ABFRL to bring Galeries Lafayette stores to India

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) has entered a partnership with French luxury department store chain Galeries Lafayette to open outlets, as well as a dedicated e-commerce platform, in India, the retail and fashion arm of Aditya Birla Group said in a statement on Thursday.

The flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi will have more than 200 luxury and designer brands under one roof. The 90,000-sq ft store in Mumbai is expected to be operational by 2024, and the 65,000 sq ft store in Delhi is expected to be operational in 2025, ABFRL added.

ABFRL managing director Ashish Dikshit said the partnership is a “coming-of-age” moment for Indian luxury. “India is now home to a generation of young and affluent consumers with global exposure who are willing to spend on finer things in life. This is visible in the boom and dynamism of the luxury market. The partnership with Galeries Lafayette is a ringing endorsement of India’s significance as a global luxury market and a future engine of growth for luxury brands.”

The Mumbai store will be housed in two century-old buildings in the precinct of the Fort, a business and art district in the city. The buildings are being refurbished by Virgile and Partners, which has worked extensively on department stores globally. Pike Preston is the adviser for this collaboration.

The deal reflects the growing aspiration among Indians, as well as attempts by large homegrown conglomerates, including ABFRL and Reliance Retail, to participate in the luxury retail market. Reliance Retail operates a clutch of high-end and premium brands through its subsidiaries.

Galeries Lafayette’s move is part of its plan to reach more well-heeled shoppers in overseas markets. The chain is present in Shanghai, Nice, and Luxembourg.

“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 illustration of our ambition to reach 20 stores abroad, with a primary focus on China, Asia and the Middle East by 2025,” said Nicolas Houzé, chief executive officer of Galeries Lafayette and BHV Marais.

Galeries Lafayette is renowned globally for its flagship location at Boulevard Haussmann in Paris—the second top tourist attraction—after the Eiffel Tower.

The store retails an assortment of high-end luxury designers, including Armani, Balenciaga, Burberry, Bulgari, Calvin Klein, Céline, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Prada, among others. The store also sells perfumes from Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium, and Lancôme’s Miracle.

ABFRL’s portfolio includes brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England, and it owns retail-chain Pantaloons. ABFRL’s international brands’ portfolio includes The Collective, a multi-brand retailer of international brands.

The company has long-term exclusive partnerships with Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Simon Carter, Ted Baker, Fred Perry, Forever 21, American Eagle and Reebok.

It also has strategic partnerships with designers Shantanu & Nikhil, Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi and the House of Masaba.