News and Views About Fashion and Lifestyle in India

Weekly news updates on lifestyle trends in India

Fabindia is on the reading list at Harvard. Many other Indian companies are on the curriculum of B schools. As the Indian economy grows, there are few who can ignore the huge market it offers. Luxury and high street brands are entering India, Indian art is going global and Indian women are discovering a new road to the US.

- Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Susie Is Home

From Kochi to Michigan – Indian au pairs are the latest to join the list of migrating Indians to the land of Uncle Sam. Au Pair in America programme (APIA) is looking at India to source au pairs or live-in child-care providers.

Au Pair in America programme (APIA) is one of the many cultural exchange programmes offered by the Connecticut-based American Institute of Foreign Studies. Girls between the ages 18-26 from all over the world are flown into New York, undergo a three-day intensive orientation in Connecticut, to prepare them for their new lives in the US. The girls are prepped on everything, from CPR and first-aid to a basic understanding of US rules and regulations—and culture—then sent off to the families they have been matched with.

June 2 ,2007
Outlook India

Lusty collarbones

Looking good and stylish is all about the collarbone or clavicle. Julia Roberts, Jeniffer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Keira Knightley, and Jeniffer Hudson's are trendsetters who have shifted the focus away from the waist & body.

June 2, 2007
Times of India

Battle of the brands

High street brands vs luxury brands is the ongoing battle in the Indian market. Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino, Moschino and Escada cost five times more than a Diesel, Mango, Zara or Gap.

The Indian consumer looks for value for money and is opting for high street brands to look well turned out and stylish. The demand for luxury brands is limited and is often an occasional buy. Luxury brands are expected to have longer gestation periods.

June 1, 2007
MSN India

Water conservation part of modern sanitary ware

Customers are increasingly demanding environment friendly sanitary ware for homes specially bathrooms. Water conservation is an integral part of the designer bathrooms

June 1, 2007
Deccan Hreald

Denim gets a leg up

The total jeans market in India is estimated to be around Rs 2,000 crore, with 35 million consumers buying 43 million pair of jeans. Of this, the branded market is growing at 30-40 per cent annually.

May 31, 2007
MSN India

Open door for Christian Dior

Christian Dior has been allowed 51 percent equity investment in a single brand retail company in India by the Indian government. Dior plans to bring $270,000 as equity.

FDI clearance for foreign equity inflow of around $100 million in agriculture, food processing, energy and broadcasting was also given.

May 31, 2007
The Telegraph

Saffronart in Big Apple, to paint city in Indian colours

Saffronart is taking Indian art global. It is opening a gallery in New York, in the heart of Manhattan. The gallery will focus on networking with non-Indian galleries and art companies and institutions. The idea is to boost connectivity with non Indian buyers.

May 30, 2007
Economic Times

AEPC to participate in fairs

The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) will participate in the Copenhagen International fashion fair, to be held at Denmark from August 9 to 12 and the Magic Show scheduled at Las Vegas from Aug 27 to 30, 2007

May 30,2007
Chennai Online

Five handloom export zones in TN

The government is planning to set up five handloom export zones (HEZs) in Tamil Nadu as part of initiatives to promote exports in the sector. The HEZs will come up in Nagercoil, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai and Nagapattinam.

The state government would provide infrastructure and land for this and the Centre would provide Rs 60 lakh for each of the clusters.

May 30, 2007
Chennai Online

Indi-chic clothing gets cased in Harvard

Fabindia is the latest Indian company to be listed on the case study curriculum of Harvard Business School. Fabindia is a for-profit retail company with the stated mission of providing employment to weavers and traditional artisans in rural India.

Amul, Infosys, Wipro, Bharat Forge, Big Bazaar are also being studied by several B schools abroad.

May 27, 2007
Economic Times