The retail industry is changing every day – we

don’t need to scroll up decades to see how

the retail template has metamorphosed over

the years. Yet, there’s one thing in retail that

simply refuses to budge – innovation. The age

old saying that constant innovation is the key

to retail success holds true even today. And

the need to diff erentiate from the competition

through continual innovation has never been

as dire as it is now.

Rapid change in technology and changes

in the way we communicate, connect, and

discover are carrying incredible implications

for businesses worldwide. In the modern retail

ecosystem, shoppers are turning into critical

infl uencers, progressively deciding the goals

of most retailers’ innovation strategy. And it

defi nitely is diffi cult to adapt naturally!

And honestly, the pressure to be more superior

is nowhere as pronounced as it is in the

fashion retail sphere. Whether a verticallyintegrated

luxury brand or a fast-turning lowconsideration

apparel store, fashion retailers

are feeling the heat to be more innovative. But

the good news is that Indian brands

and retailers are stepping up to the challenge

and how!

The cover story of the December issue of

IMAGES Business of Fashion – Technology

& Innovation: The Core of Fashion Creation

– outlines how fashion brands in India

are investing on innovation, both process

and technology. Engaging in novel ways

and enabling new processes to focus on

customer engagement and augment customer

experiences has now become the new

standard of fashion retail. I would also like to

accentuate that while innovation can be very

subjective, depending largely on the need of

the retailer, ultimately, it is technology that is

going to make innovation possible.

The issue also gives insights into the various

aspects of innovation pertaining to the

fashion industry in India, including accounts

of some the biggest names in the domain. I

hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did

writing it.

Cheers!!