India’s retail market recorded 8% year-on-year growth in July 2026, according to the Retailers Association of India (RAI) Business Survey, with apparel and clothing and footwear emerging as the strongest-performing fashion categories.
Footwear recorded 13% growth, while apparel and clothing grew 12% during the month. Footwear also accelerated from 8% growth in June, indicating stronger momentum in fashion retail.
For fashion retailers, the growth comes as consumers increasingly move between physical stores and digital channels, with quick commerce emerging as an additional route for apparel, footwear and lifestyle purchases. Platforms are expanding beyond groceries and everyday essentials to offer fashion products through rapid delivery.
The July performance signals a recovery from the softness seen in the first quarter and gives retailers a stronger base ahead of the festive season.
Commenting on the findings, Kumar Rajagopalan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Retailers Association of India, said, “July gave us two confirmations at once: topline growth held up, and genuine store-level demand, which had softened through the summer, came back with it. That matters heading into the festive season, because the big-ticket purchases are exactly the ones festive buying tends to unlock.”
