Uniqlo is deepening its footprint in India with a new vocational training centre aimed at empowering disadvantaged youth. Launched in collaboration with Plan International, the Job-Oriented Vocational Training Centre in Dwarka, Delhi, targets individuals aged 18-29 from low-income households.

Backed by a 120 million Japanese Yen donation from Fast Retailing, Uniqlo’s parent company, the three-year initiative will provide training in sewing, retail, and financial literacy.

Uniqlo currently operates 15 stores in India, with plans for expansion. It also exports Heattech and T-shirts made in India. Retail internships for trained youth are being considered.

The move comes as Uniqlo strengthens its presence across Asia, North America, and Europe, aligning with Fast Retailing’s global growth strategy.

High-end women's clothing designer, Bhawna Rao has unveiled her new flagship store in Chattarpur offering a truly luxurious shopping experience to customers. The store offers custom couture, stunning evening wear, and personalized fittings and style advice.

Through this store, the brand aims to create a space for women to indulge in a curated shopping experience that would feel both opulent and intimate, explains Rao. Her designs are meant for those special, unforgettable occasions, and she wanted the store itself to reflect that same celebratory and elegant atmosphere.

Inspired by Baroque architecture, the store's design focuses on personalized luxury. Its interiors feature elegant French columns, graceful archways, and a soothing, soft color palette. To further enhance the customers’ shopping experience, the store uses carefully selected fragrances and background music to create an immersive and inviting ambiance.

Rao has carved out a niche in India's luxury fashion scene since she launched her label in 2016. The designer is known for her blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary couture. This new flagship store marks a significant step in her brand's growth strategy, as she aims to expand both within India and on the international stage.

Continuing its aggressive retail expansion, premium menswear brand Reid & Taylor has opened a new 1,000 sq ft store at the Samdariya Mall in Jabalpur.

Providing a high-end shopping experience, the new store showcases Reid & Taylor's signature range of refined menswear, including expertly tailored suits, shirts, trousers, and accessories, all crafted with top-tier quality and craftsmanship. The brand aims to continue appealing to the sophisticated tastes of Indian consumers with its blend of timeless elegance and modern fashion.

Subrata Siddhanta, CEO-Apparel & Retail, Reid & Taylor, states, a significant milestone in the brand’s retail expansion, the new store will help Reid & Taylor expand its presence across India besides providing customer an easy access to the brand’s premium menswear collections in prime locations. Through this store, the brand aims to establish itself as the top choice for modern men who appreciate high quality, fine craftsmanship, and lasting sophistication, he adds.

The Jabalpur store launch is part of a broader retail expansion plan, with the brand aiming to open 40 stores by the end of 2025. Reid & Taylor's expansion will begin in Mumbai, followed by growth in Gujarat and other key regions across India. This initiative is supported by a detailed brand strategy, ensuring a well-organized and effective expansion to improve accessibility and customer engagement.

Reid & Taylor's dedication to excellence is evident not only in its premium products but also in its thoughtfully designed retail spaces, which aim to provide an immersive and seamless shopping experience. With a vision to solidify its position in the Indian menswear market, the brand is set to redefine premium retail through its ongoing expansion.

India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart has launched official sports merchandise in partnership with the Fancode Shop.

The partnership enables customers to shop for official sports merchandise on a dedicated Fancode Shop on Flipkart’s by using a combination of Supercoins and other payment instruments.

Additionally, it also provides Flipkart Supercoins’ users with a direct access and exclusive offers to official merchandise from IPL teams like Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, etc.

Gaurav Arora, Vice President – Payments, Flipkart, states, this partnership not only enables sports enthusiasts to benefit from their purchase of the official merchandise but also maximizes their savings through Supercoins.”

Prasana Krishnan, Co-founder, Fancode adds, by partnering with Supercoins, through this partnership the e-tailer aims to make official sports merchandise more accessible to fans across India. It enables millions of Flipkart users to acquire authentic gear from their favorite teams and tournaments at affordable prices.

