Bally-Reliance Brands joint-venture launches its first flagship store in India

The Swiss luxury brand, Bally has launched its first flagship store in India in a joint-venture partnership with Reliance Brands Limited. Situated within the New Delhi’s renowned luxury shopping destination, DLF Emporio Mall, the newly opened store has launched with the brand’s Autumn-Winter 2017 collection, including women’s and men’s shoes, accessories and leather goods. This season, the collection evokes the mood of a gentleman’s club in 1970s New York City, which can be seen in the striking contrast of opulent evening dress and urban sportswear.
Commenting on the launch, CEO, Bally, Frederic de Narp said, “We are very excited about this joint venture. In collaboration with Reliance, we have identified a roadmap to develop the brand in proven retail locations in four key cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Joining forces with a partner of this caliber makes us very confident that we can be relevant and successful in the market. Indian consumers are very discerning and have an appreciation for quality and craftsmanship, the demands for which Bally is perfectly suited to meet.”
“Bally triangulates rich heritage, Swiss quality, and a bold & confident aesthetic. All this, layered with a contemporary design ethos makes it a brand that our customers in India will be thrilled to experience. It is with great pride that we launch the new store of Bally and grow the world’s second oldest luxury brand in India,” added CEO of Reliance Brands Limited, Darshan Mehta.
Bally is known for its cutting edge design and engagement with contemporary architects. Taking forward its legacy of working with influential architects such as Robert Mallet-Stevens, Andrée Putman, Le Corbusier and Karl Moser, Bally’s New Delhi store incorporates the design by David Chipperfield Architects. The store boasts luxurious Walnut panel walls and tile flooring laid with wool and silk-blend carpets in pink and green, separating the women’s and men’s collections.
Chipperfield’s work represents a groundbreaking combination of institutional concepts and a modern vision. The new store provides Bally with a prominent platform to develop its presence in this important market and is part of the brand’s global repositioning and continuous expansion plans.
Established since 1851, Bally, anchored in an exceptional heritage of shoe-making, today offers unique and vibrant designs across accessories, ready-to-wear and eyewear.
Notably, this is Bally’s second stint in India. The brand first entered the country’s market with a franchise tie up with the Bird Group and ran two stores, before the alliance fell apart last year. Soon after, Bally announced its joint-venture with Reliance Brands, a part of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Group.
Reliance Brands Limited started operation s in 2007, with a mandate to launch and build international and domestic brand equity in the premium to luxury segment across apparel, footwear and lifestyle business. The company’s current portfolio of brand partnerships consists of Bally, BCBG Max Azria, BCBGeneration, Brooks Bros, DC, Diesel, Dune, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gas, Hamleys, Hunkemoller, Iconix, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Muji, Paul & Shark, Quiksilver, Reiss, Roxy, Scotch & Soda, Steve Madden, Superdry, and Thomas Pink.