The Hindu Business Line : Hidesign to set up outlets worldwide

LEATHER brand Hidesign has set its sights on international markets to emerge as a major made-in-India international brand and is firming up plans to set up at least a hundred stores worldwide in the next three years.

The brand is also simultaneously addressing the domestic market where it will set up eleven stores this year, Mr Dilip Kapur, President, Hidesign, said. "We are essentially an international brand, since we have design teams working out of UK and Italy and are found in premium retail outlets abroad. But to truly become international, we have to be available in a larger number of outlets and countries," Mr Kapur said.

Hong Kong Airport, which is one of the world's busiest airports with over 48 million transit passengers every year, has invited Hidesign to set up a store within its premises.

"We intend to open the store in Hong Kong Airport by early 2006," Mr Kapur said. The company's global ambitions will also see it set up shop in Los Angeles by the first week of September.

"We are currently planning to set up at least six stores in South Africa in the next 18 months and also establish the brand in Mauritius," he said. Hidesign already has stores in Moscow, West Asia and the US and its exports last year was pegged at over Rs 80 crore.

The company has also roped in Alberto Sciaccini, the one time chief designer of leather products at Emporio Armani, to design its range.

Mr Sciaccini, recognised as one of Italy's youngest design talents, has unveiled his first collection for Hidesign, characterised by clean lines and a strong emphasis on high quality leather.

"These are the values that have been the hallmark of our brand too. Alberto's design experience and Hidesign's strong craft tradition and artisan skills will make for perfect synergy," Mr Kapur said.

In the domestic market, the brand notched up 40 per cent growth this year and it plans now to set up three additional stores in Delhi, two in Mumbai and outlets in Bangalore and Chandigarh.

Hidesign's first company-owned outlet opened in Pune on Tuesday and eventually plans to offer customers the option of customising their bags from a range of leather, designs and styles that will be displayed to them, Mr Kapur said.

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