FW
India and Japan are working to boost their textile trade and investment, leveraging the existing India-Japan CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) signed in 2011. This agreement aims to reduce trade barriers and make Indian exports more competitive in the Japanese market.
According to data from the UNCOM Trade database, India's textile and apparel exports to Japan totaled $354 million in 2024, while Japan's total imports from the world were a substantial $30.87 billion.
Recently, a high-level Indian delegation invited major Japanese textile companies to invest in India. The focus was on opportunities within the PM MITRA parks, which offer modern, integrated, ‘plug-and-play’ textile infrastructure. The invitation extended to companies involved in apparel, machinery, technical textiles, and fabric processing.
To further support its textile sector, the Indian government is implementing several key initiatives including the PM MITRA Parks Scheme and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme that encourages large-scale produciton of MMF fabrics, MMF apparel, and technical textiles.
Additionally, the Ministry of Textiles has formed an ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) Taskforce to help the Indian textile industry transition to more sustainable and resource-efficient production models.
In a move to enhance quality standards, Japan’s Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS), led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), is providing training on the Japanese System of Quality Evaluation. This training is being conducted for technical officers from the Textiles Committee in major Indian export hubs such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Tirupur.
A key player in the Indian textile industry, Mafatlal Industries’ revenue rose by 174.5 per cent to Rs 1,240 crore in Q1, FY26 ending June 30, 2025 (Q1 FY '26).
This remarkable growth was driven by the successful completion of large institutional orders, particularly within the textile and consumer durables sectors.
The company’s operating EBITDA for the quarter increased by 66.4 per cent to Rs 47 crore. The company credits this margin expansion to a favorable product mix and a larger contribution from its institutional and steady business streams.
Revenues from the company’s textile and related segment grew by 41.4 per cent compared to Q1 FY '25. The EBIT margin for this segment improved to 9.8 per cent from 7 per cent a year ago. This was a result of the company's focus on providing value-added uniform solutions for corporations and schools, along with successful cost-optimization and operational efficiency initiatives.
MB Raghunath, Chief Executive Officer, highlights, the company started FY '26 on a high note with solid growth across all key financial metrics. He attributes this performance to the effective execution of high-value institutional orders and a disciplined approach to operations. Mafatlal also launched a new subsidiary, Mafatlal Apparel Exports, marking the company’s entry into the global garment and apparel export market. This move will help the company reinforce its core textile business and become a significant growth driver in the future.
Findings of a new case study conducted by GFF and its advisors Bureau Veritas, Fairwear Foundation, GlobalCAD and adelphi Consult in early 2025, confirm significant positive results achieved by Sri Kannapiran Mills (SKML) with $2.5 million loan.
Managed by FOUNT, the Good Fashion Fund (GFF) made its second investment in India, providing a $2.5 million long-term loan to SKML in 2023. These funds were used to modernize and replace old equipment in two cotton spinning mills; KG Naidu Mill, Balaji Mill and a denim weaving unit KG Fabriks.
SKML used the loan to install more efficient machinery, such as newer rotor spinning machines, auto doffers, and high-speed winding machines. The weaving unit was upgraded with a new singeing machine and second-hand air jet looms, boosting both capacity and efficiency. The company also shifted its energy mix, increasing its reliance on solar and wind power.
The assessment found, the investment surpassed the 50 per cent environmental savings target. It resulted in a 59 per cent reduction in energy consumption from key equipment, saving over 886,000 kWh annually; a 95 per cent reduction in cotton waste, saving over 4,700 kg annually and saving of approximately 1,272 tons of CO2
Financially, these improvements led to significant annual gross savings of approximately $140,000 from energy efficiency and waste reduction in spinning, and $115,000 from improved weaving production. The mill's monthly fabric output also increased to 220,000 meters.
On the social front, the automation of manual processes has led to safer working conditions. The company also implemented enhanced environmental and social governance, improved grievance mechanisms, and better health and safety measures.
Praising the GFF, Srihari Balakrishnan, Managing Director, SKML, states, the flexible capital and technical guidance were essential for making these upgrades. He notes, the investment not only led to cost savings and operational improvements but also enhanced product quality and worker well-being.
This case study is one of the first publicly documented examples of impact validation in Tier II and Tier III textile manufacturing. It demonstrates how targeted funding and manufacturer leadership can deliver measurable progress, providing a replicable model for other factories facing similar challenges with legacy systems. The results also inform the design of Good Fashion Fund 2.0, which aims to further align brands' and manufacturers' sustainability goals.
