Worldview | Bridal Couture Dominates India Couture Week 2025

🇮🇳 Bridalwear and more at Hyundai India Couture Week 2025. Some of the biggest names in Indian couture such as Rahul Mishra, Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Ritu Kumar, Falguni Shane Peacock and Amit Aggarwal unveiled their latest collections at the country’s ongoing annual couture week, in association with Reliance Brands and the Fashion Design Council of India. Mishra opened the eight-day event with an extension of his Paris Couture Week showcase, while Tahiliani’s collection marked 30 years of the veteran’s label, and JJ Valaya will present the finale collection tomorrow. Even as designers present modernised takes on Indian craft with every passing season, in a country with a $130 billion wedding market, bridalwear remains the focus of most collections. [Praachi Raniwala for BoF]

🇧🇩 Even a 5 percent US Tariff Seen as Barrier to Bangladesh’s Apparel Growth, Warns CPD. A new report from the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has warned that even marginal tariffs — as low as 5 percent — could severely hamper Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US. While the country remains one of the world’s largest garment producers, the study underscores how pricing pressures and global competition are eroding margins for Bangladeshi manufacturers. The findings arrive amid mounting calls for trade concessions as the sector grapples with post-pandemic demand volatility and rising production costs. [Fibre2Fashion]

🇮🇳 Kolhapuri Chappals Get a High-Tech Makeover with QR Code Authentication. India’s iconic Kolhapuri chappals — long celebrated for their artisanal craftsmanship — are undergoing a digital transformation. Under a new government initiative, each pair will now carry a QR code to verify authenticity and protect the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The move is part of a broader push to preserve indigenous crafts while boosting export potential through tech-enabled transparency. Critics caution that scaling traditional methods while preserving heritage remains a delicate balancing act. [Economic Times]

🇮🇳 India, UK Ink Landmark Trade Pact, Targeting $120 Billion in Bilateral Trade by 2030. India and the United Kingdom have formally signed a Free Trade Agreement aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $120 billion by the end of the decade. The deal includes tariff reductions across a range of sectors, with fashion and textiles expected to be key beneficiaries. Industry observers say the FTA could help Indian apparel and jewellery brands gain faster market access to the UK — although implementation timelines and compliance standards remain key hurdles. [Fibre2Fashion]

🇮🇳 UK Trade Deal Set to Spark Surge in Indian Jewellery Exports, Industry Says. Indian jewellers are poised for a windfall as the new India-UK trade agreement removes key export barriers, according to trade insiders. The deal is expected to streamline logistics and eliminate duties on certain precious metals, making Indian-made gold and gemstone jewellery more competitive in the UK market. However, some exporters warn that meeting the UK’s stringent traceability and ethical sourcing standards will require significant supply chain investments. [Economic Times]

🇨🇳 Payment Delays and Cheap Chinese Yarn Imports Weigh on Northern India’s Textile Industry. North Indian cotton yarn manufacturers are feeling the strain as sluggish domestic demand combines with an influx of low-cost Chinese imports, according to a new market update. Mills are reportedly facing delayed payments and liquidity crunches, further complicated by reduced purchasing from downstream weavers. While India has long positioned itself as a yarn-exporting powerhouse, analysts say ongoing price undercutting from China is reshaping market dynamics and pressuring margins. [Fibre2Fashion]

🇲🇽 Mexico’s Home Textile Imports Surge Nearly 9 percent, With China Overtaking US as Top Supplier. Mexico’s home textiles market is increasingly looking eastward. Imports rose 8.9 percent year-on-year, with China surpassing the United States to become the country’s largest source of home textile products. The shift underscores China’s continued dominance in global soft goods manufacturing, even as Western nations attempt to diversify supply chains. Analysts say Mexico’s trade patterns reflect a broader realignment in North American sourcing strategies post-pandemic. [Fibre2Fashion]