IGI Logo

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) has inked a long-term distribution agreement with Valentino to bring to India the most established Italian Maison de Couture.

Through this long-term partnership, RBL will partner with Valentino to open its first boutique in Delhi, followed by a flagship store in Mumbai. The first store is due to open in 2022 by the end of the summer, with the flagship store in Mumbai to follow in the coming months. The stores will stock a complete range across womenswear, menswear, footwear, and accessories of the brand.

The new long-term distribution deal will allow brand presence through a renewed store concept geared toward adapting to the changes in the retail market. Experiential design will provide customers with a global experience and a bespoke client experiential journey.

"Valentino needs no introduction in India. Founded by the legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino has gone through impactful creative evolution under the current Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli and CEO Jacopo Venturini heralding the brand into contemporary luxury while leveraging its heritage as the most established Italian Maison de Couture," said Darshan Mehta, MD of Reliance Brands Limited.

"The brand's infectious romanticism, signature codes and bold use of colour has strong resonance in India. This partnership will help make the brand more accessible to its Indian customers and build a new tribe of Valentino connoisseurs."

"We are pleased to join forces with India's leader in luxury retail, RBL, and proud to work together to expand our shared vision and voice in this important market, rife with new opportunities. The upcoming store opening represents a significant step in Valentino's global strategy, and we are honored to be part of the country's growing retail market, allowing the company and the Valentino Community to grow in a solid way, according to our values and brand culture.

"As per the new business model, we are leveraging the strong relationships between the brand, its sales force and the customers, hinged on our Couture values - obsession for detail, creativity and client centricity - that together with human capital and teamwork are at the core of the company culture and the main drivers of its evolution. We look forward to bringing Valentino's renowned collections and our one-of-a-kind customer journey mindset to India," said Jacopo Venturini, CEO Maison Valentino.

In Dehli, Valentino will open a 162 sqm boutique in DLF Emporio, which will carry Valentino women's collections and an edited selection of men's accessories, while the Mumbai flagship will carry the whole Valentino universe: a complete range across womenswear, menswear, footwear, and Valentino Garavani accessories of the brand that include shoes, bags, small leather goods, eyewear, scarves, ties, and fragrances. The brand is currently present in over 144 locations through 212 Valentino directly operated boutiques and over 1,300 points of sale.