Launched in 2019, Flipkart’s multi-brand rewards ecosystem Supercoins offers customers reward points on their purchases. 

Classic American shoe brand, Rockport is debuting into the Indian market in partnership with Brandman Retail. The brand aims to reach 19,000 pin codes in the country through major online retailers including Flipkart, Tata CLiQ Fashion and Luxury, Nykaa Fashion and Men, Myntra, and Brandman's own website.

Kashika Malhotra, Head -Business Development, emphasizes, Rockport’s quality and innovative designs,these prove as a perfect fit for the growing demand for high-quality footwear in the region. They plan to launch this iconic brand in South Asia to emphasize on its blend of performance, comfort, and style.

The brand’s debut collection targets the modern consumer who needs shoes that can handle the demands of work, casual outings, and travel. Besides India; Rockport's also expanding into Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives, making it a regional play.

With a history dating back to 1971 in Massachusett, Rockport offers a wide range of footwear, from boots and flats to heels and sneakers. In 2023, Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) acquired Rockport, paving the way for this international expansion.

Established in 2021, Brandman Retail specializes in introducing global footwear, apparel, and accessory brands in India. They handle everything from retail management to licensing and e-commerce, representing brands like New Balance, Saucony, G/FORE, and On. They've got a mix of online and brick-and-mortar presence, with 12 exclusive stores, 11 New Balance stores, 2 Sneakrz outlets, and their own direct-to-consumer platform. This venture will help Brandman Retail capture 5 per cent share in the Indian footwear market.

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) reported a 4 per cent year-on-year growth in India’s retail sector for February 2025, highlighting key trends across regions and categories.

RAI’s 59th Retail Business Survey indicates that retailers are prioritizing margin protection and stock management amid global tariff shifts and economic uncertainties. “Retail performance in India shows a modest 4 per cent year-on-year gain for February 2025. Categories such as food and grocery, QSR, and consumer durables have reported specific upticks,” said RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan.

Among regions, North India led with 5 per cent sales growth, followed by West India at 4 per cent, South India at 3 per cent, and East India at 2 per cent.

Category-wise, food and grocery registered the highest growth at 11 per cent, while consumer durables and quick-service restaurants (QSR) both saw a 5 per cent rise compared to February 2024. Other retail categories showed steady but slower growth.

Retailers continue to adapt to evolving market conditions, with strategic stock management and efficiency improvements shaping business operations. Despite ongoing economic challenges, the sector remains on a path of steady adjustment rather than rapid expansion.

The market value of India's quick commerce sector has increased fivefold to $6-$7 billion since 2022 with the sector currently handling over two-thirds of all online retail orders, says a new report from Bain & Company and Flipkart..

Led by companies like Zomato's Blinkit, these rapid delivery platforms currently represent a significant chunk of the e-retail pie, accounting for one-tenth of all online spending in 2024.

The report predicts, this growth trajectory will continue with the market expanding by over 40 per cent annually through 2030. This growth is likely to be fueled by companies expanding their product ranges, reaching new geographic locations, and attracting a wider customer base.

As Bain and Flipkart's report, this dramatic rise of quick commerce has been one of the most defining hallmarks of India's e-retail market over the last two years. The quick commerce sector today, boasts over 20 million regular online shoppers and provides employment to more than 400,000 people.

However, the sector faces potential roadblocks, the report points out. Companies in this sector may have to struggle to earn a profit as they expand beyond major metropolitan areas. They may also face intense competition from established e-commerce giants like Flipkart.

To ensure long-term, profitable growth, these companies need to adapt their business models for markets beyond major metros, manage rising competition, and optimize supply chains, the report advises.  In essence, they need to find ways to make their operations financially viable in smaller cities and towns, while also effectively competing with larger, more established players, it adds.

Amazon India will waive referral fees on over 12 million products priced below Rs 300 from April 7, benefiting small businesses.

