What: Galeries Lafayette partners with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. to open its first Indian flagship in Mumbai, marking a major entry into the country’s luxury market.

Why it is important: The move demonstrates the strategic importance of India for international department stores seeking growth beyond mature markets.

Galeries Lafayette has entered the Indian market through a partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL), opening a flagship store in Mumbai that will feature 250 international and local luxury and premium brands. This initiative is designed to capitalize on Mumbai’s status as India’s wealthiest city and to introduce a new wave of premiumisation to Indian consumers. The store will offer a comprehensive luxury experience, including private lounges, concierge services, personal styling, and curated cultural programs, making high-end retail more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. ABFRL’s strategy, as explained by its international CEO, is to ease consumers into luxury by providing a multi-brand environment that feels less intimidating than single-brand boutiques. Plans are also underway for a second store in Delhi’s DLF Emporio mall and an e-commerce platform to reach affluent customers in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This partnership underscores the growing appeal of India’s luxury market and the importance of local alliances for global retailers.

IADS Notes: Galeries Lafayette’s entry into India in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL) reflects a broader trend of international department store expansion into high-growth markets, as highlighted by Fashion Network in July 2025. This move aligns with the premiumisation wave sweeping India’s retail sector, where ABFRL has already established a strong presence through multi-brand concepts like The Collective and strategic investments in both international and homegrown luxury labels (Fashion Network, March 2025). The Mumbai flagship’s focus on experiential retail—offering private lounges, concierge services, and curated cultural programs—mirrors the evolution of department stores into lifestyle and cultural destinations, a trend noted by Inside Retail in June 2025. The partnership also demonstrates the increasing importance of local conglomerates in facilitating global luxury brands’ market entry and adaptation, as seen in ABFRL’s joint ventures with Christian Louboutin and its expansion of Indian designer brands internationally (Fashion Network, March 2025). Galeries Lafayette’s planned e-commerce launch and second store in Delhi further underscore the strategic emphasis on omnichannel growth and the targeting of affluent consumers in both metropolitan and emerging cities.

Aditya Birla celebrates their partnership with Galeries Lafayette by opening the Mumbai store