Textile-centric fashion label Akaaro has launched its first-ever flagship store in the historic Ballard Estate neighborhood of Mumbai, marking a major milestone in its 15-year journey.

Situated on Calicut Street, the store is a thoughtfully designed platform for textile exploration, cultural exchange, and modern conceptual design.

The store embodies Akaaro’s core philosophy of textiles being both utilitarian and artistic. Visitors can engage with interactive displays that delve into the craft of handloom weaving, explaining the structure of fibers, the intricacies of weaves, and the brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainable, design-led innovation.

At the heart of the space is a striking installation by multidisciplinary artist Ashish Karmali. Constructed from repurposed textile waste, Karmali’s sculptural tetrapods pay tribute to Mumbai’s resilience while symbolizing Akaaro’s deep-rooted ethos of sustainability and creativity. These sculptural forms, commonly seen along Mumbai’s coastline, have been transformed into a meaningful artistic representation of both the city’s enduring spirit and the brand’s forward-thinking approach.

Gaurav Jai Gupta, Founder, Akaaro, shares, more than a destination for fashion, this store is a place where craft, design, and culture come together to tell powerful stories. Karmali’s work adds emotional and symbolic weight to our textiles, directly tying our philosophy to Mumbai’s fabric of resilience.

The flagship offers a curated collection of Akaaro’s best-known pieces, including signature sarees, festive wear, and experimental handwoven garments. Additionally, the store introduces Akaaro Naturals, a new line of chemical-free clothing made from hand-spun and handwoven textiles, tailored for conscious consumers.

The store’s opening aligns with Akaaro’s broader mission of redefining Indian handlooms through a contemporary, culturally aware lens, inviting a modern audience to experience the beauty of traditional craftsmanship reimagined for today.

Baazar Style Retail registered a 55 per cent increase in revenues during Q4, FY 25, reaching Rs 345.6 crore, compared to the same period last year. The company’s revenues rose by 38 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 1,343.8 crore for the full fiscal year FY25.

Bazaar Style Retail’s sales per square foot (PSF) increased by 19 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 679 per month in Q4 FY25 while it expanded by 12 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 721 per month for the full FY25.

The company's store count increased by 32 per cent Y-o-Y to reached 214 while total rental area rose by 31 per cent Y-o-Y to 1.921 million sq ft as of March 31, 2025. The retailer opened 15 new stores during the quarter.

A prominent value fashion retailer, Baazar Style Retail holds a leading position in West Bengal and Odisha's organized value retail market. The company offers affordable apparel and general merchandise, including clothing for all ages and home furnishings, through its network of value retail stores.  

Contemporary men’s apparel brand, The Bear House has expanded its retail presence by opening its second store in Hyderabad.

Located in Banjara Hills, the store is spread across 1,200 sq ft and showcases the label’s signature bear cave-inspired design.

Building on the brand’s growing offline footprint, the store adds to the brand’s presence at Broadway locations in Hyderabad and Delhi. Known for its smart-casual menswear, it offers a versatile and carefully curated collection shirts, polos, sweatshirts, denims, and accessories designed for the comfort of its customers.

One of the The Bear House’s top performing markets in online sales, the Hyderabad store marks a natural progression in the brand’s expansion plans, says Harsh Somaiya, Co-Founder, The Bear House. Featuring signature shirts along with stylish linen and denim pieces, the brand’s latest collection is designed for men always on the move and those seeking both comfort and style, he adds.

To mark the store’s opening, the brand is offering a flat 25 per cent discount for walk-in customers throughout the first month of its operations. Founded in 2017, The Bear House is scaling rapidly following its appearance on Shark Tank Season 4, and currently retails through its app, website, and leading e-commerce platforms.

Nykaa Fashion has launched a new campaign titled, ‘Wear What's Next,’ that playfully blends the world of fashion trends with the mystique of fortune-telling. Featuring Bollywood actress Sharvari Wagh, the campaign unfolds as she engages with a fortune teller, portrayed by Sheeba Chaddha.

The campaign's narrative revolves around the fortune teller's predictions for Wagh's upcoming wardrobe transformations, forecasting a shift towards bold power dressing, the resurgence of ruffles, and a denim-on-denim revival. This unique concept cleverly taps into the idea of predicting future fashion trends, presenting fashion as a dynamic and ever-evolving entity, much like the unpredictable nature of fate.

