JB Insights
The State of Fashion:Luxury 2025
McKinsey & Company and BoF Insights report
Global fashion faces challenging landscape
The ninth annual State of Fashion report by McKinsey & Company and BoF Insights highlights the challenging landscape the global fashion industry faces in 2025. With economic uncertainty, changing consumer behaviors, and evolving market dynamics, the year is expected to be a critical juncture for many brands.
Overview
Economic Challenges: 80% of executives foresee no improvement in the industry, and only 18% rank sustainability as a top concern, down from 29% in 2024. Consumer confidence and spending remain major issues.
Key Drivers: Price sensitivity, the rise of dupes, climate change acceleration, and reshuffled global trade create a difficult environment.
Geographic Shifts: Growth engines in Asia, particularly India, Japan, and Korea, are becoming pivotal as China faces economic challenges.
Themes Driving the Agenda
Trade Reconfigured: Brands are diversifying sourcing to align with evolving trade policies and sustainability targets. Nearshoring and political alignment are critical considerations.
Asia’s Growth Engines: While China slows, India, Japan, and Korea are emerging as vital markets for growth.
Discovery Reinvented: AI-driven curation in e-commerce promises to help overwhelmed shoppers navigate abundant choices.
Silver Spenders: The growing over-50 demographic offers new opportunities for incremental growth, emphasizing the need for inter-generational appeal.
Value Shift: Resale, off-price, and dupe markets are flourishing as consumers seek better value amid persistent economic pressures.
The Human Side of Sales: Enhancing in-store experiences by empowering well-trained sales staff can drive demand for physical retail.
Marketplaces Disrupted: Online non-luxury marketplaces face existential challenges, struggling with declining demand and rising customer acquisition costs.
Sportswear Showdown: Challenger brands are rapidly gaining market share, driving competition in the dynamic sportswear segment.
Inventory Excellence: Advances in inventory management and agile supply chains are key to addressing margin pressures and meeting sustainability goals.
The Sustainability Collective: Collective action is essential to meet decarbonization goals despite consumer reluctance to pay premiums for sustainable products.
Looking Ahead
The industry’s outlook remains sluggish, with revenue growth stabilizing in low single digits. Luxury’s dominance in profit creation is challenged by non-luxury segments for the first time since 2010. Brands that act nimbly to address geographic shifts, demographic changes, and technological innovations will find opportunities amid the turbulence.
Growth in the jewellery sector will be fueled by rising demand from ultra-high spenders and continuous investment from luxury houses in technology and expertise.
The new playbook for 2025 emphasizes adaptability, localization, and sustainability, while redefining value and consumer engagement. The fashion sector must innovate, embrace technology, and prioritize long-term resilience to navigate this period of reckoning successfully.
JB Insights
V.K. Jewels: Building trust through consistency, precision and customer-centricity
Industry leader in precision gold manufacturing, V.K. Jewels is renowned for pioneering “paper casting” technology. They specialize in CZ-studded gold jewellery that marries grand aesthetics with lightweight efficiency. By integrating AI-driven design and a robust B2B network, V.K. Jewels offers retailers a competitive edge through consistent quality and trend-forward innovation. Witness the journey of a brand built on trust and technological excellence.
The Beginning, Evolution, Milestones
V.K. Jewels was founded in 1993 in Rajkot by Vijay Kotak with limited resources but a strong vision — to bring quality craftsmanship, reliability, and trust to the jewellery manufacturing space. Starting with silver casting, the company gradually built trust through consistency, precision, and customer-centricity.
With Hiren Kotak entering the business, key milestones included the transition into CZ-studded gold jewellery, expansion into plain gold casting, adoption of lightweight and paper casting techniques, and building a strong B2B dealer network across India.
Today, V.K. Jewels stands as one of the biggest casting jewellery manufacturers in India, known for paper-casting jewellery, innovation, volume capability, and market responsiveness.
Early Challenges & Growth Strategy
In the early 90s, the jewellery market was highly competitive, fragmented, and dominated by traditional players. Limited capital and evolving market preferences posed challenges.