From the minimalist ateliers of Copenhagen to the neon-lit youth districts of Tokyo, unisex fashion is no longer a fringe concept—it’s a global style revolution. Once limited to avant-garde runway experiments and streetwear capsules, gender-neutral clothing is now reshaping how the world dresses, consumes, and even thinks about identity.
As consumers across continents increasingly reject the gender binaries ingrained in traditional fashion, a new era of inclusive, comfortable, and ethically aligned clothing has emerged. Unisex fashion is not simply a trend; it's a cultural recalibration—especially among Gen Z and Alpha consumers—toward greater authenticity, personal expression, and environmental consciousness.
Why the world is embracing unisex fashion
Behind this widespread shift lies a powerful mix of social change, digital influence, and economic pragmatism.
Global rejection of gender norms: Across continents, youth culture is challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity. Whether it’s high schoolers in California, university students in South Korea, or fashion influencers in Brazil, the younger generations are dismantling the rigid binaries that once dictated fashion choices.
A 2023 Grand View Research report identifies the rising visibility of non-binary and gender-fluid identities as a global catalyst for unisex fashion. In the U.S., over 38 per cent of Gen Z respondents in a Pew Research survey said they know someone who uses gender-neutral pronouns. In Europe, fashion houses like JW Anderson and Stella McCartney have consistently integrated non-gendered design language into their seasonal drops.
“For me, unisex is not about taking gender out—it's about allowing everything in,” says Dutch designer Nienke Boers, who creates oversized tailoring and modular garments for their label, Neutral Form.
Table: Global Youth Preferences in Apparel (Ages 16–30)
(Aggregated from multiple markets; 2024 Statista & YouGov insights)
|
Preference Category |
% of Global Respondents |
|
Comfort & Fit |
76% |
|
Versatility (Day-to-Night Wear) |
70% |
|
Sustainability/Ethics |
68% |
|
Gender-Neutral Design |
59% |
|
Digital Influencer Impact |
52% |
The comfort principle across borders: From oversized tees in Lagos to boxy jackets in Seoul, relaxed silhouettes are winning. This movement is propelled by hybrid lifestyles, where boundaries between work, leisure, and self-care blur. The unisex format—with its focus on flexible fits and functional design—is increasingly seen as the most sensible option.
Statista’s 2024 Global Apparel Survey revealed that 76% of Gen Z respondents across key fashion markets (U.S., UK, Germany, India, South Korea, and Japan) rated "comfort and fit" as more important than trendiness or brand name. Notably, comfort-first fashion is expanding from casual wear to formal and workwear categories, with brands like COS, UNIQLO, and Entire Studios leading the charge.
Sustainability in focus: As the climate crisis intensifies, so does the urgency to rethink fashion’s ecological footprint. Globally, unisex clothing is emerging as a more sustainable model by minimizing overproduction and streamlining design processes.
A 2023 McKinsey & Company report on sustainable fashion named gender-neutral design among the “Top 5 Enablers” of circular apparel economies. Brands like Pangaia (UK), Olderbrother (US), and Kaoru (Japan) are innovating with biodegradable fabrics and size-flexible garments that suit all genders—reducing both waste and SKU bloat. “Genderless fashion encourages shared wardrobes, slower consumption, and modular design—these are essential for circularity,” explains Alessandra Morandi, a sustainability researcher at Polimoda, Italy.
Economic accessibility and market logic: In emerging markets like Latin America and Southeast Asia, unisex fashion is also driven by economic logic. When garments are designed to suit anyone, families and consumers reduce the need for separate wardrobes, maximizing utility and reducing expenditure.
Moreover, fast fashion players from China’s Shein to India’s Bewakoof are adopting neutral designs for cost efficiency and global scalability, while premium players like Adidas, Nike, and Lululemon now feature dedicated unisex sections in their global online stores.
Fashion goes viral, not gendered: In the digital age, TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are where trends begin—and unisex fashion thrives. Influencers like Bretman Rock (Philippines/US), Wisdom Kaye (Nigeria/US), and Ellie Goldstein (UK) challenge stereotypes by modeling fluid fashion for millions.
Unlike legacy fashion advertising, today’s content is creator-led and peer-validated. The global hashtag #genderlessfashion amassed over 2.4 billion views across platforms in 2024, with unisex outfit challenges, thrift hauls, and DIY tailoring hacks driving organic virality.
Regional perspectives, local meets global
• Asia: In South Korea, unisex fashion is deeply rooted in K-pop aesthetics—oversized shirts, pleated pants, and monochrome looks dominate Seoul’s Hongdae district. Japan’s Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake continue to set the tone for deconstructed gender-free design.
