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As climate risk, regulatory scrutiny, and supply-chain volatility intensify, the question facing the industry is no longer whether alternative materials can be developed, but whether they can be scaled with reliability, accountability, and long-term resilience.

Indian fashion’s modern history has been shaped as much by its chroniclers as its creators. Among them, Meher Castelino occupied a distinctive place, combining reportage with long institutional memory. Her writing, consulting, and editorial contributions tracked the industry’s growth from its early professionalisation to its global presence. Her death signals the loss of a voice that understood fashion as labour, culture, and record.

Kolkata’s hosting of AILPA 2025 represented more than an industry event—it symbolised India’s recalibration within shifting global trade currents. Amid market disruptions and evolving tariff landscapes, the city emerged as a key platform connecting manufacturers and international buyers, highlighting the sector’s growing capability, design sophistication, and readiness for the premium export market.

Leather doesn’t need reinvention. It needs representation. At the 106^th edition of Lineapelle Milan 2025 (23–25 September), the message was clear: storytelling is key to leather’s revival as a sustainable, organic material and reimagine its future in a conscious world.

EU policy for textiles is no longer optional, niche, or abstract. It will define the new normal for how businesses design, produce, and sell in Europe. The real test is whether companies stay stuck in debates about bürokratiemonster and broad concepts like circularity, or whether they seize this moment to turn legislation into leadership.

The Natural Fibre Connect (NFC) 2025 Conference, hosted in Edinburgh, 22-23 September, exhorted: "do not write off the natural fibres in the future of textiles," as it deliberated on issues ranging from climate change, latest developments and trends on topics that unite all animal fibre industries such as regenerative agriculture, green finance, traceability social and animal welfare.

Natural Fiber Welding’s dramatic collapse has rattled the fashion and automotive sectors that once celebrated it as a sustainability pioneer. Its failure reflects not only management missteps but also a deeper structural malaise: investors retreating, brands shirking responsibility, and an industry addicted to storytelling while refusing to absorb the real costs of transition.

Quick commerce in India is no longer just about groceries and essentials. As consumer behaviour shifts towards instant gratification, fashion has emerged as the next big frontier for 15–45-minute delivery platforms. With high margins, event-driven urgency, and tech-savvy buyers, fashion could transform quick commerce into a sustainable and profitable model for the Indian retail industry.

As sustainability becomes central to fashion’s future, the role of public relations is more critical than ever. In a digital age ruled by influencers and online shopping, PR remains essential for building trust, tackling greenwashing, and crafting authentic brand narratives. For sustainable fashion brands, credibility hinges not just on actions, but also on how those actions are communicated.

The Kolhapuri chappal—a timeless symbol of Indian craftsmanship—is in the news and for all the wrong reasons. But behind the buzz lies a story of decline: collapsing artisan networks, synthetic clones, policy failure, and raw material bottlenecks. As younger generations abandon the trade and fake lookalikes flood the market, this once-thriving rural industry is fast unravelling.