Corneliani pushes growth in India with a new partner

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Apr 12, 2013

After arriving in India in 2006, Italian brand Corneliani has recently changed its partner in the country in an attempt to kick-start activity in the market. The brand started out in India with a partnership with Blues Clothing Company who specialized mainly in luxury jewellery. With the latter having experienced financial difficulties of late, the two year partnership has come to an end.

“We have tried to support them, as we do with all of our partners, but in the end the only way to save the reputation of our brand was to find someone else to work with,” explains global sales director, Cristiano Corneliani.
Instead, Corneliani has chosen to ally with OLS Luxury, the luxury division of the Orissa Stevedores group, owned by the Mishra family. The company is also reported to be in talks with other big luxury names to help them enter the Indian market.
Over the past few years, Corneliani has opened four stores in India: one in New Delhi, two in Mumbai and one in Bangalore. “We are on the lookout for new expansion possibilities in the new luxury district of Mumbai but we are not limited to just there. We are ready to establish the brand in locations such as Chandigarh, Calcutta, Pune and Chennai in order to develop a strong retail network in at least 7 or 8 of the 14 cities in which 50% of India’s well-off live. We are looking to target business men, bankers, lawyers but also artists, musicians and sportsmen who appreciate luxury Italian goods,” continued Cristiano Corneliani.

With its Italian suit-making expertise and exclusive fabrics from manufacturer Biella, the company has strong growth potential in India. “As a luxury brand, we should be present in all markets,” added CEO Carlalberto Corneliani.