DLF to bring Alcott, SIA brands to India

NEW DELHI: India���s largest real estate firm DLF has entered into separate franchise agreements with Italian apparel brand Alcott and Paris-based home decor retailer SIA group to launch them in India.

These two tie-ups will give a major boost to DLF���s proposed entry in domestic retail business. DLF already has tie-ups with premium apparel brands Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo. The company has been in talks with a number of foreign premium and luxury brands in all categories, including apparel, accessories, travel luggage and watches to build a diversified portfolio of brands when it launches into retail.

Alcott, which derives its name from ���all cotton���, offers casual wear for both men and women. The company has over 160 stores across Europe. Recently, the Jawad Group, which represents over a 100 international brands in the Middle-East, brought Alcott to Bahrain. Alcott���s next stop is India, where the brand plans to open several stores at malls and other high-street locations.

SIA plans to offer a wide range of products to Indian home buyers, much of which will be initially imported. SIA has a large presence in Europe and the US, and has distribution facility in 30 countries.

The past five years of housing boom has increased opportunities for home decor players, as hundreds of thousands of new home buyers look to decorate their homes. Much of the domestic home decor market is still unorganised in India and brand-consciousness remains low.

The 40-year-old group expects to capitalise on the new opportunitites.