India Coronavirus Dispatch: Time to rethink, transform our cities

Covid impacts medical research, infections rise in Indian jails, and what Pune's sero-survey tells us--a roundup of news on how the country is coping with the pandemic

Fashion woes: Until mid-March, India was the most attractive market for the fast fashion segment. Leaner supply chains, Chinese imports, young workforce and celebrity/influencer endorsements meant the fashion retail segment was having a good time. That is until Covid hit. Now malls look like dystopian landscapes with most stores closed and a permanent scent of sanitiser in the air. In July, sales at high street stores dipped 50 per cent from the year-ago period. Besides, debt is a key factor weighing heavy on retailers. Also, the fact is that 80 per cent of organised fashion retail in the country operates