Apparels

AAFA along with 18 other trade bodies recently wrote to Congressional leadership in the US House of Representatives seeking support to move HR 4930 forward in the legislative process.
The piece of legislation, aimed at addressing long-standing challenges to the enforcement of IPR at US borders, was reported with unanimous, bipartisan support from the House Ways and Means Committee.

The 2026 apparel slowdown signals a structural reset rather than a cyclical dip, with fragmented demand and weaker pricing power reshaping growth.
Rising input costs and inventory build-up are compressing margins, while cautious consumer spending and supply chain risks prolong a low-growth, high-complexity phase.
Export demand remains inconsistent, limiting visibility for manufacturers.

Geopolitical shocks have replaced cyclical disruptions, eroding long-standing buyer–supplier stability and forcing risk-averse sourcing decisions.
Exporters face demand compression as buyers cut volumes and stagger orders amid price and currency uncertainty.
Supply chain disruptions and logistics constraints are weakening capacity utilisation and seasonal order flows.

The war has disrupted a key maritime corridor and drove up oil prices, as well as freight rates and insurance premiums, fanning inflation across the world. While the announcements of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, and Tehran’ decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, may help improve the situation, exporters are unsure whether these measures would bring lasting peace and how long it would take for trade to return to pre-war levels. All this when the manufacturers are grappling with increasing input cost, they said.

The Indian natural diamond jewellery markis expected to reach Rs 1,50,000 crore by 2030, aided by robust macroeconomic fundamentals and evolving consumer trends, De Beers Group said in a report on Wednesday.

In its Q4FY26 business update, Titan said its jewellery division grew about 46% year-on-year despite elevated gold prices.

Executives at Brand Concepts said the partnership came after nearly a year of discussions with the brand. “They had options of going with much larger houses, but our pitch was that with us the brand would get singular focus and passion,” said Abhinav Kumar, co-founder of Brand Concepts.

Nepal’s LDC graduation in 2026 may disrupt employment, with up to 132,000 jobs at risk, according to the ILO.
Manufacturing, especially garments, will be most affected, with women disproportionately impacted.
Industry leaders cite policy gaps and weak infrastructure as key constraints.
Calls for reforms, including the Green Garment Village, are growing.

Levi Strauss & Co has reported strong Q1 2026 results, with net revenues rising 14 per cent YoY to $1.74 billion and organic growth at 9 per cent.
DTC remained a key driver, contributing 52 per cent of sales.
Profitability improved, with net income reaching $177 million.
Backed by broad-based regional growth, the company raised its full-year outlook.

Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imported fuel has left it highly exposed to disruptions from the Iran conflict, amid reports of fuel shortages disrupting production and transportation.
Economists reportedly cautioned that a slowdown in industrial production could trigger a chain reaction, resulting in job losses and reduced export earnings.