• Europe: Scandinavian minimalism plays a big role in unisex style’s rise. Labels like Arket and Weekday favor fluid cuts and monochrome palettes that appeal to broad audiences.
• Africa: In Lagos and Nairobi, gender-neutral fashion is fused with vibrant prints and street culture. Designers like Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture Nigeria are globally recognized for blending queer identity with African heritage in a unisex format.
• Latin America: Countries like Brazil and Argentina are seeing a rise in queer-led fashion labels that celebrate cultural identity through inclusive design, such as Dendezeiro and Juan Hernandez Daels.
Where is unisex fashion heading?
Unisex fashion is entering a new phase—beyond T-shirts and sweatpants, toward haute couture, functional workwear, and adaptive design. The focus now includes size inclusivity, textile innovation, and AI-driven customization. Luxury brands from Gucci to Balenciaga are debuting gender-free lines on global runways.
Retailers are also transforming. E-commerce sites are collapsing gender-based filters, and physical stores are redesigning layouts to reflect a more fluid shopping experience. According to a 2025 report by Bain & Company, brands that blur gender lines in both product and experience see up to 30% higher engagement among Gen Z shoppers. “Fashion is becoming less about categories and more about stories,” says Kumi Yamada, creative director at Tokyo-based hybrid label MonoFlux. “And the most powerful story is one where everyone belongs.”
A global fabric of belonging
From Mumbai to Milan, unisex clothing is weaving a global narrative of acceptance, comfort, and shared identity. It mirrors a world in flux—where rigid labels are being replaced by fluid expression, and where what we wear says more about who we are than who we were told to be. In this new fashion order, the binary is broken—and the future wears what it wants.
Popular outdoor clothing retailer, Millets is closing six of its stores in 2025. These include the retailer’s store on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough in September.
Of these six stores, the company plans to rebrand four stores located in Lowestoft, Douglas, York, and Grimsby and reopen them as GO Outdoors, a sister brand to Millets. It has also launched a 30 per cent closing down sale at its store in Bracknell. Additionally, the Worthing store, which has been in operation since 2016, is expected to close by 2026-end and will be replaced by a GO Outdoors Express.
A retailer of major outdoor brands like Berghaus, The North Face, and Jack Wolfskin, Millets is owned by JD Sports which acquired the brand in 2012 when it rescued Millets's previous owner, Blacks, from administration.
These latest closures reflect the ongoing struggles faced by high street retailers, including reduced consumer spending, rising staffing costs, and increasing operational bills. The growing popularity of online shopping also continues to pose a significant challenge.
The retail sector has seen a wave of recent store closures. H&M-owned clothing brand Monki is closing its Glasgow store in Buchanan Galleries this August. New Look has also announced a series of store closures, with 11 branches already shut down in 2025, and its Neath, Wales, location is set to close on August 6. Furthermore, Poundland is closing 37 stores in August as part of a restructuring plan following its sale to Gordon Brothers earlier this year.
Italy's antitrust agency, AGCM has fined the Chinese online fast-fashion platform Shein €1 million for making misleading green claims.
The Italian competition authority alleged, operating in the 'fast' and 'superfast fashion' sectors, Shein adopted a misleading communication strategy regarding the characteristics and environmental impact of its clothing products
The environmental claims shared by operator of Shein’s website in Europe, Infinite Styles Services Co are‘in some instances, vague, generic, and/or overly emphatic, and in others, misleading or omissive, notes’AGCM
Shein promotes its ‘evoluShein by design’ collection and the use of ‘green fibers’ as more sustainable.
However, the Italian authority notes, these statements may lead consumers to think that the collection is ‘fully recyclable,’ which it considers to be untrue given fibers used and the recycling systems currently in place.
In a statement to Politico, Shein said, it took immediate action to address the concerns,’ and has ‘strengthened their internal review processes and improved their website to ensure that all environmental claims are clear, specific, and compliant with regulation.
Italy is the second country in Europe to crack down on Shein after France fined the company €40 million for fake discounts and greenwashing in July.
The European Commission in May targeted Shein for alleged violations of consumer protection law involving fake discounts and misleading sustainability claims.
The EU has in recent months been taking a closer look at the millions of cheap parcels that enter the market every day — the vast majority of which from Chinese traders like AliExpress, Temu and Shein. These companies have also been probed over the potential sale of illegal products under the Digital Services Act.
German conglomerate best known for its confectionery brands, The Katjes Group, is expanding its portfolio into luxury apparel with the acquisition of a majority stake in Bogner. Katjes International announced a deal to purchase 60 per cent of the shares in the Bogner Group, with the remaining 40 per cent to be retained by the Bogner family.
