06 May 2023, Mumbai 

Under Armour, the renowned sports apparel brand, has achieved a significant legal victory in India. The company, which has been operating in the country since October 2018, successfully won a trademark infringement lawsuit against Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.

The Delhi High Court ruled in favor of Under Armour, ordering Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail to cease using any marks or logos that are similar to or may cause confusion with Under Armour's trademarks.

Under Armour, known for its prominent use of the 'UNDER ARMOUR/UA/UNDR ARMR' mark on sports apparel, initiated the lawsuit to prevent the defendant from engaging in trademark infringement and counterfeiting activities. Under Armour discovered that Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail was using the marks "STREET ARMOR or SA or STRT ARMR" on identical goods.

The court has granted Aditya Birla Fashion a period of three weeks to file an undertaking agreeing to comply with the court's decision.

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29 April 2023, Mumbai 

The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) will set up the apparel training center on an urgent basis, given the importance of the sector. This announcement was made at the ongoing CMAI’s FAB show.

The center's establishment would help rectify the situation and enable the sector to exploit the potential of the garment industry fully. Surat's significance as a textile hub means that almost all types of fabrics are made in the city.

However, the garment sector's growth has not been as desired due to the lack of skilled artisans. The Apparel Training Centre's establishment will address this and provide necessary training to individuals to acquire the necessary skills.

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 06 May 2023, Mumbai 

India's premier sneaker reselling platform and streetwear aggregator, Crepdog Crew, has opened Mumbai's biggest and most experiential sneaker store, CDC Experience.

The store, located in the trendy shopping estate of Bandra, features the largest sneaker wall in Asia, boasting over 600+ limited edition collectibles, including the entire collection of the iconic Off White X Nike Dunk Low Lot 50.

The store also offers an exclusive collection of over 30 designer streetwear and accessories brands, featuring exciting and edgy Indian brands like Natty Garb, Toffle, Prxkhxr, Warping Theories, Odd Mood, Kilogram, Blue Brew, Sugga, and Balav.

Designed like a Scandinavian art gallery by the much-in-demand creative genius Faizan Khatri, CDC Experience's modern minimalist interior is the perfect platform to showcase streetwear as wearable art. The store delivers an unmatched retail experience by offering a unique 'coffee & kicks' experience with Dope Coffee Roasters.

Crepdog Crew's journey began in 2019 and has since grown into a profitable multi-crore business, establishing itself as India's biggest one-stop-shop for sneaker and streetwear lifestyle. The company has collaborated with Jägermeister to create a wearable art piece commemorating the brand ethos of the two companies, exclusively available at CDC Experience, Delhi and Mumbai.

The recently-funded company, which counts Pharmeasy founders Dharmil Seth and Siddharth Shah, and fashion designers Masaba Gupta and Nikhil Mehra as its investors, has also opened experiential stores in Delhi in 2022 and now in Mumbai, expanding its retail footprint.

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 05 May 2023, Mumbai  

Brandwala, a Rajasthan-based store, is taking the Indian apparel market by storm with its innovative approach to inventory liquidation. Brandwala aims to transform this burden of deadstock into an opportunity to provide end customers with affordable fashion clothing.

Established in 2015, Brandwala offers year-round discounts on more than 300 brands, including apparel, toys, luggage, large appliances, mobile accessories, smartwatches, FMCG, groceries, personal care, and health and beauty products.

What sets Brandwala apart from other players in the market is the fact that it aids its associate partners to procure inventories at an affordable price. It helps investors by providing a ‘pick and choose’ option and also helps the retailer to rotate their inventories. The organization deals with major e-commerce sites to procure all return inventories at a reasonable price.

Brandwala's impressive portfolio includes three lakh satisfied consumers, a sprawling 1 lakh sq ft retail area, 300 brands, and 1000 distributors across India. The organization is bolstering its digital capabilities by scaling up its digital base to provide an immersive experience for customers and expand its portfolio into emerging consumer segments.

It has managed to set up 16 outlets in India and has a gross profit of over 45 percent. With an annual turnover of Rs.15 crores, Brandwala has seen exponential growth in the last 8 years and aims to expand its business to every state and city in India.

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 06 May 2023, Mumbai 

Turtle, the men's western wear brand, has announced the opening of a new store in Lucknow's Lulu Mall. The spacious store offers a complete range of semi-formal and casual wear, along with accessories.

The store's interior is designed in slate grey and cool white, with a colourful collection of t-shirts and shirts. The formal wear section features a mix of classic and berry-hued blazers, along with fusion-style waistcoats paired with bright or printed shirts.

Turtle's recently launched spring/summer 2023 collection is designed to epitomize its slogan, "modern style, fuelled with passion." The collection features a variety of layered shirts and t-shirts, as well as polo shirts.

Turtle retails from over 150 exclusive brand outlets throughout India, as well as multi-brand outlets such as Centro, Pantaloons, and Shoppers Stop.

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03 May 2023, Mumbai 

The organised retail industry in India has witnessed a significant growth of 34% during 2022-23 compared to pre-pandemic levels in FY20, according to a report by the Retailers Association of India (RAI).

