Counterfeits, Dupes & Designer Copycats: How Fashion Brands Can Legally Protect Their Identity 
The fashion industry has always borrowed from trends, aesthetics, and cultural influences. 
However, the emergence of what is popularly known as "dupe culture" has fundamentally altered the conversation surrounding intellectual property rights in fashion. Social media platforms are flooded with content encouraging consumers to purchase products that look substantially similar to luxury goods at a fraction of the price. Retailers openly advertise products as alternatives to high-end brands, while influencers frequently promote such products as affordable substitutes.

The commercial success of this phenomenon has created a legal battleground where trademark law, design protection, unfair competition principles, and consumer perception intersect. Fashion brands invest enormous resources in developing distinct identities that extend far beyond logos and brand names.

NITMA Warmly Welcomes Temporary Removal of 11% Cotton Import Duty; A Major Boost to Global Competitiveness for Indian Textiles
The Northern India Textile Mills Association (NITMA) has enthusiastically welcomed the Government of India’s decisive move to temporarily eliminate the 11% import duty on raw cotton from June 1 to October 31, 2026. This timely policy intervention offers critical margin relief to the MSME-dominated textile and apparel sector during off-season shortages and significantly stabilizes the supply chain against global headwinds.
Driving Competitiveness and Export Growth
The temporary waiver addresses a critical cost disadvantage for Indian manufacturers across spinning mills, fabric production, and garment exports.

AEPC Welcomes Temporary Exemption of Customs Duty on Cotton Imports

The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has welcomed the decision of the Government of India to temporarily exempt all customs duties on cotton imports from 1st June 2026 to 30th October 2026. The measure is expected to augment the availability of cotton for the Indian textile and apparel sector and provide much-needed relief to the entire value chain.

Welcoming the announcement, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, expressed his sincere gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri.Narendra Modi ji, Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, for their timely intervention and support to the textile and apparel industry.

PIGMA & SRMA SOUTH INDIA'S MEGA GARMENTS FAIR CHENNAI 4TH EDITION

PIGMA: Brand -> Promote

SRMA-SINGARA GARMENT READY MADE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

More than 5000 Buyers meeting in 3days.

Date : 12, 13, 14 August 2026.

Wazir Webinar: Unlocking Duty-Free Growth for Indian Exporters

Webinar Date: Friday, 5 June, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
With India progressing towards the finalisation of FTAs with the EU and UK, the country is entering a transformative phase. The next 18–24 months are expected to significantly reshape Indian apparel exporters’ access to key markets, creating an opportunity window unprecedented for the Indian T&A industry.
This webinar is based on Wazir Advisors’ latest strategic report, Unlocking Duty-Free Growth: A Guide to Preferential Market Access for Indian Textile and Apparel Exports, developed as a practical guide for Indian apparel exporters to identify, access, and capture opportunities across 9 FTA destinations, viz. the EU, the UK, Australia, UAE, Oman, EFTA Countries, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.

Textile Exporters Navigate Demand Slowdown Amid Rising Costs and Trade Uncertainty

VUCA world
India’s textile and apparel export sector (T&A) is witnessing a tumultuous phase as global demand softens on the back of rising/sticky raw material costs, and growing unpredictability around international trade agreements "as we are entering a multipolar world order" leading to impact business sentiment. Exporters across all textile value chain/segments — from home textiles to garments and manmade fabrics alike — are experiencing inevitably incredible softer order flows, especially from leading western markets where bulk of the global textiles are consumed.

Unfolding story: Bird's eye view

Sumit Sahni, Modelama Exports on RFID and Industry 4.0

“If I look back at my career, I started working on RFID as early as 2003. It is only over the last decade that people have begun talking about it more widely, but my journey with it began much earlier. I had the good fortune of meeting industry leaders who clearly saw this as the future and understood the importance of defining RFID technology in practical terms.

Everyone goes to a showroom, buys a product, scans it, and all the data is there. In the same way, if we are manufacturing a product and begin tracking every movement through RFID, then the entire process becomes visible. But this cannot be generic. Every company works with a different product and different processes, so each one has to create its own benchmark first.

SAVE THE DATES

27th GARMENTS FAIR, HYDERABAD

Dates: 4 | 5 | 6 AUGUST 2026

VENUE: DREAM LAND & CLASSIC GARDEN BALAMRAI, SECUNDERABAD

Technosummit 2026: Graduating Show of Master & Bachelor of Fashion Technology  
Organized by the Department of Fashion Technology, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi Campus

Event Venue: Crystal Hall, The Suryaa Hotel, New Friends Colony, New Delhi  l Event Day: 26th May 2026  lEvent Timings: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Event Highlights 
Welcome Address (10:00 AM – 10:15 AM)
Opening ceremony to mark the beginning of the summit.

MAPIC India 2026 | 29–30 Sept | Mumbai

MAPIC India 2026, scheduled for 29th–30th September 2026 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
MAPIC India will feature a dynamic conference, exhibition, and Retail Awards, centred around the theme “Decoding the New Retail Code.” The event will bring together 1,000+ senior leaders from retail, real estate, and retail tech for two days of insights, networking, and business opportunities.
Event Highlights:
High-impact conference with industry leaders l Exhibition showcasing global retail innovations l Prestigious Retail Awards recognising excellence.

WGSN: Future Consumer 2028-The Restorers

There’s no such thing as a “typical” consumer anymore.

By 2028, identity will be shaped less by age, income or geography and more by emotions, values and beliefs. In this landscape, brands cannot rely on static demographics. You need enduring insight.

Meet The Restorers, one of WGSN’s fastest-growing 2028 Future Consumer archetypes.

Exhausted by digital noise, constant acceleration and the pressure of “more”, The Restorers are seeking peace, calm and intentional living. For brands, this is both a major opportunity and a warning sign.

Unlocking Duty-Free Growth - Your guide to FTA-driven apparel exports

India’s textile and apparel industry is poised for a strategic leap as the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) opens doors to zero-duty access across all tariff lines. Valued at $1.18 billion in 2025, New Zealand’s apparel market may be modest in size, but it offers a crucial link in India’s expanding Oceania trade network.

India currently holds a 4.1% share of NZ imports, ranking fourth among suppliers. The FTA—signed in April 2026—eliminates the previous 10% duty on nearly 450 apparel lines, strengthening India’s competitiveness against dominant players like China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.