The Hindu Business Line : Forbes Brands signs 30-year pact with London co Savile Row

Mumbai, Feb. 1 The Shapoorji Pallonji Group-owned Forbes Brands, a division of Forbes & Company Ltd, has tied up with the London-based menswear company Savile Row Co for a period of 30 years.

“Forbes have been our licensees for the past three years and now we have decided to marry the two companies with this agreement,” said Mr Jeffrey Doltis, Managing Director, Savile Row.

Under the agreement, Forbes will manufacture and distribute the complete range of Savile Row clothing in India, the UAE, Muscat, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sri Lanka. Around 10 flagship stores of Savile Row of 700 to 1,000 sq. ft will be set up in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Jaipur.

“The company plans to add 150 stores in India by the end of this year, most of which will be shop-in-shops,” said Mr Doltis.

Savile Row plans to gradually bring its women’s wear, accessories and footwear to India as well. It has ramped up its sourcing and design network in London to create India-specific silhouettes for the market here, he said.

Savile Row did a business of $70 million each in the UK and Japan, $60 million from the rest of the world (around 38 countries), and is expecting $100 million from the Indian market within the next five years, according to Mr Doltis.

Bollywood connection

Forbes announced its tie up with Apoorva Lakhia’s film Mission Istanbul — for which it has provided the wardrobe for the entire cast — at the India Fashion Forum. “We want to have our shops in place before the release of the film as the clothes from the film will be on sale in the stores. We will have the film promos along with television and print advertisements marketing the tie-up and products,” said Ms Reetika Mehra Dalal, Executive Head, Forbes Brands.

The company has also tied up with Farhan Akhtar’s debut film Rock On for film styling and plans to associate with three films every year from now on.

More Stories on : Readymade Garments | Strategy | Channels and Franchises

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page