Essel brings Italian luxury brand to India

New Delhi, Nov 17: Essel Group's retail arm Gavel Fashions today launched Italian menswear brand 'Pal Zileri' in India, and announced an investment of Rs 10 crore for setting up four showrooms for the brand and its promotion.

This launch will be followed by at least four haute couture names foraying into India next year, out of the over 20 bouquet planned by the company within the next two-three years.

The one-month old Gavel Fashions, which has opened a showroom in Delhi for Pal Zileri, has also set its eyes on the nation's commercial capital Mumbai as its next destination for Pal Zileri and will move there in April-May 2007.

Gavel Fashions CEO Gagan Goel told sources here, ''The company is keen on bringing over 20 luxury brands in the next three years with single-brand retailing in mind. We are investing Rs 10 crore in this marketing and franchising tie-up with Pal Zileri .'' The company will open about four outlets for the Italian apparal and accessories brand, one each in the metros, of the 60-store target by 2009.

Targeted at the high-end customers like celebrities, business executives and corporates, the brand includes suits starting from Rs 60,000 going up to Rs 3 lakh with accessories priced at Rs 8,000 upto Rs 30,000.

In addition, Gavel Fashions will launch a womenswear brand in the first half of next year, company Brand Manager Adarsh Amin said.

Talking about the brand promotion, he said the company will spend about 50 per cent of the total amount earmarked for Pal Zileri, which comes out at Rs 5 crore.

With a targeted turnover of Rs 300 crore by 2009, the fashion house aims at bringing to India the best brands from across the world, engaged in contemporary formal wear, casual wear, fashion wear and fashion accessories.

UNI