India’s retail sector in 2025 witnessed an unprecedented wave of global brand entries, reaffirming the nation’s status as one of the most attractive markets for international expansion. Luxury maisons, premium fashion houses, fast-fashion leaders, sportswear giants, and beauty innovators all set up shop physically and online, signaling a shift in India’s positioning from an emerging to an essential global consumer destination.
WHY GLOBAL BRANDS ARE BETTING BIG ON INDIA
International players are flocking to India because of a rare combination of factors:
- Rapid economic growth with India clocking historic FDI inflows of $81 billion in FY24-25.
- A young, urban, and expanding middle class that demands global fashion, beauty, and lifestyle experiences.
- Digital infrastructure and e-commerce boom, enabling pan-India scaling beyond metros.
- Favourable policies such as relaxed FDI norms, single-window clearance, and progressive trade negotiations.
- Modern retail shift, with Indian malls transforming into experiential hubs.
This convergence has made India a priority for global brands at a time when consumption growth in traditional markets like the US and Europe faces stagnation.
POLICY AND MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING BRAND ENTRY
New GST Reforms
In 2025, India’s GST reform simplified indirect taxation, improving compliance while rationalising rates for luxury and premium categories. For global brands, this means:
- Lower operational complexity across states.
- More predictable pricing strategies.
- Improved transparency in supply chains, boosting consumer confidence in high-value purchases.
FTA IMPACT
Ongoing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the EU, UK, and other regions have slashed duties on select fashion, luxury goods, and accessories. This has:
- Reduced import costs for premium and luxury brands.
- Encouraged brands to localize through manufacturing partnerships.
- Made designer and luxury goods more accessible to India’s emerging affluent class.
INTERNATIONAL BRAND ENTRIES IN 2025
We bring you a list of the 20 major global names that entered India in 2025, reshaping its fashion, lifestyle, and luxury landscape.
Premium & Athleisure
- Athletifreak (USA) – Launched at Nexus Select CITYWALK, Delhi, with tech-driven activewear like ULTRALUX fabrics aimed at India’s growing fitness-conscious urbanites.
- Lotto (Italy) – Brought in by Agilitas Sports, India’s fastest-growing sportswear platform, Lotto is aiming to build a Rs 1,000 crore brand in the country within 5 years.
- Foot Locker (USA) – Omnichannel launch in India with Metro Brands Ltd. managing physical stores and Nykaa Fashion overseeing the e-commerce operations.
- R&B Fashion (UAE) – Affordable youth-oriented fashion brand from Apparel Group, that strengthens India’s fast-fashion category.
High-Street & Fast Fashion
- COS (UK, H&M Group) – London-headquartered fashion label, owned by H&M, is set to make its India debut this Autumn/Winter with the opening of its first store in New Delhi in October.
- NEXT (UK) – Entered India’s mid-market fashion segment with physical store at The Pavillion Mall, Pune, as part of its newly inked partnership with Myntra, and a growing online presence.
- Bershka (Spain, Inditex Group) – Debuted in Mumbai’s Phoenix Palladium Mall, as well as its own online platform, targeting Gen Z with bold collections.
- OVS (Italy) – Italy’s leading fashion brand, set to enter the Indian market with the opening of its store at Pacific Mall, Tagore Garden, New Delhi, in October.
Luxury & Premium Fashion
- Camicissima Milano (Italy) – Flagship at Ambience Mall, Delhi, delivering classic Italian menswear tailoring, in partnership with OSL Luxury Collections.
- Ben Sherman (UK) – Launched via Apparel Group, offering heritage-inspired British menswear, available for Indian shoppers on Myntra and other major e-commerce platforms.
- BCBG (USA) – Entered India via Apparel Group, offering elegant women’s fashion, available for Indian shoppers on Myntra and other major e-commerce platforms.
- Maje (France) – Launched an exclusive brand outlet in Mumbai’s Jio World Drive shopping centre. The store launched in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited, which is the exclusive distributor for Maje in the Indian market.
Kidswear & Family Fashion
- Little Star (India, global positioning) – Expanded kidswear brand with international styling and safety-certified textiles, Kitex’s Little Star focuses on an online-first roll-out, with the brand debuting across major e-commerce platforms.
- Jacadi Paris (France) – Launched with an offline-first roll-out, with first boutique at Phoenix Palladium, Mumbai, in partnership with Burgundy Brand Collective.
Luxury Jewellery & Accessories
- Messika (France) – Launched its first standalone boutique in India, located at The Chanakya Mall in New Delhi, in partnership with luxury watches retailer Ethos Limited.
- Angara (USA) – Gemstone and fine jewellery retailer launched online with plans to open physical retail spaces soon.
Beauty & Personal Care
- Supergoop (USA) – Skincare brand specializing in SPF-powered essentials officially launched across Indian beauty retail, with an exclusive partnership with beauty platform Nykaa.
- Mermade Hair (Australia) – Entered India with a hybrid strategy– leveraging both e-commerce platforms and curated retail partners.
Sports & Lifestyle Retail
- Sports Direct (UK) – Debuted large-scale retail with wide-ranging sportswear and equipment.
Ultra-Luxury & Heritage
- Chanel Beauty & Fragrance (France) – Launched with Nykaa, the luxury brand’s products are now available through Nykaa’s online platforms and select Nykaa Luxe stores across key cities.
COMING SOON IN 2026
- Lululemon (Canada) – Set for launch via Tata Cliq and flagship stores, capitalising on India’s yoga and athleisure boom.
- Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister (USA) – Launching via Myntra with a multi-year franchise partnership.
- Off-White (Italy) – Expected in Q1 2026, in partnership with Brand Concepts Ltd.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR INDIAN CONSUMERS
The influx of international brands in 2025 signals three big shifts for Indian shoppers:
- Accessibility: Global fashion and luxury goods become more readily available across metros and online platforms.
- Affordability through FTAs and GST: Streamlined taxation and trade negotiations lower final prices for consumers.
- Cultural convergence: Indian consumers gain exposure to global lifestyle products while brands experiment with uniquely Indian customizations and collaborations.
