The first fashion platform to step into a brick and mortar format in India IBFW flags off a mega plan to open 60 stores in the next five years.
New Delhi, 9th September, 2016: Adding style, chutzpah and eclectic genius to wedding wear, India Bridal Fashion Week (IBFW), a fashion platform launched the first India Bridal Fashion Week Wedding Store at SBJ, New Delhi.
India’s first chain of brick and mortar shops to be backed by a fashion platform, the wedding store was launched by leading actor and sylista Sonam Kapoor who has graced IBFW ramp earlier as well.
With a very ambitious plan to launch 60 stores in India and overseas in the next five years, the IBFW Wedding Store aims at creating a branded network of wedding ensembles and accessories.
Thrilled to launch this pioneering chain, Sonam Kapoor said, “The clothes are wearable yet beautiful. They are eclectic enough to fit any taste. Just the fashion language a young bride looks for today.”
Through this chain, IBFW India Bridal Fashion Week Wedding Store, partners with designers and brands to create products with the aim of standardization in terms of quality, features, pricing, services, and experience. Above all it personifies the design spirit of India Bridal Fashion Week.
Says Mr. Vijay Singh, Founder & CEO, “ With over 10 million weddings taking place every year, the 40 billion dollar big fat Indian wedding market needs an iconic wedding storebrand that is not copying senior couturiers or speaking a singular design language. We have created a wedding story that is high in quality, luxurious but affordable to all. It is a retail model that we plan to ambitiously proliferate through the franchise and shop in shop model, taking luxury fashion to tier two and three cities of India as well. “
The IBFW Wedding Store Merchandize story is brought alive by Narendra Kumar, Head Design, IBFW. He carefully curates a wide range of signature collections that are crafted for the young, with it bridewho wants fun and feisty to replace tried and traditional design sensibilities.
Says Mr. Narendra Kumar, “Weddings are remembered most for the fun everyone had in the process. Bridal wear today has to un stiffen and become an extension of a young bride’s laid back style. We are trying to create a design vocabulary which the young, discerning bride will enjoy.”
Speaking about the retail association with IBFW wedding store, retail partner Mr. Manoj Mehra, Chairman & Managing Director – Study By Janak said, “Study by Janak has been a forerunner in Fashion since 30 years for Men’s Occasion and Formal wear. Considering the need of the market, started our Women’s wear collection in 2007. We are always committed in providing the best of design diversity with the best of fabrics. India has become a Mecca for weddings, with celebrities from all over the world choosing it as their wedding destination. We have always been the one stop destination for wedding crews. IBFW is doing the ginormous and extremely commendable task of bringing master pieces of different couturiers under one roof for a luxurious as well as affordable shopping fiesta for the wedding brigade. SBJ feels proud to welcome and extend the Collection of our women’s wear with IBFW to New Delhi at our South Extension store. From the bride-to-be, bridesmaids to the mother of the bride, it has immense variety for all. ”
Cementing its promise to quality, the wedding store creates a unique association with Swarovski Professional India, embellishing the ensembles with the finest Crystals. Sonam Kapoor graced the occasion wearing an outfit encrusted with Hot Fix Crystals in shades of vintage rose, sapphire and montana.
Mr. Vivek Ramabhadran, Managing Director, Swarovski Professional India, highlighting this unique association said, ““We are delighted to partner with IBFW on the launch of its own bridal wear brand – it’s an exciting and unique effort aimed at bringing designer bridal wear more accessible but yet as elegant, and as stylish. Swarovski, being a recognized leader in the couture design space, is well positioned to bring that touch of glamor and sparkle and more, to this IBFW bridal line.”
The Indian wedding market is a fast paced, growing market. Modern retail, especially large format retailers are ramping up their expansion plans in this market across metros and Tier I & Tier II cities. This will contribute significantly to the growth of the Indian ethnic wear market. The women’s segment currently accounts for an overwhelming 87% of the total ethnic wear market at INR 54,425 crore (USD 10.26 billion); it is the growth of this segment that will continue to drive the overall sector. The women’s wear segment alone is expected to grow at a steady rate of 8% over the coming decade