What all you need to know

The growth was primarily driven by quick-service restaurants, sporting goods, and electronics. The report also suggests that the growth in categories like athleisure, occasion wear, consumer durables, and IT products was especially good during 2022-23.

The survey conducted by RAI covered the top 100 retailers from modern retail across various segments, and the growth was primarily price-led. The demand for consumer goods across categories bounced back, and retailers are cautiously optimistic about sales growth in the coming months.

The RAI report also revealed that retail businesses across regions showed growth in sales, with East India reporting 42% growth followed by the West (36%), North (32%), and South (27%).

Categories like furniture reported a growth of 34%, while consumer durables and electronics grew by 37%, food, and grocery grew by 29%, and sports goods showed a growth of 41%.

However, they are also cautious due to the slowdown witnessed in recent months and the impact of higher inflation in advanced economies and tightening financial conditions in India on demand, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

While retailers who catered to high-end customers saw healthy growth, those who sold low-price point items faced challenges in growing their sales.

Retailers like Phoenix Mills, with one of the largest portfolios of malls in the country, said that retail consumption in FY23 was 133% of FY20. For shopping malls, December 2022 was the best in a decade as the sales momentum from the festive season continued.

RAI is optimistic about the industry's potential for growth in 2023-24 but suggests that economically lower-income families must shop with optimism for the true potential to be realized.

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26 April 2023, Mumbai 

Rare Rabbit's expansion in India has been impressive, with the brand achieving a significant milestone by opening its 100th store in Bengaluru. The company's plans to open 30 more stores across the country show that it has a strong growth trajectory, and its popularity among consumers is on the rise.

The brand's foray into womenswear with Rareism has also been a strategic move, as it enables the company to cater to a wider audience and diversify its product offerings. Rare Rabbit has been able to successfully leverage its brand equity in menswear to make a mark in the women's fashion space, indicating its potential to be a versatile player in the fashion industry.

Rare Rabbit's presence in the online marketplace through its e-commerce website and partnerships with popular e-commerce platforms has also contributed to the brand's success. The ability to reach a wider audience and offer customers a seamless shopping experience online has been critical in the brand's expansion plans.

The House of Rare's ownership of Rare Rabbit is an indication of the company's commitment to the brand's growth and success. The House of Rare's experience in the fashion industry, combined with its resources and expertise, has enabled Rare Rabbit to expand its retail footprint and diversify its product offerings.

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 06 May 2023, Mumbai 

Queen Sixteen, a women's bottom wear brand has emerged as a pioneer in the fashion industry with its niche offerings and franchise model strategy.

Queen Sixteen has also maintained a high standard of quality through its internal manufacturing unit, ensuring uniformity in its products. The brand offers all shades under one roof, which has made it a go-to option for colors.

Despite the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, Queen Sixteen has emerged as a successful startup and has been recognized by the Indian Industrial Association for its manufacturing unit in Shamali, Uttar Pradesh. The brand plans to expand its product line and target 100 outlets by the end of 2023 with more investments in the franchise model.

The brand's primary focus is on research to fulfill contemporary fashion trends. The brand's success can be attributed to its unique offerings and commitment to quality, making it a top choice for customers and the industry.

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29 April 2023, Mumbai 

The latest survey by the Retail Association of India (RAI) revealed that retail sales in India witnessed a 6% rise in March 2023 compared to the same period last year. While the furniture and furnishing segment saw the highest growth at 13%, the apparel industry experienced less than a 5% growth rate, along with other categories such as jewellery, footwear, beauty, and wellness.

Despite the slower growth rate in the apparel industry, the survey revealed that there were still opportunities for retailers to capitalize on.

The Eastern region of India saw the highest sales growth at 8%, followed by Southern and Western India with a 7% and 5% increase, respectively. Meanwhile, Northern India recorded the lowest year-on-year growth at 4%.

The RAI survey results indicate positive momentum for the retail industry in India, with certain segments experiencing significant growth.

While the furniture and electronics industries continue to lead the way, retailers in the apparel industry can look to the survey's findings to identify potential opportunities for growth. Additionally, efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the country could further enhance the industry's growth prospects.

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 25 April 2023, Mumbai 

India's apparel market witnessed a 15% expansion during the 2022-23 period, but this growth was entirely driven by price hikes, as volumes of products sold fell by 3% but the demand recovery is expected only during Diwali this year, according to leading industry association CMAI.

While the sales growth has breached pre-COVID levels, smaller retailers and apparel makers in multi-brand outlets in smaller towns are feeling the pressure due to inflation. Most apparel makers and retailers hiked prices by 15-20% due to increase in raw material prices over the past two years, resulting in falling demand for unorganised players.

The shift towards branded apparel has also increased, accounting for 30% of the sector compared to 25% nearly five years ago. The organised sector has clocked higher growth of 18%, as incomes rose and consumers shifted steadily towards organised formats.

E-commerce's share in the apparel sector is one of the highest in India, but it still remains significantly below countries like China and the US.

However, companies in India have been investing behind omni-channel capabilities over the years to gain a foothold in this channel.

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