A family-owned company, Bogner is recognized as Germany's largest luxury clothing brand, specializing in high-end sportswear and leisurewear. In FY24-25, the company reported net sales worth nearly €200 million and is currently profitable.
This strategic move diversifies the Katjes Group's holdings, which already include personal care brands such as ‘Bübchen’ and ‘Therame. Last year, the Group reported a turnover of €393 million, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of €45 million. The company has an average of 1,100 employees.
The 83rd Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) will be held at the Malaika Beach Resort in Mwanza, Tanzania, from November 17-20, 2025.
The conference will focus on the theme titled, ‘Leveraging Sustainable Cotton and Textiles for Industrial and Rural Development.’ It will feature a variety of sessions covering all sectors of the supply chain, including Deep Learning and Sensor Technologies for Automated Detection and Monitoring of Cotton Diseases and Insect Pests; Financing Investment in Textiles and pparel Value Chain in Emerging Markets; Marketing Cotton: What Works, for Whom?, and Reports from the ICAC Secretariat.
The conference will also feature a session focusing on the views and ideas of attendees rather than the speakers on stage. Titled, The World Café, the session will focus on the theme, ‘Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES).’
The 83rd Plenary Meeting will also offer attendees an opportunity to participate in a two-day technical tour from November 21-22, 2025 to see Tanzania's iconic wildlife.
To be held from September 3-5, 2025 in Shanghai, Cinte Techtextil China is set to be a key international platform for the technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Featuring exhibitors from across 12 countries and regions, the show will help bridge the gap between Asian and Western markets by showcasing products across 12 application areas.
A major highlight of the 2025 event is the launch of the Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone. Suitable for applications in sports, industrial protection, and construction, this new category will feature renowned companies like Germany's CHT Germany GmbH and the USA's Michelman Inc. Other exhibitors in this zone include Dupré Minerals from the UK, which will showcase its flame-retardant Micashield Vermiculite Dispersion, and China's Shanghai Xinnuo Chemical and Yancheng Ruize Color Masterbatch, both of which specialize in water-based waxes and masterbatch production.
The event will also include strong representation from Europe, with the European and German Zones featuring top companies. These zones will host returning brands like EMS-Griltech (Switzerland) and Fibre Extrusion Technology (UK), as well as new exhibitors like Belgium's Serel Industrie, which specializes in X-ray technology for textile recycling, and the UK's Proton Product International. The German Zone will include industry leaders such as Brueckner Textile Technologies and Lindauer Dornier, which is known for its high-performance weaving machines.
Automotive textiles will be another key focus, with exhibitors from around the globe presenting their products. Malaysia's JCT Industries will showcase its PVA fibers for automotive applications, and China's Jiangsu HongFeng Thread Technology will feature its certified polyester and nylon sewing threads.
Cinte Techtextil China is organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK), the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA). The fair's comprehensive product scope aims to serve as an effective business platform for the entire industry, from raw materials to finished products.
Luxury outwear retailer, Canada Goose Holdings Inc’s net loss widened in Q1, FY26 despite the brand reporting a 22.4 per cent Y-o-Y increase in total revenue, reaching CA$107.8 million.
The company's direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue increased by 23.8 per cent to CA$78.1 million. This growth was primarily fueled by a 14.8 per cent rise in comparable sales and the positive impact of newer store openings. Canada Goose has been actively expanding its retail footprint, including converting two temporary locations into permanent ones, bringing its total permanent store count to 76.
The company’s wholesale revenue also rose by 11.9 per cent to CA$17.9 million. Other revenue streams, which include Friends & Family events, experienced a substantial growth of 31.1 per cent to CA$11.8 million, further contributing to the overall top-line growth. The company's gross profit rose 25.9 per cent to CA$66.2 million, with the gross margin improving to 61.4 pe cent. This margin improvement was partly attributed to higher-margin output from Canada Goose's European knitwear facility.
However, these positive revenue and gross profit figures were overshadowed by a widening net loss. The company’s net loss attributable to shareholders reached CA125.2 million, , a significant increase from CA77.4million, in the same quarter last year. The operating loss also expanded to CA158.7million.
Beyond the financials, Canada Goose made several strategic moves, including the launch of its Spring-Summer 2025 collection and the second Snow Goose capsule. The brand also introduced a revamped store concept in Amsterdam and reported notable progress on its sustainability goals, achieving a 9 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and a 25 per cent reduction in Scope 3 emissions.
Dani Reiss, Chairman and CEO, Canada Goose, affirms, the brand is off to a strong start withn DTC performance growth. The brand is executing everything with precision, from bold storytelling to smarter retail moves, he adds.
