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The fashion and apparel landscape going through a transformation, says the latest Kantar BrandZ ‘Most Valuable Global Brands’ report. Luxury's digital prowess is increasing its lead, while the growing resale market is forcing brands to rethink their sustainability and circularity strategies.
Luxury’s digital mastering
The report reveals a clear trend: luxury brands are mastering the art of digital engagement, driving significant brand value growth. This digital fluency translates to seamless omnichannel experiences, immersive virtual shopping, and powerful influencer collaborations, resonating strongly with discerning consumers.
"Luxury brands have successfully leveraged digital platforms to create aspirational and engaging experiences, fostering strong emotional connections with their audiences," explains Jane Smith, Head of BrandZ Analysis at Kantar. "This digital mastery, coupled with their inherent brand equity, has propelled their growth despite economic headwinds."
For example, Louis Vuitton, a consistent leader in the BrandZ rankings, exemplifies the power of digital innovation. Their partnerships with gaming platforms, virtual fashion experiences, and engaging social media campaigns have broadened their reach and captured the attention of younger demographics. "Louis Vuitton's ability to seamlessly blend their heritage with cutting-edge digital initiatives has been instrumental in their continued success," notes Smith. "They've created a digital ecosystem that enhances the brand experience, fostering loyalty and driving sales."
The clear trends that have emerged are:
Luxury's digital drive: Brands with robust digital strategies have demonstrated significantly higher brand value growth compared to those lagging behind.
Experience over product: Consumers are valuing experiences and brand storytelling over mere product acquisition, with luxury brands excelling in this area.
Sustainability's growing influence: The report highlights a rise in consumer awareness and demand for sustainable practices, with resale and circularity gaining traction.
Resale a disruptive force
The report also sheds light on the rapid growth of the resale market, driven by increasing consumer awareness of sustainability and affordability. Platforms like The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective are challenging traditional retail models, forcing brands to consider their role in the circular economy.
"Resale is no longer a niche market; it's a mainstream phenomenon," states David Lee, a retail analyst specializing in sustainable fashion. "Consumers are actively seeking out pre-owned items, driven by both environmental concerns and the desire for unique, accessible pieces."
And brands are responding in various ways. Some luxury brands are launching their own resale platforms, aiming to control the secondary market and maintain brand integrity. Others are partnering existing resale platforms, leveraging their reach and expertise. Many are focusing on improving the durability and repairability of their products, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.
Table: Brand ranking
|
Rank |
Brand |
Key attributes |
|
Top Tier |
Nike |
Strong brand equity, digital innovation, successful athleisure positioning, and effective marketing campaigns. |
|
Top Tier |
Adidas |
Global reach, strong partnerships, focus on innovation and sustainability, and effective marketing. |
|
Mid Tier |
Zara |
Fast-fashion model, efficient supply chain, and responsiveness to trends. |
|
Mid Tier |
Lululemon |
Strong community building, high quality products, and focus on the athleisure market. |
|
Luxury Brands |
||
|
Rank |
Brand |
Key Attributes |
|
Top Tier |
Louis Vuitton |
Strong brand heritage, digital innovation, exclusive product offerings, and effective brand storytelling. |
|
Top Tier |
Chanel |
Iconic brand image, timeless design, and exclusivity. |
|
Top Tier |
Hermes |
High quality craftmanship, exclusivity, and strong brand heritage. |
|
Mid Tier |
Gucci |
strong brand recognition, and current trend setting designs. |
The Kantar BrandZ report reveals a dynamic and evolving fashion industry. Here digital innovation, sustainability, and circularity are no longer optional, they are essential for brands to thrive in the years to come. Brands that can authentically connect with consumers, embrace digital platforms, and prioritize sustainability will be best positioned for long-term success.
The report’s overarching message for fashion brands is clear: adapt or risk irrelevance. The threads of consumer preference are shifting, and brands must weave new strategies to stay relevant in a marketplace increasingly defined by digital experience and ethical consumption.
Textiles giant Trident Group plans to embark on a Greenfield expansion in India with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore earmamred in FY26 towards sustainability, modernization and asset enhancement initiatives.
Samir Joshipura, CEO, says, India is rapidly transitioning into a quality and brand sourcing hub with its domestic consumption also projected to increase significantly. The country is going through a transition from a so-called low-cost sourcing hub to a high quality and brand sourcing hub at the macroeconomic and global economic level, he adds.
