Designer labels keep coming to town

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It is an index of confidence regarding the India story that several deluxe brands should be coming to town.

This is happening despite the stock market always seeming to look for bad news, which makes it even more heartening even if, at the end of the day, the only customers for steeply priced branded goods are the super rich.

Having grown accustomed to seeing the name pop up only on its own luxury boutiques in upmarket locations but not even in high street shopping centres except Harrods in London, it should be considered a sign of the times that the $8 billion label Louis Vuitton will soon be in the city as a standalone boutique.

Exuding confidence in a Chennai advent planned for July, a Louis Vuitton India Retail Pvt Ltd executive said the brand is going to be here for the long run.

There is no arguing against universal taste catching on in our backyard too and it appears luxe brands are here to stay.

Explaining the pricing policy of LVMH, Kehkashan Merchant says, “The pricing is product specific but it varies from country to country depending on the taxes.

” She throws the hint that LVMH is very keen on expanding in India because its CEO Yves Carcelle met his first wife while he was in the country on a visit.

Extending the line of argument over luxe brands being affordable even more than acceptable, an executive of the Swatch Group of Switzerland says Olympics and James Bond (50 years) special edition Omega watches are going to be all the rage this season. It’s sometimes not

easy to see the time on the dial amidst the diamonds and precious stones strewn around watches these days but they are marked as specials and are certain to attract attention.

The London Olympic Games, just round the corner, are a special occasion for Omega as it marks their 25th occasion as official timekeeper.

‘We are returning to the city that, with the introduction of photoelectric cells, athletics starting blocks and the slit photo finish camera, saw the birth of modern sports timekeeping in 1948,’ says an Omega release.

The official timekeeper is planning a series of events to celebrate the Games even as they take place in London, with a special house to entertain guests where Hollywood celebrities like Nicole Kidman are likely to be present, says Pooja Pandey of Omega.

While those bound for the Olympics are bound to have a great trip, Chennaiites might take solace
in being able to buy memorabilia to mark a great sporting event. Yes, Chennai is becoming a hot destination.