Apparels

Vietnam’s textile and apparel sector showed modest export growth in early 2026, but stronger fabric imports, rising FDI and growing US market share signalled deeper sourcing confidence.
While overall US apparel imports declined, Vietnam continued gaining relevance as global buyers used it as a hedge against tariff uncertainty, supply-chain risk and China’s weakening position in the US market.

Wolverine Worldwide’s Q1 FY26 revenue rose 11 per cent YoY to $457.6 million, led by strong growth at Merrell and Saucony.
Gross margin stayed flat at 47.6 per cent, while operating margin improved to 7.4 per cent.
Net earnings increased to $20.2 million, and diluted EPS rose to $0.24.
The company maintained its FY26 revenue outlook of $1.96-1.98 billion.

Pearl Global Industries has reported its highest-ever FY26 revenue of ₹5,025 crore (~$523.93 million), up 11.5 per cent YoY, driven by volume growth and value-added products.
PAT rose 17 per cent to ₹270 crore (~$28.15 million), while Q4 revenue hit ₹1,314 crore (~$137 million).
The company shipped 78.1 million pieces.
Its net worth stands at ₹1,438 crore (~$149.93 million).

Jewellery stores are now major anchors in Indian malls, occupying nearly 10% of space. This trend is set to continue, reinforcing jewellery’s status as a primary anchor. Unlike online sales, jewellery purchases remain experience-led and trust-driven. This shift is reshaping mall designs and consumer engagement strategies across metro and tier-2 cities.

Bangladesh is shifting its apparel pitch from low-cost production to verifiable, traceable and compliant sourcing.
BGMEA’s AWARE, Open Supply Hub and GIZ deals strengthen DPP readiness, but energy shortages and weak ten-month exports remain major risks.
US tariff relief helps, yet fibre-origin rules and policy uncertainty complicate sourcing decisions.

The meeting took place on Wednesday, hours after the delegation led by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh with the same demand.

Birkenstock shares dropped significantly after the company warned of increased costs. Higher U.S. tariffs and disruptions from the Middle East conflict are impacting shipments and consumer spending. Despite these challenges, Birkenstock maintains its annual sales and profit forecasts. The company is rerouting shipments to boost sales in other regions. Future cost pressures are expected to rise in the coming quarters.

Industry executives said promoting sales of lower carat jewellery like 14K and 9K can reduce imports by 20-30%, and discouraging investments in gold bars and coins can reduce imports by another 20% -30%. India annually imports 750-800 tonnes of gold to meet its demand. Revamping the Gold Monetisation Scheme can also help the government to tap 25,000 tonnes of grandfather stock.

15% customs duty hike on gold imports is expected to raise domestic prices and potentially divert supplies through unofficial channels, according to SBI Research. This move could impact India’s current account deficit, though gold’s role as the sole driver is debated. Import volumes are projected to decline.

“Hiking import duties rarely curbs gold imports, it merely inflates prices. Despite gold prices doubling recently, imports have not declined proportionally,” the council said in a statement.