Fashion
Sri Lanka can lift revenue by 2% of GDP by 2029: World Bank
The adjustment was also sharper and faster by international standards – when compared with more than 330 similar efforts in 123 countries worldwide since 1980. According to the review, Sri Lanka is now well-positioned to focus on making public finances work better for all citizens.
Sri Lanka can boost revenue by up to 2 per cent of GDP by 2029 without harming growth or equity, according to the World Bank.
Following significant fiscal stabilisation, the country is urged to focus on fairer taxation—especially direct taxes—and smarter spending.
Improved tax administration, efficient budgeting, and targeted reforms can enhance service delivery and support inclusive growth.
While fiscal measures helped restore stability, they have also placed pressure on households through higher indirect taxes and reduced real public-sector wages, and slowed growth due to lower public investment. The next phase of fiscal calibration should prioritise raising revenues in ways that support growth and fairness, and improve the quality of government spending.
The review recommends raising revenue more fairly and efficiently by shifting towards direct taxes—such as implementing a minimum corporate income tax—and by digitising tax administration to make compliance easier, more transparent, and efficient. On the spending side, it emphasises that neither increasing nor decreasing overall spending is feasible; instead, the focus should be on using existing resources more effectively. By spending smarter—improving efficiency, reducing waste, and enhancing service delivery—the government can achieve better outcomes without altering the total budget.
“Now that Sri Lanka has largely stabilised its economy, the challenge is to get better results from every rupee collected and spent,” said David Sislen, World Bank division director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. “This means modernising tax administration, focusing on direct taxes, and making sure public spending is both efficient and fair—especially for the most vulnerable.”
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka can design the next phase of its public finance reforms to build long-term fiscal resilience. Strengthening links between planning and budgeting, improving accountability, and focusing on measurable performance outcomes will help deliver better services, support inclusive growth, and protect the most vulnerable.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Published
October 31, 2025
Urban Outfitters has unveiled a new store concept and retail environment that reimagines its in-store experience with a brighter, more modern, and flexible approach.
Following its debut in Houston, Texas, and a subsequent opening in Glendale, California, the refreshed format reflects the brand’s customer-first philosophy through curated assortments, localized design, and a strong focus on Gen-Z’s favorite styles and brands.
Urban Outfitters plans to open three of its redesigned stores by the end of 2025, with seven additional locations set to follow across the United States in 2026. Each store is tailored to its market, incorporating community nuances and shopping behaviors.
“Our goal is to be the go-to brand and destination for the categories and brands that define our customer’s style, and a source of inspiration through our creativity,” said Shea Jensen, president of Urban Outfitters.
“This new format gives us the freedom to shape our stores around our customers, their lifestyle, and the moments that matter most to them.”
The rollout also reflects Urban Outfitters’ evolving retail strategy, which blends street-level locations like Houston with key mall destinations such as Glendale, noting that 72% of Gen Z consumers still shop in malls.
Each store’s layout and assortment are guided by customer data and local preferences. In Houston, the merchandise mix emphasizes dresses, denim, and accessories that tap into Gen Z’s love of personalization, including handbags, scarves, charms, and bangles. In Glendale, a refreshed men’s strategy takes center stage, expanding into a more complete wardrobe of graphic tees, hoodies, pants, and signature brands, paired with improved wayfinding and in-store navigation.
“Our approach to men’s is about delivering a complete, modern wardrobe that balances trend essentials with the best of brands,” added Bijon Javadzadeh, general manager of merchandising at Urban Outfitters. “We’re evolving with our customer to offer pieces inspired by the culture, communities and moments shaping their style.”
The new store format also introduces elevated beauty sections, expanded footprints for best-selling in-house labels such as BDG Denim, Out From Under, and Standard Cloth, as well as modular fixtures that allow rapid adaptation to seasonal shifts and emerging trends. Fitting rooms have been redesigned with brighter lighting and more space, while warm materials, rich textures, and immersive visual displays enhance the overall shopping experience.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
A study in presence and character, this season, athletic codes are retold through elegant tailoring as Wales Bonner reconceptualizes adidas’ signature DNA. From blousons and jackets to tracksuits and jerseys, each apparel piece is both considered and expressive. Turning to accessories, and drawing on adidas’ timeless codes, a duo of leather bowling bags take center stage – transforming historical sporting aesthetics into sculptural forms.
Adidas Originals and Wales Bonner’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection blends sporting heritage with cultural craftsmanship through refined tailoring and expressive design.
The line features elegant apparel, sculptural leather bags, and reimagined classics like the WB Karintha Lo in satin.
The campaign, shot by Chris Rhodes, captures authentic, individual character and creative spirit.
Continuing to advance the collaboration’s established design language, the instantly iconic WB Karintha Lo returns for its third iteration in satin further stretching the possibilities of what an adidas shoe can be and do. Essential in suede, exquisite in sequin, and now shining in satin, the journey of the Karintha continues to unfold.
The Fall/Winter 2025 footwear support cast also plays host to a number of reimagined Trefoil classics – including the WB Japan presented in a lavender tone. A leftfield choice, until you consider that the calming soft purple hue has historically been associated with serenity and purity. The WB Superstar grounds the collaboration back into iconic sports heritage through a crafted perspective, while the WB Adilette is elevated by a considered human touch.
A study in presence and character, the collection is accompanied by a campaign shot by Chris Rhodes and starring an eclectic ensemble of characters. Championing a new wave of counter-cultural energy, the portraits deftly weave together personal narratives from Gene Gallagher, Alva Claire, Shim Mheuka, and Bebe Parnell. Authentic, raw, and undeniably individual, every image brings new meaning into each piece in the collection.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (MS)
Published
October 31, 2025
Public Desire has unveiled a full rebrand to mark the footwear label’s 10-year anniversary, “signalling a bold new chapter for the brand”.
And comprehensive it certainly is, with a make-over including new logo, website, visual identity and tone of voice, adding up to “an elevated aesthetic… and renewed focus on footwear innovation”.
“Born in the UK and worn worldwide,” Public Desire said its rebrand reflects the “evolution into an elevated, fashion-first brand built on confidence, creativity, and culture”.
It’s headlined by a refreshed identity that “celebrates modern femininity, bold, magnetic, and unapologetic, while staying true to its accessible-luxury roots”.
Public Desire marketing director Emily Frazer added: “Our rebrand reflects the woman we design for: confident, magnetic, and unapologetic. Every silhouette, stitch, and step is ‘Designed to Be Desired’.”
Its campaigns include ‘Decade of Desire’ and ‘Drive Your Desire’: the former looking back at a decade of “standout collections, celebrity moments, and trend-defining design that shaped the brand’s global influence”.
These include international celebs such as Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, and Bella Hadid, while landmark collaborations, included Hailey Baldwin (2016) and Alabama Barker (2022), “marking key moments in the brand’s journey from breakout e-commerce success to global influence”.
Meanwhile, the latter looks ahead to introduce the next chapter, “a fashion-first campaign that celebrates confidence, energy, and self-expression, propelling Public Desire into a new era of modern femininity and elevated design”.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
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