Footwear brand Crocs has launched its first ever India-specific collection in collaboration with lifestyle retailer Chumbak, The collaborative venture titled, ‘It’s a Vibe,’ speaks a contemporary and Gen- Z inspired fashion vocabulary.

As per a Vogue report, the Chumbak X Crocs collection features a vibrant reinterpretation of the staple clogs. The signature Chumbak designs known for their joyous color palette and patterns of ikat and paisley rejuvenate the footwear through an Indian lens. Synonymous to everything exciting and inventive, the collection inspires a new generation of street style and elevates any look that passes the vibe check. (pun intended)

The one-of-a-kind colorful clogs are decked with fun jibbitz featuring cultural motifs, logomania and cute doodles. Practical, quirky and decorative, these shoes retain the best of both brands. Their traditional Indian patterns and designs retain the magpie vibrancy that is often typical to an Indian wedding.

In 2021, GOTS increased the number of certified facilities by 19 per cent to 12,338 facilities across 79 countries, shows the firm’s 2021 Annual Report.

As per Textile Network, the report details the growth achieved by the firm in 2021, which included an increase of 19 per cent in GOTS certified facilities around the world, with Certification Bodies (CBs) reporting 12,338 facilities in 79 countries.

Three new GOTS-approved Certification Bodies brought the total to 18, nine of which have chemical input approval in their scopes. The additional CBs are helping meet an ever-increasing demand for certification. The rise in certifications also allowed GOTS to expand internally, adding representatives as well as colleagues with expertise in Standard Development and Implementation, Quality Assurance, Communication, and IT. Visits to the GOTS website jumped 43 per cent from 2020 and GOTS’s following on social media expanded significantly, gaining 57 per cent across platforms.

Additional highlights covered in the report include chronicling the implementation of the most recent update to the standard document, GOTS version 6.0, and the release of ‘Conditions for the Use of GOTS Signs (CUGS)’, which outlines the rules for using the GOTS logo and labeling and updates to GOTS Scope and Transaction Certification policies which are a crucial part of the certification process.

South India’s largest multi-brand footwear chain, Centro has teamed up with American lifestyle brand Toms to launch its footwear in India.

As per an Indian Retailer report, Toms will introduce its iconic collection of slip-ons having a durable and flexible sole. A few of the footwear styles also have earth-friendly elements like uppers crafted in heritage canvas or recycled cotton canvas, and insoles with 50 percent eco content. The Alp is the ultimate throw-on-and-head-anywhere shoe, it’s pragmatic and uncomplicated and a statement of people’s values. All products designed by Tom help support efforts to build equity at the grassroots level. Their packaging is earth-friendly with carton boxes/paper bags made from recycled paper and filling, making it a great gift for earth-conscious consumers.

The Alp and along with a wide range of fashion-forward and sneaker-sized iterations is being sold throughout India with the latest Spring Summer 2022 collections. With an expansion plan of 20 dedicated - Free Standing stores in the next three years. Currently, Toms is available on the brand website, Tata Cliq, Tata CliqLuxe, and Centro. Style and coming soon on Myntra, MyntraLuxe, Ajio Gold, AjioLuxe, and Nykaa Fashion. Further customers can experience the brand offline across Centro Stores and coming soon at Shoppers Stop, Regal, Venus Steps, D-lounge, and in cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, etc.

Blaming the government for driving up fiber prices, textiles and garment firms have urged for a ban on futures trading of cotton. Domestic cotton prices have more than doubled to breach Rs 100,000-mark per candy of 356 kg in the past one year. Consequently, cotton yarn prices, too, have jumped substantially.

In December 2021, to regulate rising prices, stock and commodity markets regulator Sebi suspended futures and options trading for one year in seven farm commodities: chana, mustard seed, crude palm oil, moong, paddy (Basmati), wheat and soyabean and its derivatives. However, it did not ban cotton trading completely. However, now exporters have requested the government to ban futures trading of cotton completely. Similarly, they have requested the government to formulate a long-term strategy to ensure adequate availability of cotton to consuming industries, informs Raja Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters Association.

Cotton yarn prices surged 20 per cent to Rs 446 per kg in May, points out Narendra Goenka, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) in a letter to Piyush Goyal, Textile Minister. This continuous price-rise may make India highly uncompetitive in the global textile markets, he adds. The AEPC has recommended quantitative restriction on export of raw cotton and cotton yarn and besides reducing declaring cotton as essential commodity to help government regulate its supply. Sanjay Jain, former Chairman, CITI opines, rising cotton prices are eroding India’s competitiveness vis-à-vis the world’s largest textiles and garment player.

To enable footwear brands to better serve Indian consumers, the Central Leather Research Institute, under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, has launched the 3D foot mapping project. The project involves developing India-specific footwear-sizing chart. The project involves a survey of over 100,000 people in the age group of 05-55 from across 73 Indian districts. The size chart will be developed upon completion of the survey.

