India’s merchandise exports to the United States contracted by 11.9 per cent year on year (YoY) to $5.5 billion in September this year, after recording a 7-per cent YoY growth in August, while exports to non-US markets expanded by 10.9 per cent YoY in the month, accelerating from a 6.6-per cent YoY growth in August, rating agency Crisil recently said.

The decline followed the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50-per cent tariff on Indian goods, effective from August 27. Without the frontloading of shipments ahead of the US tariff hike, the fall would have been sharper, it noted.

India’s merchandise exports to the US contracted by 11.9 per cent YoY in September, after recording a 7-per cent YoY growth in August, while exports to non-US markets expanded by 10.9 per cent YoY in the month, accelerating from a 6.6-per cent YoY growth in August, Crisil recently said.
RMG exports contracted—from a YoY drop of 2.6 per cent in August to a decrease of 10.1 per cent YoY in September.

The country’s overall merchandise exports rose by 6.7 per cent YoY to reach $36.4 billion in September, demonstrating resilience despite global economic headwinds and the additional US tariffs. Exports rose for the third straight month, following a similar pace in August.

Exports of organic and inorganic chemicals weakened—from a YoY growth of 3.8 per cent YoY in August to to a YoY growth of 1.8 per cent in September.

Exports of readymade garments contracted—from a YoY drop of 2.6 per cent in August to a decrease of 10.1 per cent YoY in September. Within this category, exports of cotton yarn contracted by 11.7 per cent YoY in the month compared to a contraction of 2.3 per cent in August, and those of man-made yarn contracted by 2.3 per cent YoY compared to a 3.1-per cent drop in August.

The country’s merchandise exports are facing headwinds from US tariff hikes and a broader slowdown in global growth, Crisil cautioned in a note.

Crisil expects India’s current account deficit (CAD) to remain within manageable limits, backed by strong services exports, steady remittance inflows and easing crude oil prices. The CAD will be around 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in this fiscal, up from 0.6 per cent in the previous, it projected.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Gap is partnering with New York-based designer Sandy Liang on a limited-edition collection of women’s and kids’ apparel launching on Friday, October 10. Rooted in shared nostalgia, the collaboration merges Gap’s timeless heritage with Liang’s signature aesthetic, showcasing how the brand’s iconic essentials can serve as a canvas for creativity.

Since launching her first collection in 2014, Sandy Liang has become one of New York’s defining designers, known for her blend of feminine nostalgia with downtown edge. Her collaboration with Gap channels her cult-favorite designs into a reimagination of the brand’s icons — from bow-adorned denim to instantly iconic outerwear — resulting in a collection that is both playful and wearable, with cross-generational appeal. 

Gap is partnering with New York designer Sandy Liang on a limited-edition women’s and kids’ collection launching on October 10.
Merging Gap’s classic heritage with Liang’s nostalgic yet edgy style, the line reimagines brand icons through a playful, modern lens.
An animated short film, ‘Sandy’s Dream Closet’, celebrates girlhood, creativity, and timeless self-expression.

“Each collaboration has its own handwriting — its own story,” said Mark Breitbard, President and CEO of Gap brand. “Sandy Liang has cultivated both an engaged community and an iconic design perspective, which has allowed her to reimagine our heritage pieces into something entirely new, yet familiar. It’s exactly the kind of creative partnership that keeps Gap at the forefront of culture.”

Inspired by Sandy’s own memories of growing up with Gap, the collaboration is brought to life through an imaginative short film, “Sandy’s Dream Closet,” animated by celebrated visual artist Annie Choi. Centering on a street in New York City’s Lower East Side above her father’s Cantonese restaurant, Congee Village, the film illustrates a dreamscape of a young Sandy Liang as she imagines the fashion possibilities of the future, with the Gap × Sandy Liang collaboration representing her ultimate vision of self-expression.

“Growing up, Gap was the pinnacle of fashion. It’s incredible that I get to co-create with such an iconic brand that I treasured so much as a child, yet is still so relevant today,” said Sandy Liang. “‘Sandy’s Dream Closet’ illustrates how wearing Gap made me feel growing up as I imagined being an adult one day and who I could be. I wanted to take the pieces that meant something to me as a kid and reimagine them through my lens today — celebrating girlhood in all its forms, while honoring the iconic styles that make Gap so timeless.”

The Gap × Sandy Liang collection’s playful motifs and whimsical design details transform everyday staples into modern collectibles:

• Denim anchors the collection with versatile silhouettes that merge Sandy’s aesthetic with Gap classics, including the Pleated Denim Mini Skirt ($88), the Vegan Fur Crop Denim Jacket ($128) and Low Rise ’90s Loose Carpenter Jeans ($108).
• Gap’s iconic fleece is refreshed with Sandy’s reinterpretation of the classic arch logo on the Extra Heavyweight Logo Oversized Hoodie ($118) and the Heavyweight Bow Oversized Hoodie ($108).
• A statement-making outerwear assortment includes the Reversible Vegan Leather Sherpa Jacket ($268), a Vegan Fur Half-Zip Pullover ($198), and Bow-Back Trench Coat ($228) finished with Sandy Liang’s signature bow detailing.
• Online-exclusive items for baby and toddler include mini matchbacks inspired by women’s fleece and outerwear styles, extending the collaboration across generations, with Sandy’s son, Rainer, also appearing in the campaign. 

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 (RM)

PO.P has made a major appointed with Gwynn Milligan joining as a non-executive director to support the Swedish childrenswear brand’s continued growth and international expansion.

It’s an appointment that “adds significant retail and sector-specific expertise to the PO.P board” as Milligan brings with her more than 30 years’ international retail experience, having held senior leadership as some major brands in roles spread across EMEA, North America, Australasia, India, and Brazil.

Most recently, she served as CEO of British childrenswear retailer JoJo Maman Bébé, “leading the company through a significant digital transformation”. Prior to this, Milligan held key commercial and leadership positions, including commercial director at ASOS and managing director of Fashion at JD Sports. 

Acting chairman Johan Conradsson said Milligan arrives “at this pivotal moment in our brand’s evolution. With her proven track record of driving digital transformation, international expansion and commercial growth at leading children’s and fashion retailers… Gwynn brings exactly the strategic know‑how we need as we accelerate our growth in the UK and beyond.”

He added: “Her expertise in scaling retail operations and building customer‑first brand propositions means we are now better equipped than ever to convert PO.P’s premium heritage into measurable market growth.”