The negative outlook on global lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret for this year is unlikely to have a major impact on Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, a major supplier to the high end lingerie brand. Sri Lanka is the largest supplier of products on Victoria’s Secret’s supply chain.
A negative guidance has been announced for Victoria’s Secret for 2017 and the first quarter of 2017, coupled with a mid-teen year-on-year fall in sales from its stores in February, due to a restructuring effort where the lingerie brand will focus on core products, while shedding swimwear, footwear and other apparel.
In 2016, the lingerie giant posted net sales of $12.57 billion, with cost of sales, buying and occupancy of $7.45 billion. Sri Lanka supplies around 800 million dollars out of its $4.7 billion total apparel exports to Victoria’s Secret annually. However, pressure isn’t just coming from Victoria’s Secret. Marks & Spencer’s is converting its clothing and household units into more profitable food units due to competition from online and budget retailers.
Many other traditional retailers are also facing stiff competition. Sri Lanka’s exports to the world declined slightly from September to December 2016, with exports to the US and the EU—which account for 85 per cent of Sri Lankan apparel exports—falling or remaining flat.

- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
China’s inward turn, domestic demand is rewriting the export model
China is undergoing one of its most consequential economic recalibrations in decades, driven by geopolitical instability, rising Western protectionism, and... Read more
Why Shein sees itself as a technology company, not a fashion brand
The modern fashion industry has traditionally been defined by creativity, merchandising expertise and global sourcing networks. Yet few companies have... Read more
India’s textile sector turns crisis into competitive advantage
India’s textile and apparel industry has emerged from one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history, transforming a... Read more
India’s Export Divide: Textile mills advance, apparel makers face global headwin…
India’s textile and apparel (T&A) sector entered FY2027 with a striking internal contradiction. While the country’s overall merchandise exports increased... Read more
China’s inward turn, domestic demand is rewriting the export model
China is undergoing one of its most consequential economic recalibrations in decades, driven by geopolitical instability, rising Western protectionism, and... Read more
Egypt bets on a $2 bn green textile city to become Europe’s next sourcing hub
Egypt is making a decisive play to become one of the world's most important apparel manufacturing destinations after securing a... Read more
EU textile imports hit $295.66 bn as price wars mask manufacturing stress
The European Union’s textile and apparel imports grew to $295.66 billion in 2025, a 9.4 per cent year-on-year increase from... Read more
Landmark India-UK trade pact to supercharge textile export margins
The long-awaited India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is officially scheduled to commence on July 15, 2026. This breakthrough... Read more
Is it the end of aspirational luxury? Asia’s consumers demand more than logos
While the global personal luxury goods market remains broadly stable at around €358 billion, the apparent resilience masks a deeper... Read more
Vietnam wins, India slips as US apparel sourcing undergoes massive reset
A trade realignment is transforming the global apparel market, yet India’s manufacturing has stalled at the starting line. Newly released... Read more