The domestic consumption story puts India on a different trajectory, not comparable with other low-cost sourcing countries, Joshipura states. The Trident Group is conscious of the projected shift in demand between now and 2047, when India is projected to become the third-largest economy and in which direction the group needs to invest, he adds.
Currently the group’s business in India is valued at around Rs 500 crore but is set to increase significantly, Joshipura adds.
Of the company's top-line revenue of around Rs 7,000 crore, the textiles segment accounts for around Rs 5,500 crore to Rs 6,000 crore, with non-Indian business accounting for around 85-90 per cent and the US being the largest market.
Currently, India is a relatively small market with a only a few brands in the home textile segment compared to developed markets like the US and Europe, adds Joshipura.
In its budget this year, the Uttar Pradesh Government has allocated Rs 1 crore funds under the Chief Minister Textile Apparel Park Scheme to develop 10 new textile parks across the state.
These textile parks will be established by private companies in Kanpur, Barabanki, Hapur, Mau, Bhadohi, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut and Hardoi and help end India’s dependence on other countries for raw materials.
Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, MSME Department, says these textile parks will be developed according to the industry’s demand in all the 10 districts.
The park in Kanpur will cater to the demands of the hosiery industry while the Bhadohi park will be developed according to the needs of the carpet industry. The parks in Mau and Barabanki will address the needs of the fabric and poly fiber industries respectively.
Similar parks will also be established in Hardoi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gorakhpur and Sant Kabir Nagar, avers Kumar. They will be equipped with facilities like product exhibition, public convenience centre, dyeing, printing centre, administrative building, bank, ATM, rest house, zero liquid discharge and solid waste management, he adds.
Over all, these parks will house about 1,000 units and attract investment worth about Rs 8,000 crore. They will also provide employment to about 40,000 people.
The government had earlier launched a scheme to set up textile parks on private plots to promote the textile industry. Under this scheme, a provision was made to provide subsidy of up to Rs 25 crore for setting up textile parks on private plots. The work of setting up a textile park under this scheme in Shamli has almost been completed.
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has strongly endorsed the Senate confirmation of Jamieson Greer as the next US Trade Representative (USTR), highlighting his role in tackling trade challenges.
NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas emphasized the urgency of addressing predatory trade practices that have contributed to 27 US textile plant closures in the past 20 months. She expressed optimism about working with Greer and the Trump administration to strengthen domestic manufacturing and the US - Western Hemisphere supply chain.
Glas also called for ending the de minimis trade provision, which allows 4 million packages daily to enter the US unchecked, often containing harmful or illicit goods. She stressed that Greer’s leadership is crucial in advancing policies that protect US textile jobs and manufacturing.
“Jamieson is an exceptional choice for USTR, and we look forward to collaborating on policies that expand the textile sector,” Glas stated.
Greer’s Senate confirmation is expected soon, marking a significant step for the US textile industry amid ongoing economic pressures.
During a Buyer-Seller Meet in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO) and the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (Co-optex) signed a deal to boost handloom textile sales in their respective states.
According to this agreement, the two organizations will sell each other's handloom products in showrooms across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Together, these two organizations will sell products worth Rs 9.20 crore (approximately $1.1 million) during the year as part of this initiative.
Tamil Nadu's handloom textiles will be sold at APCO, outlets and other businesses in Andhra Pradesh. Likewise, Andhra Pradesh's handloom textiles will be sold through Co-optex showrooms and various textile stores across Tamil Nadu.
Government officials from both states also signed agreements with multiple organizations from regions including Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Erode, and Salem in Tamil Nadu, and with several firms in Andhra Pradesh.
The agreement will significantly benefit handloom weavers in Andhra Pradesh, states S Savitha, Minister. Following the signing of this agreement, she opened a buyer-seller conference organized by the Tamil Nadu government and visited handloom textile booths at the event.
Traditional handicrafts and handlooms exports from Kashmir are projected to rise to nearly Rs 3,000 crore by FY2025-end. Over the past two years, these exports increased to almost Rs 2,567 crore, as per a report by the Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Department.
Kani and Sozni shawls remained the top exported items with sales reaching Rs 1,105 crore over the past three years, according to a report by The Tribune. Exports of another signature product, hand-knotted carpets rose to Rs 728 crore during the same period. Other significant exports include chain stitch goods, wood carvings, and crewel embroidery.
To further boost exports, the Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Department operates a design studio at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and collaborates with the School of Designs and Craft Development Institute to create prototypes for contemporary products. Artisans can access these modern designs and packaging models to enhance their products for high-end markets, according a spokesperson of the department.