Visionary decisions such as focusing on manufacturing excellence, investing in modern casting technology, and building long-term dealer relationships helped V.K. Jewels scale rapidly. A strong emphasis on lightweight jewellery and consistent superior quality enabled the brand to differentiate itself and become one of India’s leading manufacturers.
Product Offering
Core Product Lines
V.K. Jewels offers a wide range of CZ-studded jewellery and plain gold casting jewellery, including rings, pendants, earrings, bangles, bracelets, chains, and bridal sets.
The collections cater to multiple segments — from mass-market daily wear to premium bridal and festive jewellery — enabling retailers and wholesalers to serve diverse customer needs efficiently.
Portfolio Expansion Beyond Silver
Starting from silver casting, V.K. Jewels expanded into gold casting and CZ jewellery to meet evolving consumer demands for affordability, design variety, and lighter weight.
The portfolio now supports both wholesale and corporate brands of India with ready-to-sell designs, fast-moving collections, and trend-driven styles suited for modern consumers.
Top-of-the-Line Products
Flagship Products – Strong Visual Appeal
V.K. Jewels’ lightweight CZ-studded necklaces, daily wear rings, and earrings are among its top performers. These products are preferred by high-end wholesalers, retailers, and corporates due to their excellent finishing, competitive pricing, fast inventory turnover, and strong visual appeal.
The use of paper casting ensures reduced gold weight without compromising on design aesthetics.
Bestseller Highlights
The bestselling categories include CZ-studded necklace sets and rings, known for their rich look, lightweight structure, and durability. Customers appreciate their premium finish, long-wear comfort, and excellent value proposition, making them a favourite choice for wedding and festive purchases.
Design Innovation & Quality
Ensuring Innovation & Quality
V.K. Jewels continuously invests in design research, CAD development, and market trend analysis. A dedicated design team works closely with production to ensure every piece meets modern style expectations while maintaining high manufacturing standards.
Rigorous quality checks at every stage ensure precision and durability.
Quality Assurance & Ethical Practices
The company follows strict quality control processes, including material verification, multi-stage inspections, and standardised finishing protocols.
Ethical sourcing and responsible manufacturing practices reinforce brilliance, durability, and trust.
Network of Wholesalers & Retailers
Distribution Network
V.K. Jewels has built a strong nationwide distribution network with wholesalers, retailers, and corporate brands across major jewellery hubs.
Supporting the Network Amid Rising Gold Prices
With rising gold prices, V.K. Jewels supports partners through lightweight designs, paper casting innovations, competitive pricing, faster stock rotation, and consistent supply.
This enables retailers to maintain margins while offering attractive, high-demand products.
Plans for Growth & Expansion
Short-Term & Long-Term Strategies
Short-term plans include expanding the dealer network and introducing new trend-aligned collections.
Long-term strategies focus on scaling exports, entering international markets, expanding product categories, and strengthening global brand visibility.
Scaling Manufacturing Capacity
The company is investing in expanded infrastructure, modern machinery, and skilled manpower to enhance production capacity while maintaining quality and timely delivery.
Continuous process optimisation ensures scalability without compromising craftsmanship.
Technology, AI & Automation Integration
V.K. Jewels integrates advanced CAD/CAM technologies, automation in casting and finishing, and digital quality control systems.
The adoption of AI-driven design analysis, demand forecasting, and production planning tools enhances efficiency, accuracy, and operational optimisation.
JbExclusive: Digital View
-
International News10 hours agoTanishq USA & Bibhu Mohapatra Unveil â€She Is the Balance’ at Manhattan for Fall 2026
-
National News10 hours agoGJEPC & Mumbai Customs Host Session on Hand-Carried Jewellery Exports
-
DiamondBuzz11 hours ago Structural challenges continue to weigh on the diamond sector:ICRA
-
GlamBuzz12 hours agoDua Lipa Stuns in Bulgari’s Rare Black Diamond Necklace at Berlin Premiere


