Aditya Birla Group:
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) has formed a strategic alliance with Galeries Lafayette, which is best known for its flagship location on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, to open luxury department stores and a dedicated e-commerce platform in India. The flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi will house over 200 luxury and designer brands.
The flagship store in Mumbai, measuring 90,000 square feet, is expected to open in 2024. It will be housed in two historic buildings that recently celebrated their centennial at Fort, the city’s leading commercial and cultural hub. The architectural firm Virgile & Partners, which has worked extensively on storied department stores around the world, is currently designing the building. Pike Preston is the official advisor for this collaboration.
The 65,000-square-foot store in Delhi, which is expected to open in 2025, will be located at DLF Emporio, one of India’s largest luxury malls. Galeries Lafayette, Delhi will supplement the mall’s current offering with a collection of young, exciting designer brands from a variety of categories.
Mr. Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, said of the collaboration, “This is a coming-of-age moment for Indian luxury.” India now has a generation of young, affluent consumers who have global exposure and are willing to spend money on the finer things in life. This is evident in the luxury market’s boom and dynamism. The collaboration with Galeries Lafayette is a strong endorsement of India’s importance as a global luxury market and a future growth engine for luxury brands. Birla Aditya Fashion and Retail’s in-depth and nuanced understanding of the Indian landscape, combined with Galeries Lafayette’s global experience, will allow us to create a world-class destination for Indian consumers and global luxury brands.”
Mr. Nicolas Houzé, CEO of Galeries Lafayette and BHV Marais, commented on the announcement, saying, “We are proud to expand our international footprint in such a prestigious and refined market as India, where we believe our brand can benefit from a strong potential.” It is also a new example of our ambition to open 20 stores abroad by 2025, with a primary focus on China, Asia, and the Middle East. We are delighted to be working on this project with Aditya Birla Group, with whom we share the same retail values and vision, and are convinced that they are the right partner to help us meet the expectations of Indian customers.”
Installations, pop-ups, innovative events, and food and beverage explorations will bring Galeries Lafayette’s experience-focused design and proposition around entertainment, technology, and engagement to life. Personal stylists and omni-channel-enabled connected shopping will help the stores provide a 360-degree retail experience that speaks directly to the needs of the customers.
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