In addition to economic development initiatives, the region has implemented numerous welfare programs. It has trained 17,182 women in various handicraft techniques. The department also runs an education program for the children of craftspeople and provided 100 weavers with free, modern steel carpet looms under the National Wool Policy.
The EU has reached a provisional deal to cut textile waste and tackle fast fashion. Under the new rules, textile producers will be responsible for funding the collection, sorting, and recycling of their products.
This will apply across the EU, including e-commerce sellers, 30 months after the directive takes effect. Micro-enterprises will have an extra 12 months to comply.
The rules cover clothing, accessories, footwear, linens, and curtains, with EU countries also allowed to include mattresses. Member states must address ultra-fast fashion practices when determining financial contributions to waste management schemes.
Rapporteur Anna Zalewska highlighted the Parliament’s success in ensuring producers contribute to separate textile collection while minimizing administrative burdens.
Each year, the EU generates 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste, with clothing and footwear accounting for 5.2 million tonnes. Currently, less than 1 per cent of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products. The deal is now set for formal approval before becoming law.
Isko joins forces with Blanche to launch Kokoro, the brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, blending timeless design with responsible fashion. Featuring Isko’s premium recycled denim, Kokoro reflects Blanche’s commitment to sustainability without compromising style.
A leader in denim innovation, Isko continues to redefine fashion with cutting-edge, eco-conscious textile solutions. The Kokoro collection embodies this vision, utilizing Isko fabrics to craft high-quality, fashion-forward pieces with a reduced environmental impact.
“Real change happens when innovation meets integrity. Our collaboration with Blanche proves that great design and responsibility go hand in hand. This is the future of denim -sustainable, stylish, and inspiring,” said Keith O’Brien, Senior Global Marketing & PR Manager at Isko. The Kokoro collection will be available online and in stores starting February 2025.
Lululemon is opening a 8,923 sq ft flagship store in Regent Street, London besides collaborating with designer Saul Nash during London Fashion Week.
This is Lululemon’s largest store in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. The store features an expanded range of men's and women's apparel and accessories designed for yoga, running, training, and everyday wear.
A few of the stores’s features include the largest ‘pant wall’ in Europe, the most extensive Lululemon menswear selection in EMEA, the brand's latest store design concept, a water bottle personalization station, and a dynamic staircase light feature that changes color throughout the day.
Lululemon emphasizes, the store will serve as a community hub, building on the brand's 11-year history in London. The store will include a newsstand offering a special Lululemon newspaper.
The newsstand will also host DJ sets and surprise performances by Lululemon ambassadors, such as Olympic gold medalist Phil Wizard.
Further community events include movement sessions at The Vinyl Factory Soho, culminating in a disco-house dance party. Lululemon has also partnered with the Runna running coach app for an 8 km run through London, starting at the new store. Highlighting the store’s rile in Lululemon’s international growth strategy, Sarah Clark, Senior VP of Lululemon EMEA, states, it aims to quadruple the brand’s international sales by 2026.
Simultaneously, Lululemon and Saul Nash unveiled their new ‘SLNSH’ collaboration, which launches globally on March 11, 2025. The SLNSH Spring 2025 collection, blending Nash's refined activewear aesthetic with Lululemon's technical innovation, was showcased at an event at
The Boiler House in East London. Spanning menswear, womenswear, and accessories, the collection blurs the lines between performance and lifestyle.
In a major boost to employment and industrial growth, Texport Industries (TIPL) plans to launch its readymade garments unit in the Sircilla Apparel Park. To open with an initial capacity to employ 2,000 women, this would be the second major apparel unit in Sircilla, following Green Needle (Gokuldas unit).
KT Rama Rao, Working President, BRS says, at full capacity, the Sircilla Apparel Park unit will generate 25,000 jobs. He attributes the launch of this initiative to the visionary leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao, Former Chief Minister, Telangana.
The Telangana Government has allocated 7.42 acre in Peddur Apparel Park on Sircilla outskirts for the park. It has also announced a Rs.64 crore investment in the development’s of the unit’s infrastructure. To be spread over 1.77 lakh sq ft, the unit aligns with the previous BRS government’s push to transform Sircilla into a textile hub, offering large-scale employment, particularly for women.
A specialist manufacturer of underwear and T-shirts, Bengaluru-based TIPL has completed the construction of this unit and will launch operations shortly.
