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Banana Club expands Hyderabad footprint with 17th store at Gateway Mall

29 December 2025, Mumbai

Banana Club has officially inaugurated its 17th exclusive brand outlet at Gateway Mall, Hyderabad, marking a significant milestone in its rapid ‘Pan-India’ expansion.

The launch comes at a time when Hyderabad, alongside Bengaluru, has emerged as a primary engine for Indian retail, with the two cities collectively accounting for 60 per cent of the country’s total retail leasing activity in 2025.

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By securing a strategic position on the Lower Ground Floor of Gateway Mall, the brand is tapping into the city’s robust demand for ‘masstige’ fashion - a segment where domestic labels now represent over 85 per cent of new space take-ups.

This move solidifies Banana Club’s presence in a market where fashion and apparel continue to dominate the leasing landscape, currently holding a 31 per cent share of the organized retail pie.

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Scaling the omnichannel vision after record-breaking funding

This expansion is fueled by the brand’s recent landmark achievement on the ‘Pitch To Get Rich’ platform, where it raised Rs 12.25 crore at a Rs 245 crore valuation - the highest in the show's history.

Unlike traditional retailers, Banana Club utilizes a vertically integrated model, leveraging in-house manufacturing to maintain gross profit margins between 50 per cent and 58 per cent.

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"Our journey is about more than just numbers; it’s about redefining the modern Indian man’s wardrobe with speed and precision," says Neel Bafna, Co-founder highlighting the brand’s ability to pivot styles based on real-time data.

By bridging the gap between digital-native agility and physical retail experience, the company is successfully navigating the challenges of rising high-street rentals while targeting a bold roadmap to surpass 100 stores by 2027.

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Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Banana Club is a premier menswear label specializing in high-street western wear and smart casuals.

Targeting young professionals across India’s Tier-I and Tier-II cities, the brand combines in-house R&D with an aggressive omnichannel strategy. Following its recent record-breaking funding, the company aims for a Rs 500 crore revenue milestone while championing sustainable, ‘Made in India’ manufacturing.

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North India retailers pivot to trans-seasonal apparel as warm winter triggers 25% sales slump

27 December 2025, Mumbai

Apparel retailers in North India are navigating a turbulent 2025-26 fiscal end as an unseasonably mild winter disrupts the sector's most profitable quarter.

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Despite an early arrival of the season, daytime temperatures in Delhi and surrounding regions have remained 2–5°C above normal, according to recent IMD data.

This thermal anomaly has caused a staggering 20-25 per cent decline in winter-wear sales, leaving major chains like V-Mart and Lifestyle grappling with a surplus of heavy outerwear.

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Strategic shifts in product portfolios

The crisis is forcing a ‘margin-led’ recalibration. Retailers are now pivoting toward ‘trans-seasonal’ clothing - lightweight layers and versatile athleisure - to offset the lack of demand for heavy jackets.

‘Winter typically contributes up to 40 per cent of our annual revenue, but with the persistent 'indoor chill' rather than a true cold wave, we are seeing a clear consumer shift toward functional, lighter fabrics,’ notes a senior executive from a leading value-retail chain.

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Impact on 2026 fiscal outlook

While the India thermal and winter wear market is valued at approximately $13.5 billion, the current inventory pile-up could lead to aggressive early markdowns, potentially squeezing Q4 margins by 150-200 basis points.

However, the sector remains optimistic for 2026, betting on AI-driven demand forecasting and a "Bharat surge" in Tier II cities to stabilize long-term growth.

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V-Mart Retail: The value-fashion powerhouse

India's leading value-retailer, V-Mart operates over 530 stores primarily in Tier II and III cities. Specializing in affordable family fashion, it serves the ‘aspirational middle class’ with a focus on high-volume apparel.

Despite seasonal headwinds, V-Mart reported a 22 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth in Q2 FY26.

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North India retailers pivot to trans-seasonal apparel as warm winter triggers 25% sales slump

New Era crowns Mumbai’s streetwear growth with premium Phoenix Palladium debut

29 December 2025, Mumbai

Century-old global arbiter of sports culture, New Era has inaugurated its latest flagship at Mumbai’s Phoenix Palladium, signaling a decisive shift in India’s premium fashion landscape. In a long-term exclusive licensing partnership with Metro Brands (MBL), the brand is spearheading an aggressive strategy to transition headwear from functional sun-protection to a high-fashion ‘hypebeast’ essential.

The new Lower Parel outlet introduces New Era’s signature global aesthetic, characterized by a clean, premium visual setup designed to attract Mumbai’s elite fashion-conscious demographic.

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We are confident that caps are going to be the next statement accessory, notes Nissan Joseph, CEO, Metro Brands, emphasizing this launch is a tactical bridge toward MBL’s broader goal of dominating the Indian athleisure sector, which currently sees a 15–20 per cent annual growth in premium segments.

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Capitalizing on India’s $210 billion streetwear evolution

The store opening is timed with a massive growth in India’s headwear sector, which is projected to grow at a 7.5 per cent CAGR through 2031. T

his growth is mirrored by the global streetwear market, valued at $210 billion in 2025, where Gen Z consumers now prioritize authenticity and brand heritage.

