It is the beginning of a new year and the theme of the January issue of Apparel is ‘Optimism & Opportunity’. We offer a glimpse of the 2017 Apex Awards in the ‘Curtain Raiser’ segment. The ‘CMAI Rendezvous’ section seeks to understand how IVY League Sub Committees work. This issue also offers a report on the 34th IAF World Fashion Convention. The ‘Features’ section shines a spotlight on the CSR initiatives undertaken by the apparel companies and also explores ways to achieve sustainability in the apparel sector by reducing child labour. In the ‘Unique Initiative’ segment, we feature a unique concept for retail focused on women, called Project Eve. ‘Budget Buzz’ decodes the industry’s expectations for the Union Budget 2018. As part of the ‘Industry Insights’ segment, we explore Producer Companies with an insight into their workings; and analyse how Reliance Industry’s newly launched RElan is expected to break records. Our ‘E-Space’ segment discusses the pros and cons of the idea of a cashless economy. The ‘Designer Spotlight’ section is focussed on the quirky designer Masaba Gupta and features a conversation with designer Hemang Agrawal. We also track the trends for SpringSummer 2018 with our report on the Amazon India Fashion Week in the ‘Fashion Speak’ segment. This month, the ‘Regulars’ segment offers a round-up of important news and events along with a glimpse at the brands making waves and a preview of the forthcoming events in the world of apparel.