Bringing into Bangalore the brands

As the retail sector booms in India, the trend of international brands setting up shop on home turf continues in full swing. Young, fashion-conscious India now wants big brands, asks for easy accessibility and demands the collection on the store shelves to be along the same lines as those available at New York, Hong Kong or Amsterdam.

In the city, you don’t have to go too far to find the perfect tee with that international brand logo and a pricey tag. Probably the first of the big boys to open a store in Bangalore, the Tommy Hilfiger store in Forum Mall, offers everything from uber trendy denims to tube tops and boxer shorts. If clothes don’t excite you, check out the accessories section here that has a wide range of shoes, watches and bags on display.

Girls went slightly giddy with glee when Mango first arrived in the city. After being in Mumbai and Delhi for many years, Mango finally decided to explore the southern market. At the Mango store in Garuda Mall you will find one pretty piece of clothing after the other, not to mention the shoes, sunglasses and bikinis that they stock during summer. Though it’s a major deal to have a Mango store on hand, it’s a trifle disappointing as the Bangalore branch does not stock the latest collection.

Also in Garuda Mall is housed Marks & Spencers, the mega brand from UK. Known all over the world for its quality, M&S is popular among women for its lingerie. Apart from lingerie, M&S also stocks casual as well as formal clothing for men and women, as well as bath and body products.

Right next door to M&S is the Guess store. Unlike the stores in Mumbai and Delhi, the Guess store here stocks only accessories. You will be slightly disappointed for not being able to browse through its legendary collection of jeans, but the bags and eyewear on display make up for it.

For the seriously brand conscious, there is Vittal Mallya Road in all its brand-house glory. Step into the Esprit’s big, shiny showroom where style is a staple. Esprit has tied up with Madura Garments to bring the latest range of casual and club clothing on the Indian racks. Choose from their denim line, the formal work clothing, hip club styles or the basics. Their range of accessories that include belts, bags and watches, are all worth browsing at.

Further down the road is Nautica, the store that makes great casual clothing in classic and contemporary styles. Simple and stylish is Nautica’s signature tune and they play it with a flourish.

Last but not the least is Bossini, the new kid on the block from Hong Kong. Its showroom is packed with clothes of all colours, simple and minimal. The kids’ section here is truly attractive.

So, now that you know where to find it, go get branded!