Commentary

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.

Recent court rulings have struck down President Trump's sweeping tariff regime, challenging executive authority over trade policy. The US Court of International Trade found Trump exceeded his powers under emergency legislation, sparking immediate appeals and creating uncertainty across global markets and supply chains.

Are Trump’s tariffs reshaping the luxury fashion world? Here’s an analysis of the rapidly-shifting financial landscape for major brands, and the new cultural pressures arising from social media exposes, all against the backdrop of an increasingly uncertain future, also for fashion that is luxe.

India has been furiously negotiating deals ever since the RCEP came into force earlier this year. Initial rounds of negotiations on FTA and other trade policies with several countries should hopefully ensure a handful of agreements by 2024. A texfash.com report.