It will also lower shipping and weight handling fees. The move follows regulatory scrutiny over marketplace practices.

Amazon hosts 1.6 million sellers, with over 90 per cent being small and medium businesses.

Decathlon Sports India registered a 2.24 per cent rise in revenues to Rs 4,008.26 crore during FY24 ending March 31, 2024.  Recovering from a loss of Rs 18.61 crore in FY23, the company registered a profit of Rs 197.19 crore during the year.  

Their total income for FY24 increased to Rs 4,066.40 crore, a five-year high for the company in India, almost reaching half a billion US dollars.

Decathlon Sports India has been recording consistent growth over the years, with the company’s revenue rising from Rs 2,897.77 crore in FY22.  A subsidiary of the French parent company, Decathlon is primarily engaged in the business of selling sports gear, apparel, and accessories.

The company has also stepped up their advertising expenditure by 33 per cent to Rs 87.49 crore rupees. Most of their Rs 3430.67 crore sales were generated from their physical stores, while their B2B sales totaled Rs 117.68 crore. However, their e-commerce sales contracted by 2.2 per cent to Rs 437.07 crore during the year.  

Decathlon started its manufacturing operations in India in 1999 with the brand opening their retail stores in 2009. So far, the company has invested about Rs 100 million in the country and plans to invest another €100 million in the next five years.  

Launched by ABFRL, the modern Indian man's wedding wear brand, Tasva has unveiled its flagship store in Pune in collaboration with renowned couturier Tarun Tahiliani.

Spanning 2,400 sq ft, the new store underscores Tasva's dedication to delivering luxury and elegance through meticulously crafted garments and a unique shopping experience.

Designed to offer an immersive experience, the store resonates with the evolving tastes of India's cosmopolitan men. It blends heritage-inspired aesthetics with contemporary sophistication, reflecting Tasva's vision of redefining modern Indian menswear.

Showcasing Tasva's festive collection, the store features stunning kurta sets and bundis, with vibrant screen prints and modern silhouettes adding a fresh twist to traditional attire. The wedding collection offers luxurious sherwanis, achkans, Indo-Western outfits, and bandhgalas, crafted from opulent fabrics and detailed with intricate embroidery.

Ashish Mukul, Brand Head, Tasva says, every detail, from the store design to the layout, has been meticulously curated to create a smooth and immersive shopping journey, offering clients a unique Tasva experience. With highly trained stylists providing personalized advice and assistance, the Pune store ensures an unmatched retail experience.

Tarun Tahiliani, Creative Director, Tasva shares, the brand reimagines Indian menswear with a superior fit that rivals the precision of Western tailoring, seamlessly infused into traditional attire. Every garment designed by the brand is meticulously crafted to provide a sharp, refined silhouette while ensuring effortless movement and comfort.

With a growing presence in major cities across India, Tasva continues to set new standards in premium ethnic menswear, offering garments that celebrate tradition, craftsmanship, and modern sophistication.

Reliance Trends has teamed up with actor and film producer Mahesh Babu and his daughter Sitara to launch their new summer occasion wear collection for men, women, and children, with a campaign called ‘New Times, New Trends.’

The new collection celebrates India's rich cultural heritage with a modern twist, offering stylish and versatile options for the summer and holiday season, as per a press release by Reliance Trends. The campaign features a range of casual wear, western styles, and festive ethnic outfits, and includes a promotional film starring Mahesh Babu and Sitara, designed to showcase a fresh visual direction for the brand.

Reliance Trends' in-house labels are highlighted in the collection, including Avaasa's ethnic wear for women, Fig's contemporary workwear, and Dnmx's youth-focused denim. The collection also features offerings from the retailer's national and international brand portfolio.

With over 2,000 stores in more than 1,000 cities, Reliance Trends continues to expand its reach in India's apparel market. The brand aims to provide a mix of affordability and trend-driven fashion across multiple product categories. The new collection is currently available in Reliance Trends’ stores and online, with the campaign's promotional film live across digital platforms.