In February, Fibre*Fashion reported, citing an Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency report, that the India–EU FTA pushes for eliminating the duties on shipments from India and giving the country a competitive edge against competitors such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, who have so far enjoyed free entry into the EU region.

The FTA between India and the EU is expected to come into effect sometime in early January and with the United Kingdom in June or July this year. CEO of The Synerg, Karthikeyan Shanmugam, said in an interview with Fibre*Fashion that the future is quite good for India’s textile industry as the FTAs come into place.

British womenswear brand Sosandar plc has reported strong year-on-year (YoY) growth in fiscal 2026 (FY26), driven by robust online performance, improved margins and a return to profitability.

The company posted a revenue of £42.3 million (~$57.53 million) in FY26 ended March 31, 2026, up 14 per cent YoY from the previous year, supported by a 24 per cent surge in own-site sales. The growth was fuelled by higher website traffic, improved conversion rates and increased order volumes from both new and returning customers.

Sosandar reported FY26 revenue of £42.3 million (~$57.53 million), up 14 per cent, driven by strong online growth, with own-site sales rising 24 per cent.
The company returned to profitability with PBT of £0.4 million (~$0.54 million) and improved margins.
Despite slightly missing revenue expectations, performance remained solid.
Strong third-party sales supported confidence in profitable growth.

Sosandar noted strong performance across all categories, from occasion wear to casual collections, reflecting its ability to translate trends into its distinctive design aesthetic.

Profitability improved significantly during the year, with profit before tax expected to reach £0.4 million (~$0.54 million), compared to a loss of £0.1 million in FY25. Gross margin also strengthened to 63.9 per cent from 62.1 per cent, highlighting the company’s focus on margin enhancement and operational efficiency. Sosandar ended the year with net cash of £8.4 million, even after £1.8 million in share buybacks, up from £7.3 million a year earlier, Sosandar said in a press release.

The company noted that market expectations ahead of the announcement had been set at revenue of £43.1 million and profit before tax of £0.4 million for FY26, indicating that profitability is in line with forecasts, while revenue came in slightly below expectations.

The brand continued to perform strongly across third-party platforms, particularly with NEXT, reinforcing its position as a leading womenswear label in the UK market. Trading with Marks & Spencer also began to normalise following earlier disruptions, with stock intake returning to expected levels.

Sosandar’s physical retail presence delivered a positive uplift, with stores entering their second year of trading and locations in market towns performing particularly well. However, the company noted that stores are still weighing on overall profitability as they mature, especially those located in shopping centres. As a result, no new store openings are planned in the near term, with a focus instead on improving profitability at existing locations.

Looking ahead, the board expressed confidence in the company’s strategy, emphasising that strong foundations are in place to deliver sustainable, profitable and cash-generative growth.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose sharply to 66.7 in March from 56.8 in February, signalling a strong acceleration in factory activity, according to the data issued by the Statistics Department. Growth was led by higher new orders (69.9) and production (68.8), particularly in the textile and wearing apparel sectors.

Firms also increased stock purchases to support rising output, with some resorting to precautionary inventory building amid concerns over disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said in a press release.

Sri Lanka’s manufacturing PMI surged to 66.7 in March from 56.8 in February, driven by strong gains in new orders and production, particularly in apparel.
Firms raised inventories amid Middle East-related risks.
However, supply constraints, rising costs, and logistics issues persisted, with delivery times worsening.
Employment growth slowed.
Outlook remains positive.

Despite robust demand, manufacturers reported a constrained operating environment due to raw material and fuel shortages, rising input costs, and logistical challenges. Supplier delivery times lengthened significantly to 75.5, reflecting shipping disruptions and demand pressures. Employment rose at a slower pace, indicating cautious hiring despite increased workloads.

Looking ahead, business expectations for the next quarter remain positive across sectors, supported by seasonal trends and emerging opportunities. However, concerns persist over the impact of the Middle East conflict, supply disruptions, and broader global economic uncertainty, which may weigh on future momentum.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)