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Reliance capturing the Fashion industry

A look at Reliance Retail and Reliance Brand’s partnerships and joint ventures from 2021 it will be clear that they are making luxury brands part of India’s consumption portfolio. They are literally on a shopping spree. The recent announcements about bringing foreign fashion brands to India will allow us to witness Paris fashion closer home. There have been no acquisitions but only partnerships and joint ventures. The portfolio of Reliance Retail and Retail Brand is a mix of well-known Indian brands and foreign brands. In all these deals, Reliance’s role is to focus on the marketing aspect while the original owners will be spearheading their companies.

Let the artist focus on the art

Reliance will be setting up flagship stores across the country for accessibility and visibility. The Indian designers have appreciated this move saying it is a way forward to grow exponentially.

Partnerships and Joint Ventures

The partnership spree started in October 2021 when Reliance Retail agreed to buy a 40% stake in Bollywood’s go-to designer Manish Malhotra. The terms of the partnership were to expand the brand while retaining the luxury wedding wear position. In its next move Reliance Retail acquired a 52% stake in Ritika Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Ritu Kumar, Label Ritu Kumar, RI Ritu Kumar, Aarke, and Ritu Kumar Home and Living. Reliance Brands entered into a 60:40 joint venture with AK-OK in December 2021. AK-Ok owns the designer brand Anamika Khanna. Designer Anamika Khanna will continue to lead the company and be the Creative Head. Similarly, it has entered into partnerships with Raghavendra Rathore, Rahul Mishra, and others. In April 2022, Reliance Brands invested 51% in coveted wedding couture Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (AJSK). Director Isha Ambani has been associated with the above-mentioned brands at some point in time in her life. She asserted that the partnerships are the company’s commitment to supporting home-grown brands and giving them global recognition.

Well, you might think that this is enough. But this is not enough for Reliance. After getting Indian favorite couture in their domestic portfolio they have started looking overseas. Reliance Retail has partnered with GAP Inc – America’s iconic brand. The company has entered into a long-term partnership and plans to open a series of stores for the same. The next stop for the company is in Italy. Now on a personal level, I feel this brand is huge. The iconic Maison Valentino is coming to India!! Reliance will open the first flagship store in Delhi followed by Mumbai. You can guess by now that there are more surprises to come. The next brand to enter India is none other than Balenciaga. Reliance Brands has entered into a long-term franchise agreement to introduce the Spanish luxury brand in India. Zendaya, Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, and many others have graced the Red Carpet in Maison Valentino and Balenciaga. All these years we have seen the models and superstars walking for these brands and now we get to experience this fashion ourselves is so surreal.

In the past, the mammoth conglomerate has joined hands with Armani Exchange, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Versace, Villeroy & Boch, and West Elm. Reliance has proved time and again that they are the first movers in the industry and others follow. Their aggression with expansion and doing something new is a customer delight. The company always stands by its tagline “Growth is Life“.