 Marks & Spencer (M&S) the well-known UK-based lifestyle brand is wooing India with a retro look this season. That’s not all the brand is also planning more brand building exercises to attract customers. As Martin Jones, CEO, M&S India says,
“India is an important market for Marks & Spencer, its large population and economic growth presents us with a huge opportunity. We now have 19 stores and will continue to build our presence in the country.” Jones says they have plans for fashion shows and events at the store level for their customers. “Recently, on Valentine’s Day, we treated our customers to a unique spa experience in our stores,” he informs.
Meanwhile  the brand’s spring/summer collection has hit the stores. For women, it’s a retro look this season. It sees an emphasis on a softer, feminine shape with a sophisticated play on proportion and elegance that embraces the 70’s and 80’s working alongside Navajo fringing, leather and a fluid minimal silhouette. Color plays a huge role with the return of vibrant bright hues competing with the freshness of white tones. Floral prints of all scales dominate and sit alongside sumptuous fabrics from lace, silk, butter soft suede and leather to edgier snakeskin effect embellishment.
One of the lines this time is Coney Island, which embraces the nostalgic feel of the 50’s and 60’s America. Playful stripes sit alongside feminine, flirty prom and shift dresses. The Carnival range evokes vibrant summers. Maxi dresses and cut away swim wear in colorful, exotic prints and floral embellishment dominate the look of the collection. Seventies is a key trend for both day and evening wear.
For men, the sleek and slim fit look continues with denim being a key wardrobe staple this season and featuring heavily across the collection with a variety of precision fit jeans, casual Bermuda shorts, slim fit shirts and a range of denim accessories. Whether dark indigo, washed and worn or simply classic blue, denim stands the test of time as the ultimate, easy-to-wear wardrobe staple and that’s what M & S have gone in for this season too. Formalwear moves into this season with an optimistic and stylish new range of suits, jackets, trousers, shirts and ties with coordinated footwear and accessories. For a more deconstructed look with a nod to high summer, lightweight linen jackets and trousers in slim fitting cuts are key, styled with casual T-shirts or crisp polo shirts for a contemporary formal look.
In India, M&S has a joint venture with Reliance Retail with a 51 per cent stake. M& S Reliance India has the right to operate M&S stores in India, selling items such as women’s, men’s and children’s clothing as well as homeware. At the moment they operate 19 stores across India including the new stores at DLF Promenade and Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. Jones sums up, “Expanding our India operations with our partner has enabled us to transform our position in the market. Under the previous franchise relationship we were a small retailer selling UK products at higher prices from smaller stores. Through our JV, we have been able to open larger stores and realign our prices by locally sourcing up to 42 per cent of our products, with the aim of reaching 60 per cent by 2012.” |