The survey involves collecting of 29 data from each Indian foot examined, says Sreeram, Director, Central Leather Research Institute. Indian feet generally have a wider front portion compared to European feet. This can make European-sized footwear uncomfortable for many Indians, he adds. Indian sizing standard for footwear will be published in the Bureau of Indian Standards by the end of 2022, By then, footwear makers will starting manufacturing shoes and closed footwear for men, women, and children, he adds.

Founded in 1948, the Central Leather Research Institute is also celebrating its 75th year platinum jubilee this year. The organization has released a commemorative stamp with the Indian postal department to celebrate the occasion.

Anticipating no COVID-19 related shutdown during the year, American retailer Guess Inc expects fiscal 2023 revenues to increase by 4 per cent. The company’s revenues increased 21 per cent to $593 million during Q1 FY’23 from $520 million in the same prior-year quarter due to a surge in licensing sales and Americas wholesale revenues.

Retail revenues from the Americas increased 7 per cent while composite sales including e-commerce, increased 3 per cent. Wholesale revenue from the American region increased 50 per cent. Revenues from Europe increased 14 per cent, while the region's retail composite sales, including e-commerce, decreased 6 per cent. Revenues from Asia increased 1 per cent while the region's retail composite sales, including e-commerce, decreased 11 per cent.

Despite the sales uptick, net earnings for the three months ending April 30 fell to $10.5 million, from $12.9 million in the quarter last year, said Guess.

Naveena Denim Mills launched a new collection in collaboration with denim design studio, Endrime Studio during the May edition of Denim PV in Berlin. As per a report by Spin Off, the collection explores alternative ways to design modern denim garments using a mix of cellulosic fibers like Tencel Lyocell and Modal mixed with cotton.

Aydan Tuzun, Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Naveena Denim Mills opines, designing a circular economy requires a shared vision and actions to support it. This collaboration will lead to not just amazing denim with authenticity but it will invite all industry leaders to close the loop together. Tencel Lyocell and Modal fibers used in this collection will add softness and strength to traditional denim looks, addsTricia Carey,Director, Global Business Development, Lenzing Fibers Inc.

India’s apparel imports increased by 43.58 per cent Y-o-Y in FY’22 to $1,28 billion. As per an Apparel Resources report, India’s imports of knitted garments surged by 54.12 per cent while the import of woven garments increased by 35.09 per cent to $ 659.61 million.

Imports from Bangladesh increased by 78.87 per cent to $523.04 million and accounted for 41.34 per cent share in total Indian apparel import values. Bangladesh surpassed China to become top destination for India buyers as imports from China remained stagnant at $297.73 million in FY ’22.

India’s apparel imports from Spain increased by 36,28 per cent Y-o-Y to $104.24 million. India’s apparel imports will continue growing as its fashion retail market is registering a M-o-M increase in its sales revenues.

Latest research report from the NPD Group shows, socks have become shoppers’ top clothing purchase, replacing T- shirts over the last two years As per the report, one out of every five items of clothing bought in the US in 2020 and 2021 was a pair of socks.

The trend dovetails with people staying at home for longer periods, as nearly 70 per cent of American adults wear socks around the house. This figure is even higher for men, older folks, and people living in the Northeast,

While socks worn primarily for sleeping represent only 3 per ent of the socks market, it’s a subset that has mushroomed 21 per cent in the last four years. Sales for sleep socks, which tend to be extra plush and not as constrictive, have grown four times as fast as those for socks overall

The fast growth in socks may also owe something to the explosion in e-commerce too. Largely affordable, socks are easy to throw into a shopping cart when a customer is a few dollars shy of free shipping, NPD said.

But even socks offline has also become popular. As people return to physical shopping, there is more opportunities for buyers to indulge in for impulse purchases, says Maria Rugolo, Apparel Industry Analyst, NPD Group. Unplanned sock purchases increased by 10 per cent in 2021

Known for its fashion forward collections imbibed with sporty characteristics, Fila has launched its annual Motorsport Collection. The 2022 collection features innovative technology paying homage to the Indian Motorsport culture. Capturing the key details, the FILA Motorsport collection this year has been designed keeping an individual’s passion for riding and fashion in mind, by combining the philosophy of Form meets Function with a touch of FILA’s signature elements.

The collection features a unique range of Motorsport shoes with qualities like am anti-abrasive patch to shift the gears, Carbon rubber designed outsole and lightweight midsole for a comfortable ride.

The high top shoe features athletic padded high ankle with a strap that secures the shoe to the foot for a smooth ride. The low cut shoes take a more lifestyle approach and can be paired with casual outfits.

Engineered with key features like reflective accents and breathable material that represents the spirit of riding, the collection can be paired to create either a bold fashion statement or complete the Motorsport ensemble for the rider. Showcasing a range graphic tees, tapered joggers, and relaxed fit jackets, the silhouettes define the streetwear style quotient with youthful energy, playfulness, and comfort.