India to get its own fashion high street soon

New Delhi, July 8 (UNI) India might soon get its very own 'high street' with the formation of Indiluxe, a fashion retail council, formed for representing the interests of specialist fashion, lifestyle and luxury retail industry.

The body's members are the owners of leading fashion houses like Kimaya, Samsaara, Melange, Amara, Fuel, Ffolio, Ogaan and Ensemble.

India has no high street when it comes to fashion retail outlets. ''One of the agendas of the body remains to give India its own High Street, most probably in Goa or Bangaluru as we need to keep in mind the realty prices,'' said Indiluxe Chairman Pradeep Hirani.

The high street could serve as a potential business point for all the designers and retailers and take the industyry to a new avenue. Currently the fashion industry is witnessing a 75 per cent growth rate while the accessories segment is growing at 100 per cent.

The agendas for the body include protection of creative rights of designers, taking steps to prevent plagiarism, issuing guidelines and policies on markdowns of all designer goods, prevention of unethical practices towards infringement of trained and qualified staff amongst other matters pertaining to the business of retail.

The body will also work toward lowering the tax burden on the fashion industry along with generating corporate sponsorships for events like the FDCI-organised Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW).

''With Indian fashion coming a long way and designers reaching a global platform and various buyers noticing our creativity, it is now time for us fashion houses to address common concerns,'' Mr Hirani added.

The membership of the body will include specialist fashion houses, fashion designers, lifestyle furniture stores, luxury leather goods along with Indian and international luxury brands.

UNI