This is the best time to go shopping as clothing brands are offering discounts up to 50%. Here’s why

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Several clothing retailers such as Puma, Adidas, Zara, Allen Solly, Levi’s, etc are offering great discounts, all thanks to Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is expected to rollout from July 1.
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The sudden discount season comes after the GST Council decided that man-made apparel above Rs 1,000 will attract a 12% levy, higher than the existing 7%.

"The difference in the tax will be a big hit for the brand, so we want to keep the channel clean with lower inventory dues. We are doing this to liquidate merchandise before the new designed regime (GST) kicks in on July 1,” Kavindra Mishra, managing director of Pepe Jeans, told Economic Times.

Puma is offering 50% discount at stores, Allen Solly has a buy one-get-one offer, Levi's is giving two items free on the purchase of two, Flying Machine is giving up to 50% off, Pepe Jeans is running a buy-three-get-three offer, etc.

Retailers say GST is quite complicated and brands have no idea on opening stock.

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"The impact of tax won't be more than the discount which they are offering. But there is not much clarity yet around the existing stock and hence certain brands and retailers are pushing the panic button and rest are following,” Rajagopalan Kumar, president of the Retailers Association of India, told ET.

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