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By securing a footprint in Phoenix Palladium - one of India’s highest-trading density malls- New Era effectively navigates the challenge of unorganized retail competition.

This ‘premiumization’ strategy is already yielding results; early data from similar MBL-backed launches in Bengaluru indicates high conversion rates among sports fans and streetwear enthusiasts.

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With official licenses for the MLB, NBA, and NFL, New Era is uniquely positioned to capture the rising demand for authentic Western lifestyle brands, setting a new benchmark for ‘Instagrammable’ retail experiences in urban India.

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Global heritage meets Indian retail power

Founded in 1920 in Buffalo, New York, New Era Cap Co is the official headwear provider for the world’s major sports leagues.

Partnered with Metro Brands - which operates 929+ stores - the brand is scaling rapidly in India. Targeting the premium accessory market, New Era combines athletic legacy with modern streetwear innovation.

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Monte Carlo strengthens ‘Bharat’ foothold with Arambagh launch as profits double

29 December 2025, Mumbai

Monte Carlo Fashions has officially extended its retail footprint into Arambagh, Hooghly, marking a strategic entry into West Bengal’s high-potential Tier-III markets.

This new exclusive brand outlet (EBO) is a cornerstone of the company’s ambitious roadmap to scale its national presence to over 400 stores by the end of the FY25-26.

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The launch in Arambagh aligns with a broader industry shift where nearly 45 per cent of premium fashion demand is now originating from non-metro cities.

By establishing a physical presence in the Hooghly district, Monte Carlo is positioning itself to capture the ‘premiumization’ wave, where semi-urban consumers are increasingly swapping unbranded apparel for heritage-backed labels that offer a blend of quality and contemporary style.

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Sustaining high-octane growth through diversification

The Arambagh expansion comes on the heels of a stellar financial performance, with the company reporting a 15.3 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth to Rs 248.7 crore in the latest quarter. More impressively, Monte Carlo’s net profit doubled to Rs 16.17 crore, fueled by a successful transition from a winter-wear specialist to an all-season lifestyle brand.

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Our expansion into markets like Arambagh is vital for maintaining our 15-20 per cent revenue growth guidance as we diversify into athleisure and home textiles, notes Sandeep Jain, Executive Director.

This strategy effectively mitigates seasonal risks, with new categories like the 'Rockit' sportswear line and premium denims now contributing significantly to the bottom line, ensuring that the brand remains a year-round retail powerhouse.

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Founded in 1984 in Ludhiana, Monte Carlo Fashions is a premier Indian apparel brand that has evolved from a knitwear pioneer into a comprehensive lifestyle player.

With a presence in 2,500+ MBOs and a growing EBO network, the company targets a Rs 1,200 crore turnover by 2026 through aggressive geographic expansion.

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Monte Carlo strengthens ‘Bharat’ foothold with Arambagh launch as profits double

Jockey India redefines female-centric retail with first women exclusive EBO in Chennai

29 December 2025, Mumbai

Jockey India is executing a sophisticated shift in its retail strategy, moving beyond its traditional unisex distribution model to launch its first women exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO) in Chennai.

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This move addresses the burgeoning premium lingerie market in India, which is projected to grow from $1.9 billion in 2025 to $4.3 billion by 2034, clocking a CAGR of 9.5 per cent.

In partnership with design firm Aludecor, the store utilizes a palette-driven experiential layout that prioritizes privacy and body-positive inclusivity - a decisive departure from the functional aisles of general trade.

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Modernizing the ‘Jockey Woman’ experience

The Chennai flagship is a response to evolving consumption patterns where female consumers increasingly prioritize high-quality fabrics and ergonomic designs.

In the fiscal year ending March 2025, parent company Page Industries reported a robust 28.1 per cent annual growth in PAT, reaching Rs 7,291 million, underpinned by a surge in its women’s and athleisure segments.

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Our focus on consumer experience across all touchpoints is a primary driver of our financial resilience, stated VS Ganesh, Managing Director, Page Industries.

By integrating specific product lines like Jockey Woman into dedicated spaces, the brand is successfully converting passive shoppers into high-value repeat customers.

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Navigating premiumization in Tier-1 markets

The launch comes as organized retail expansion becomes a competitive necessity to counter digital-first D2C brands.

While modern retail and e-commerce contributions have scaled to nearly 15 per cent of total sales, physical exclusive outlets remain the ‘trust anchor’ for the intimate wear category.

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The Chennai outlet serves as a pilot for a broader national rollout, as the brand aims to strengthen its 1,489-store EBS network.

As the industry shifts toward sustainable materials like organic cotton and modal - which now represent over 45 per cent of the innerwear market- specialized boutiques allow Jockey to better showcase these premium innovations directly to their core demographic.

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The exclusive licensee of Jockey International (USA) since 1994, Page Industries manufactures and distributes premium innerwear across India and the Middle East.

With a manufacturing capacity of 250 million pieces and a retail network spanning 1.1 lakh outlets, the company targets Rs 2,500 crore in projected revenue as it expands into high-growth women's athleisure.

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