The campaign seamlessly merges my passion for fashion with the exciting possibilities that the future holds. It’s about embracing daring, fun, and fresh looks, and Nykaa Fashion makes that process effortless, says Wagh.

Currently being rolled out across various digital platforms, the campaign aims to resonate with consumers by highlighting the intrinsic connection between personal identity and fashion choices.

Nykaa Fashion, doesn’t merely follow trends, but is a trendsetters, states Adwaita Nayar, Executive Director and CEO, Nykaa Fashion & Head - Owned Brands. The company shapes the future of fashion by leveraging its deep understanding of consumer preferences and offering a meticulously curated selection of over 850 international and homegrown brands, he adds.

This campaign aims to strengthen Nykaa Fashion's position as a leading online fashion destination in India, emphasizing its commitment to innovation and customer-centricity.

A direct-to-consumer men’s clothing and accessory brand, The Bear House has secured a Rs 50 crore investment ($5.8 million) in a Series A funding round. The funding round was led by investors JM Financial India Growth Fund III.

The company plans to use these funds to expand its physical store presence, support its working capital, and boost its marketing efforts.

Previously, The Bear House had secured a Rs 3 crore investment on the television show ‘Shark Tank India,’ valuing the company at Rs 100 crore.

The new funding and the company’s partnership with JM Financial India Growth Fund III will enable it to accelerate its growth plans and strengthen market presence, says Harsh Somaiya, co-Founder, The Bear House. The company remains committed to its design philosophy and customer relationships as it expands its physical stores and invests in brand building, he emphasizes.

Siddharth Kothari, Managing Director, JM Financial, remarks, the Bear House has witnessed significant growth with its combination of unique designs, a direct-to-consumer strategy and a strong customer base. The brand is well-positioned to become a leading menswear brand in India, given the increasing demand for stylish, high-quality men's apparel, he states.

Founded in 2017 by Harsh and Tanvi Somaiya, The Bear House has a strong online presence, selling its products on platforms like Myntra, Flipkart, Ajio, Tata Cliq, Nykaa, and Amazon. The brand anticipates, this year, its revenues will rise to over Rs 140 crore.

Leading fast-fashion brand in India, Snitch has expanded its store network by opening its 52^nd store in Gurugram, marking another significant step in its rapid expansion across the country.

Strategically located at the popular retail hub in the city, Elan Miracle, the store is Snitch’s second store in the National Capital Region (NCR) and highlights the brand’s fast growth and increasing popularity with its customers.

With 52 stores now operating in over 20 cities, Snitch has accumulated  total retail space of approximately 150,000 sq ft and is bringing its signature combination of trendy designs and affordable prices closer to fashion-conscious men nationwide. Spanning 3,000 sq ft, the new Gurugram store provides a smooth and engaging shopping experience. It allows the brand’s customers to explore its latest collections that blend global trends with the preferences of today’s stylish shoppers.

Siddharth Dungarwal, Founder & CEO, Snitch, says, the brand’s new store at Elan Miracle will  offer high-quality, stylish fashion at affordable prices in a premium retail environment. The brand’s expansion to over 50 stores reflects the growing trust of the brand’s trust, which encourages it to expand to other cities as well, he adds.

Snitch has been quickly growing its physical store presence while maintaining its strong online presence. With consistent year-over-year growth, the brand plans to open more stores in key cities in the coming months, making its fashion offerings even more accessible across India.

Revolutionizing the innerwear market, Indian men's lifestyle brand XYXX has launched Tactel, a high-performance fabric that dries eight times faster than traditional underwear.

Ultra-lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking, this fabric is ideal for everyday wear, workouts, and travel. Its smooth texture and stretch provide a comfortable, second-skin feel, while its quick-dry capabilities keep you fresh in any climate. XYXX's Tactel underwear features a soft, stay-put waistband and ergonomic paneling for enhanced support and movement.

Rigorous lab tests confirm Tactel's superior performance compared to cotton. There is an increased demand for functional, breathable and sweat-wicking fabrics in the global innerwear and athleisure markets. Tactel's fast-drying, durable, and eco-conscious properties make it a popular choice for leading international brands.

