Indian Apparel Industry 2024: Trends, Tech, Sustainability Drive Success

If the Indian apparel industry of 2024 were a runway, it would gleam with reinvention, resilience, and adaptability. The sector has not only weathered challenges but has embraced them, bringing fast fashion, sustainability, and athleisure to the forefront.

Fast Fashion Takes Center Stage

• Fast fashion recorded 30-40% growth, driven by affordability and agility.
• Zudio, with 45% CAGR, opened 190 stores, achieving ₹7,000 crore revenue in FY23-24.
• Snitch targets ₹600 crore GMV, focusing on menswear evolution with trends like denim dominance, oversized silhouettes, and versatile layering.

Omni-Channel Retail Dominance

• Omni-channel models bridged online and offline retail, led by Bewakoof, Snitch, and Bombay Shirt Company.
• AI-driven insights by ace turtle streamlined supply chains for brands like Lee, Wrangler, and Dockers, enabling speed-to-market.
• The Souled Store focused on fandom-inspired collections, expanding physical stores and building a community-oriented ecosystem.

Athleisure and Comfort Trends

• Post-pandemic fitness awareness drove athleisure growth, led by brands like XYXX.
• Hoodies and sneakers became wardrobe staples, with 20% month-on-month growth in the category.

Sustainability at the Core

• Sustainability shifted from buzzword to necessity.
• Brands like ABFRL transitioned 88.9% of packaging to sustainable materials, sourcing 67% renewable energy.
• Eco-conscious fabrics and circular fashion resonated with consumers.