Features

India’s handbags market is expected to expand by US $ 1.98 billion between 2024 and 2029 at a robust CAGR of 8.5%, driven largely by the widening retail footprint and the increasing sophistication of online distribution channels.

In a candid conversation with Apparel Resources, Andreas Beihofer, Member of the Board, Madeira, said emerging categories like athleisure are now demanding thinner, lighter and more versatile threads that can handle stretch and movement without losing quality. Workwear, on the other hand, continues to grow because global safety rules are only getting stricter.

In a candid conversation with Apparel Resources, Sanjay Gupta, Design Education Evangelist VC, World University Of Design discusses about the far broader reach and potential of creative industries as they span India’s crafts and handlooms, performing arts, cinema, publishing, architecture, advertising, animation, heritage tourism and fashion ecosystems.

Team Apparel Resources recently visited Freudenberg’s Chennai plant and met with its senior leadership where they shared about their ambitious expansion, how they see India’s apparel market evolving, the role of sustainability in shaping their future growth and how they continue to evolve through innovation and collaboration.

India’s start-up scene continues to mature and new sectors are starting to stand out, especially fashion and apparel. The country’s apparel market, valued at around US $ 120 billion, is expected to grow at 10% to 12% annually from 2024 to 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing large markets in the world.

In an exclusive interview with Apparel Resources, Sweta Saraf, Director, D&G Buttons discusses about their new Kolkata facility, how it will reduce lead times, improve quality control, support smaller custom orders and expand product variety, giving brands the flexibility to respond faster to market trends and create more innovative collections.

For brands and retailers, S/S ’26 represents a delicate balancing act: investing in pieces that celebrate tactility and craft, while maintaining a modern, minimal sensibility that mirrors the evolving mindset of the global consumer.

Innovations demonstrated at CISMA 2025 showed how precision, consistency and reduced manual intervention are becoming non-negotiable in modern garment production. AI integration, intelligent oil and lubrication management and fully automated auxiliary systems are now standard features.

Pinterest’s new Fall Trend Report points towards a major style shift that is quickly sweeping the globe - searches for thrift-related ideas are soaring, fuelled majorly by Gen Z users who are now reimagining how they shop, style and decorate not only their wardrobes, but also their surroundings.