The need for packable, easy-care, and quick-drying travel essentials also drives the demand for Tactel-based products. XYXX plans to expand Tactel's use beyond innerwear into activewear, base layers, and athleisure, aligning with the trend of incorporating technical fabrics into everyday wardrobes.

H&M Group's second-largest brand, COS (Collection of Style) plans to open its maiden Indian store at Nexus Select Citywalk in New Delhi in October 2025, says Jayen Naik, Chief Operations Officer, Nexus Select Malls.

Renowned for its premium fashion offerings, COS is also known for its minimalist, timeless, and high-quality designs. The brand’s designs are characterized by clean lines, neutral color palettes, and architectural silhouettes. It prioritizes on the relevance of seasonless designs over time, as against its parent company's faster-paced approach.

Spanning approximately 4,000 sq ft of carpet area, the brand’s new store will be located on the ground floor of Nexus Select Citywalk.

The H&M Group currently owns several globally recognized brands such as H&M, H&M Home, COS, Weekday, Cheap Monday, Monki, & Other Stories, Arket, Singular Society, and Sellpy.

The Nexus Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi hosts many international brands like Foot Locker and NARS, notes Naik. NARS opened its store at the mall in July 2024 while Foot Locker opened in October 2024 and Prada Beauty in February 2025.

Looking ahead, the mall plans to open a store for the brand Gucci Beauty in FY26 and Guerlain’s first store during Diwali 2025.

Currently, the Nexus Select Trust operates 18 malls across India. The retailer plans to expand portfolio to 30 malls by FY 2029-30, asserts Naik.

The group aims to also expand into cities like Hyderabad in the South, and Gurugram, Jalandhar, and Uttarakhand in the North. Currently managing 10.4 million sq ft of retail space, the group aims to double this by FY 2029-30, Naik states.

In Q3, FY25, the revenue of Nexus Select Citywalk Mall increased by 6 per cent Y-o-Y. The group faced several challenges during the year with the consumption, particularly in the apparel category, remaining constrained, resulting in single-digit overall consumption growth. However, the beauty category witnessed significant growth, with consumers also returning to malls for dining experiences, Naik signs off.

Switzerland-based European footwear giant AstorMueller AG, which manages brands like bugatti, TT.Bagatt, and Salamander, has formed an Indian joint venture company titled,’ nuvora’ in partnership with the Gaurik Group, a leading Indian retailer that operates exclusive sgtores for international brands across India. Through this strategic move, AstorMueller aims to make India one of its biggest markets.

In a continent-sized market like India, where cultures and tastes vary from region to region, having a localized structure with decades of experience not only boosts nuvora’s growth significantly but also accelerates its market penetration. The brand’s identity continues to evolve, while its commitment to technology, craftsmanship, and community also remains strong. However, the speed of its growth, execution, and development keeps changing, says Sandip Baksi, CEO of nuvora.

nuvora plans to adopt a multi-channel approach, using both online and physical stores to expand to top 20 cities across India. The company states, this fiscal year, it aims to open 10 to 12 bugatti brand stores.

Sirish Kumar, CEO, AstorMueller India, notes, the company sees tremendous potential in this partnership, and is confident that it will reshape the premium footwear market in India.

Expanding its brand portfolio, leading textile and apparel company, Ginza Industries has launched a men’s fashion brand ‘Hektor’.

Inspired by the legendary resilience and strength of the Greek mythological character Hektor, the brand offers polos, tailored shirts, and premium innerwear. Its maiden men’s collection has been made from cool to touch stretchable fabrics with moisture wicking technology for odor resistance, UPF protection and wrinkle resistance

Rohit Sethia, Founder, says, the collection has been crafted for men who transcend boundaries, lead with confidence and embrace life’s challenges fearlessly. The brand redefines men’s fashion by merging heritage with cutting-edge technology. It sets new benchmarks in style and functionality through its innovative stitch technology and high-performance fabrics, he adds.

Currently available on the Hektor’s website, the collection will be soon launched on leading e-commerce platforms like Nykaa, Amazon, Ajio, and Myntra.