JV with Arvind Brands planned

MUMBAI: The $1-billion American brand, US Polo, is readying for an Indian debut. The brand, which is available in men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing as well as in accessories, luggage, watches, shoes and home furnishings, will enter the country through a joint venture with Arvind Brands, a group company of integrated textiles company Arvind Mills.

Under the agreement, Arvind will design and distribute US Polo branded sportswear and accessories, as well as develop US Polo Association brand flagship stores in India. The scrip of Arvind ended the day with a gain of 7.5% (Rs 4.30) at Rs 61.60 with volumes of 40.49 lakh shares on BSE.

US Polo Association has 35 stand-alone retail stores and a US Polo Association denim store with a network of master licensees, direct licensees and sub-licensees, totalling over 60 individual partners. US Polo brand is available in about 6,000 individual retail accounts, including Shop-in-shops with key retail partners across the world.

US Polo Association Brand CEO David Cummings said, “International expansion is a key strategy for the US Polo Association Brand, and Arvind Brands has the experience and infrastructure to successfully introduce and develop the US Polo Association Brand by establishing the brand’s retail stores throughout India.”

Arvind, which has earlier brought brands including Arrow, Lee, Wrangler, Tommy Hilfiger through the license route, is in the process of expanding its retail network across the country by adding 300 exclusive brand outlets for these labels and others with an investment of close to Rs 2,000 crore.

“We look forward to offering a line of classic American styling that captures the true spirit of the sport of polo,” Arvind Mills chairman and managing director Sanjay Lalbhai said. The textile company had recently announced plans to raise Rs 263.12 crore through a preferential allotment to promoters.