During the last fiscal, apparel and accessories accounted for *.* per cent of Japan’s total imports, which stood at ***,***,*** million yen. Imports of textile yarn and fabric inched up *.* per cent to *,***,*** million yen (~$*.** billion), representing * per cent of total imports.

On the export side, textile yarn and fabric shipments decreased *.* per cent to ***,*** million yen (~$*.** billion). Textile machinery exports rose *.* per cent to ***,*** million yen (~$*.** billion), contributing *.* per cent to Japan’s total exports of ***,***,*** million yen.

British lifestyle brand Mulberry Group plc has reported a solid recovery in the second half (H2) of fiscal 2026 (FY26), with total group sales rising 13.6 per cent on a constant currency basis in the 52-week period ended March 28, 2026, helping lift full-year growth to 5.7 per cent.

At reported exchange rates, group sales increased 5 per cent in FY26, reversing a 3.9 per cent decline in the first half. Growth was driven by a broad-based improvement across channels, with retail (omni-channel) sales rising 11.1 per cent in H2 and franchise and wholesale expanding 31.2 per cent.

Andrea Baldo, CEO at Murlberry Group said the company has delivered ‘decisive progress’ despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, adding that the turnaround strategy is gaining traction across markets, with improved sales quality, stronger margins, and rising customer engagement.

Mulberry Group plc has reported a strong H2 FY26 recovery, with sales rising 13.6 per cent at constant currency, lifting full-year growth to 5.7 per cent.
Gains were driven by retail and wholesale channels, alongside improved digital and store performance.
All regions posted LFL growth.
The ‘Back to Mulberry Spirit’ strategy supported margins, brand momentum, and customer engagement.

Digital sales returned to growth in H2, up 9.2 per cent, while store sales rose 12.5 per cent, reflecting improved consumer engagement and stronger in-store performance. Over the full year, digital sales edged up 1.1 per cent and stores gained 2.9 per cent, Mulberry said in a press release.

Regionally, all markets posted positive like-for-like (LFL) growth in H2. The UK recorded a 13.7 per cent increase across retail and digital, while the US rose 20.1 per cent. Europe (excluding the UK) led with a 37.8 per cent surge, and Asia Pacific advanced 20.8 per cent.

The performance reflects progress under Mulberry’s ‘Back to Mulberry Spirit’ strategy, aimed at simplifying operations, reinforcing brand identity, and strengthening customer relationships. The company maintained a focus on full-price sales while reducing discounting, supporting improved gross margins.

Product and brand initiatives also contributed to momentum. The ‘Rooted in Craft’ campaign boosted brand visibility, while the Bayswater Limited Edition sold out rapidly following its February launch. The Boston bag continued to perform strongly, highlighting the appeal of Mulberry’s refreshed product direction.

The appointment of Christopher Kane as Ready-to-Wear Creative Director marks a strategic step in revitalising the brand’s creative direction, with new collections expected in the current financial year, added the release.

The CEO added that the group is simplifying its business, restoring full-price discipline, strengthening connections with customers, and reasserting Mulberry’s position as a distinctive British lifestyle brand. He noted that early results indicate improved sales quality, stronger margins, and growing engagement from both existing and new customers.

“While we remain focused on the work ahead, we are building momentum at pace. We are confident in our strategy and in our ability to build a sustainable, profitable business for the long term,” he said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Bangladesh government officials, industry leaders and sustainability experts recently called for finalising a national circular economy strategy for the country’s textile and readymade garment (RMG) sector as such a framework is essential to protect the country’s competitiveness in the global apparel market.

The call came at a national consultation in Dhaka on the draft Bangladesh National Strategy on Circular Economy for the sector.

Bangladesh government officials, industry leaders and sustainability experts recently called for finalising a national circular economy strategy for the textile and RMG sector as that is essential to protect competitiveness in the global apparel market.
They emphasised the need to embed circular practices across the entire value chain while improving transparency and building institutional capacity.

The event was organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the country’s Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with Chatham House, under the Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) project, co-funded by the European Union (EU) and Finland.

SWITCH2CE project partner Chatham House worked with two leading national research organisations in Bangladesh to conduct two policy level research, and lessons from the pilot projects outlined future steps to foster a national circular textile strategy for Bangladesh, a release from SWITCH2CE said.

Through SWITCH2CE, technical support has been provided by Chatham House and a diverse network of partners, including international brands, research institutions, and financing organisations, working alongside local industry actors and technology providers.

Participants emphasised the need to embed circular practices across the entire value chain—from design and production to waste recycling—while improving transparency and building institutional capacity.

They emphasised policy recommendations to formalise and scale circular approaches across the entire value chain—from design and production to textile waste recycling—while improving traceability and building institutional and financial capacity.

Discussions also addressed challenges in blended fiber recycling, transparent supply chains, and the need for coordinated efforts to build a sustainable textile ecosystem by adopting a national circular strategy.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)