In this issue

The fashion retail industry has fi nally come back to life with the Indian government lifting the blanket ban on non-essential retail. But while we are savouring this good news, deep down, we are all aware of the harsh reality – the virus is still amongst us and its scourge continues to rampage across the world unabated. Therefore, even as we all race to reopen our businesses, we know the utter uncertainty that awaits us all – i.e., until a vaccine is discovered.
Over the last two months, a lot has been said and predicted about the new normal that we have to adapt to, post the lockdown. But as we open our doors to the consumer, we realise that the challenges that face us now are far greater than what we had expected.
It’s a very crucial time for fashion businesses across the country. On the one hand, we have to prepare ourselves to conform to the new protocols of safety and hygiene and on the other, instill confi dence of a safe shopping environment in both our internal and external customers. At the same time, we are also charged with the dexterous task of coming up with eff ective strategies to stimulate consumer interest/sales and fi nd creative solutions that can potentially move us forward.

Bata India Implements Reopening Strategy As Government Ease Lockdown Restrictions

As the lockdown eases, fashion businesses are searching for ways to continue to carry out regular business. With central and state governments imposing strict regulations on non-essential retail when allowing them to reopen to limit the spread of the virus, stores will have to comply with regulations and might even come up with additional voluntary initiatives. In a webinar organised by Retailers Association of India, Sandeep Kataria, CEO, Bata India shares his company’s approach while reopening temporarily closed stores...

3 mins

THE TRIAL ROOM DEBATE FINDING A PLAUSIBLE SOLUTION

Trial rooms are a huge advantage that the brick-and-mortar stores have over e-commerce, and nothing can replace the in-person experience of trying on an item in the changing room, but are they safe in the midst of a pandemic?

4 mins

NUMERO UNO - ADOPTS TECHNOLOGY TO GO CONTACTLESS, ENGAGE CONSUMERS

With the lockdown being lifted and the economy limping back to normalcy, retailers are getting back to business and receiving customers in stores again. IMAGES Business of Fashion spoke to Santosh Srivastava, Marketing Manager, Numero Uno to understand the brand’s reopening strategy, how it is going contactless and training and educating its workforce…

3 mins

BACK TO BUSINESS: FASHION RETAILERS FOCUS ON SHOP BY APPOINTMENT, ENGAGING CONSUMERS ONLINE

As the lockdown is being lifted in a phased manner across all the marketplaces in the country, fashion brands are coming out of their funk. IMAGES Business of Fashion focuses on how brands and fashion businesses are adapting to the changing needs amid the ‘new normal’ and are working to ‘co-exist’ with COVID-19...

8 mins

TECHNOLOGIES ENABLING CONTACTLESS IN-STORE EXPERIENCES TO GAIN PROMINENCE: TUSHAR VED, PRESIDENT, MAJOR BRANDS

With retail stores opening post the lifting of the lockdown, in-store technologies – which have until now have been used in various ways to aggregate customer experience – can be a huge enabler in managing social measures. In a webinar organised by the Retailers Association of India (RAI), Tushar Ved, President, Major Brands highlights how these technologies can increase convenience for shoppers and mitigate the risk of physical contact…

2 mins

MARKETING STRATEGIES WILL BE SOCIALLY ORIENTED, DIGITALLY FOCUSED IN COVID TIMES: CEO PEPE JEANS

Business strategies – both marketing and communication – are not conceived with disruptors like the coronavirus pandemic even remotely in mind. Responding to the challenges the pandemic has brought is something apparel and fashion businesses need to address urgently. Manish Kapoor, CEO, Pepe Jeans talks about his opinion on the changes in consumer behavior in this webinar organised by Retailers Association of India. He says that if serious efforts are not made, the whole foundation of brick-and-mortar stores, which is physical interaction, and which gives it an edge over online retail may fizzle out...

2 mins

THE FUTURE IS COLLABORATION, NOT COMPETITION - LALIT AGGARWAL, CMD, V-MART RETAIL

COVID-19 has changed communities, businesses, and the world forever. As retail businesses continue to work through the current situation and plan the future, it is clear that the change required is significant – as is the potential opportunity across segments. Collaboration will play a stronger role than ever before – enabling businesses recovery and helping everyone achieve more...

2 mins

FABLESTREET IS PLANNING FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL', SAYS FOUNDER & CEO AYUSHI GUDWANI

Launched online before recently going the offline route, FableStreet has primarily been a direct-to-consumer brand. Amid the lockdown, the premium women’s workwear brand is further strengthening its online channel and revamping product categories basis the ‘new normal’. Founder, Ayushi Gudwani talks to IMAGES Business of Fashion to share how technology will play an important role given limited human interaction due to social distancing, at least initially post-lockdown, if not permanently.

4 mins

5 Technologies Transforming The Fashion Retail Sector

Global marketing research firms have ubiquitously called the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic an ‘unexpected catalyst for tech adoption’ in the retail industry. While the retail industry’s increasing reliance on technology over the past few years goes unsaid, the challenges posed by the pandemic will invariably accelerate the rate of adoption of new technology and tools.

3 mins

Top 5 Most Innovative E-Commerce Fashion Brands Of 2020

E-commerce is an innovative, dynamic, and fiercely competitive industry whose sole essence of metamorphosis has been sustained innovation. Disruptions are quotidian episodes of this industry, and only the technically proficient and innovative succeed and survive the cutthroat competition…

6 mins

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Business Of Fashion Magazine Description:

IMAGES Business of Fashion is a monthly resource for fashion retailers, brand owners and industry leaders in India. It delivers fashion business intelligence on emerging retailers, disruptive technologies and domestic and global brands that are making their mark in the industry at a time of unprecedented change.

With a 24 year old loyal reader base of over 60,000 top decision makers, fashion retailers and fashion buyers, spread across all sectors of the business of fashion in India, IMAGES BoF has constantly proven itself as easily the most focused and best targeted fashion business media in India.

Launched in 1992, the monthly magazine is an informed, analytical publication on the fashion business in the country. It has played the role of a catalyst in the retail evolution in India focused on and driven by branding, marketing and retailing of fashion in the country. It enables continuous information exchanges through its activities - facilitating networking among investors, retailers and brand leaders. The publication is amongst the country’s top recall business magazines in India and its reach extends to 2,00,000 of India's top decision makers in retail and retail support business.