Apparels

Gold demand shows resilience despite high prices. Indian gold ETFs witnessed record inflows in January, surpassing equity funds. Investment in bars, coins, and digital gold is surging. Consumers are opting for staggered purchases of jewellery. This trend highlights a growing investor interest in gold as an asset class.

Solitaire diamond rings are seeing a surge in demand among Indians aged 28-40, with sales rising 25-35% year-on-year following a 30% price drop. A 1-carat ring now costs ₹5-5.5 lakh, down from ₹7-8 lakh, making diamond-heavy, low-gold jewellery more appealing amid high gold prices. Millennials are driving growth, with engagements as the primary purchase but self-buys and milestone-driven purchases also rising. Lower entry barriers and a preference for accessible, meaningful jewellery, including 9-carat and 14-carat gold, are reshaping consumer behaviour, benefiting jewellers despite elevated gold prices.

China’s sock exports totalled $6.748 billion in 2025, slightly lower year on year despite volumes rising to 20.463 billion pairs.
Average prices fell to $0.33 per pair, reflecting aggressive competition, lower-priced product mixes and cost-conscious sourcing.
The US remained the top market, followed by Japan and Russia.
The trend highlights scale-driven competitiveness amid sustained margin pressure.

Prabhkiran Singh, who founded Bewakoof in 2012, cited personal reasons including health and family priorities for his departure. He will oversee a structured transition through March to ensure continuity. Bewakoof was acquired by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) through its digital venture TMRW in a ₹200 crore majority stake deal completed in February 2023.

Switzerland’s apparel imports rose 8.57 per cent YoY to $9.08 billion in 2025, supported by resilient consumer demand and diversified sourcing.
China remained the top supplier, followed by Bangladesh, Italy, Turkiye and Vietnam.
The data reflects a dual sourcing strategy balancing Asia-led value procurement with premium European fashion suppliers.

Founded in 2020 by husband-wife duo Swaroop Krishnan and Gopika B Raj, the company had previously secured $1.25 million in a seed funding round in February 2025.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government is closely monitoring gold prices, noting that while the metal usually sees seasonal demand during festivals, prices have not crossed certain limits and are not at alarming levels. She said India relies heavily on imported gold as domestic production is limited, and household demand typically rises during festive periods, with global central bank purchases also contributing to price spikes.

Joe Foster delved into the rich legacy of Reebok at the Great India Retail Summit, tracing its roots back to 1895 when the brand revolutionized running with spiked shoes. His grandfather’s pioneering spirit, combined with athlete collaborations and adventurous marketing tactics, set the stage for success.

Gold and silver are poised for further gains next week as investors flock to safe havens amid renewed trade tensions and Middle East geopolitical strains. Analysts are closely monitoring key US economic data and China’s lending rate decision for market direction. Escalating global tariffs and regional conflicts are bolstering demand for precious metals as a hedge against uncertainty.

Argentina’s apparel imports surged 97.35 per cent YoY to $681.19 million in 2025, driven by import policy easing, improved access to foreign exchange and inventory restocking.
Volumes rose to 38.07 million kg, while average prices fell to $17.89 per kg.
Asia-Pacific dominated sourcing with an 84.16 per cent share, led by China, as retailers rebuilt stocks amid limited domestic manufacturing capacity.