Market Overview - The textile and apparel sector in A-shares has underperformed the broader market since December, with textile manufacturing showing better performance than branded apparel, declining by -3.3% and -4.4% respectively [1][13] - The Hong Kong textile and apparel index rose by 2.9% in November but has since turned negative in December [1] Brand Apparel Insights - Retail sales of clothing in October grew by 6.3% year-on-year, with a stable growth rate compared to the previous month, increasing by 1.6 percentage points [2] - E-commerce performance varied significantly between categories from October to November, with outdoor leisure leading, while home textiles and personal care faced declines. Year-on-year growth rates for various categories were: outdoor (+20%), sportswear (0%), leisurewear (+8%), home textiles (-9%), and personal care (-2%) [2] - Notable brands with strong growth included Descente (74%), Lululemon (69%), and Asics (8%) in sportswear; and brands like Atour Planet (43%) and Luolai Home Textile (26%) in home textiles [2] Textile Manufacturing Insights - In November, Vietnam's textile and footwear exports faced a high base effect from the previous year, resulting in a decline of -2.6% and -3.8% respectively. China's textile exports showed a slight recovery at +1.0%, while apparel and footwear exports fell by -10.9% and -17.2% respectively [3] - The macroeconomic environment remains challenging, with fluctuations in cotton prices and a slight increase in wool prices by +4.8% month-on-month and +32.0% year-on-year in November [3] - Taiwanese manufacturers reported improved revenue in November, driven by World Cup-related orders and a return to normalcy in brand ordering rhythms [3] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on the recovery of consumer spending and the rebound in textile manufacturing. It highlights the potential for high-end consumer recovery and the strong outlook for the light luxury outdoor segment [5][6] - Key brands recommended for investment include Anta Sports, Li Ning, and Xtep International, which are expected to benefit from the ongoing trends in high-end consumption and outdoor sports [6] - In textile manufacturing, companies like Shenzhou International and Huayi Group are highlighted as beneficiaries of tariff reductions and Nike's recovery, while New Australia and Weixing Holdings are noted for their potential gains from rising wool prices and improved order visibility [7]