The Hindu Business Line : Levi's opens new store in Bangalore

MR KEVIN SARGISON, Retail Operations Director, Asia Pacific Division, Levi's at the new store at Brigade Road in Bangalore on Thursday. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , May 11

Asia Pacific's largest Levi's store opened in Bangalore today.

The 9,000-sq ft store located on one of the busiest high streets of the IT city is designed to bring the brand alive and give the customers a "multi-dimensional experience of the Levi's brand". This is the company's fifth flagship store in the country but the first based on themes: Levi's Lounge, Levi's Campus and Levi's Foundry.

Speaking to newspersons after the launch of Levi's Square, Mr Shumone Chatterjee, Country Manager, Levi Strauss India Pvt Ltd, said that the company plans to make the store a tourist destination in the city. "Retailing is still experiential all over the world and Levi's Square `resounds the spirit of innovation and inclusiveness that has driven the brand". Levi's is a 150-year-old global brand and has had a presence in the country for more than a decade now. It currently has 90 exclusive retail stores and a presence in 500 multi-brand outlets across 160 cities. Plans are to increase the number to 110 stores this covering more than 125,000 sq.ft. of retail space, Mr Chatterjee said.

The store also plans to give services such as customisation and designers' advice to customers soon. Mr Kevin Sargison, Retail Operations Director, Levi Strauss & Co, Asia Pacific Division, said that India is a "vibrant" market and was `different' from China.