology, conditions and measurement.
The shift also raises concerns over worker pressure, privacy and fair sharing of productivity gains.

Eyewear is emerging as the new workplace power accessory, replacing traditional markers such as ties, watches and jewellery as a way for professionals to express personality. Bold frames, thicker acetate, stronger silhouettes and colours such as green, navy, oxblood and burgundy are replacing the once-popular rimless and understated styles.

Recent fluctuations in gold prices have emerged, primarily due to the ambiguous stance of the Federal Reserve and escalating conflicts in Iran. Central banks are responding by ramping up gold purchases, reinforcing the fundamental bullish market sentiment. This surge in demand effectively consumes a substantial fraction of the yearly gold output.

Jewellery retailer DP Abhushan has ambitious plans, aiming to achieve a revenue milestone of fifteen thousand crore rupees by 2029-30. The strategy involves expanding its presence to fifty-one locations throughout India, particularly in tier-two and tier-three cities in the central and western areas. To facilitate this major growth initiative, the retailer is earmarking fifty crore rupees for the development of both franchise and company-operated stores.

Swiss watchmakers face declining exports and a need for innovation. GenZ consumers seek excitement and emotion over status and brand loyalty. The booming resale market offers alternatives to traditional purchases. Competition from Japanese and Chinese brands intensifies in the mid-price segment. The industry must adapt to attract a new generation of buyers.

Jordan’s apparel and clothing accessory exports rose 1.8 per cent year on year to JOD 846.6 million (~$1.19 billion) in H1 2026.
Knitted apparel grew 3.0 per cent to JOD 830.7 million and made up more than 98 per cent of clothing exports.
Woven apparel exports fell 36.4 per cent, while knitted and woven apparel imports rose 2.4 per cent in H1.

The expansion will increase HRD Antwerp’s research and grading capacity in Mumbai by 30%, allowing the laboratory to examine and grade up to 2,000 diamonds a day, compared with its earlier capacity. The company will also recruit 40 additional full-time employees to support the expanded operations.

Bangladesh’s RMG exports rose 5.12 per cent to $7.495 billion in July-August 2026, backed by a strong August, EPB provisional data show.
Knitwear grew 6.17 per cent to $4.193 billion, while woven apparel increased 3.81 per cent to $3.301 billion.
Home textile exports gained 11.17 per cent to $154.55 million, but cotton and cotton products fell 13.02 per cent to $82.24 million.

Sri Lanka’s combined merchandise and services exports reached $10.49 billion in January–July 2026, up 5.48 per cent year-on-year.
Apparel and textiles fell 6.50 per cent to $2.88 billion, diverging from broader export growth.
July apparel and textile exports dropped 8.8 per cent to $437.59 million, with shipments declining across the United States, European Union and United Kingdom.

Comet said its revenue has grown ninefold since its previous institutional fundraise, a Rs 42.3 crore Series A led by Elevation Capital in 2024. The company currently has four footwear models, each supported by dedicated sole tooling and R&D, and plans to double its portfolio to eight models by the end of next year.