List of Top 10 Foreign Clothing Brands in India

Indians love to wear western clothes, especially those who live in metropolitan areas. The reasons for wearing foreign clothes include a variety of reasons such as to project a modern image and to celebrate cultural exchange. Because of the ever rising demand for western clothing in India, many foreign clothing brands have opened their stores in India, and are making really good revenue from them. 

In this article, we shall explore the top 10 foreign clothing brands in India. 

Leading Clothing Brands in India

The list below includes some of the leading foreign clothing brands in India. These brands are available at most major malls in India:

1. Zara

Founded: 1975

Headquarters: Arteixo, Spain

Zara is one of the top international fashion companies. It is a leading clothing brand in India. It was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega Gaona. He opened the first shop of this clothing brand in central A Coruña, in Galicia, Spain. 

Zara was initially called ‘Zorba,’ inspired by the classic 1964 film Zorba the Greek. However, when Ortega discovered a nearby bar carrying the same name, he changed the fashion brand’s name to ‘Zara.’

Zara opened its first store in India in 2018 at the Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi.

2. H&M

Founded: 1947

Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden

H&M stands for Hennes & Mauritz. It is one of the most aggressive fashion players in India. Erling Persson founded H&M in 1947. 

The brand’s first store opened in Västerås, Sweden. It was called Hennes, meaning ‘hers’ in Swedish. It only sold women’s clothing. 

In 1968, Persson acquired apparel retailer Mauritz in Stockholm, which led to the inclusion of a menswear collection in the product range. As a result, the clothing brand’s name was changed to Hennes & Mauritz. H&M opened its first store in India in 2015 at Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi.

3. Forever 21

Founded: 1984

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States

Forever 21 was originally known as Fashion 21. It is one of the top foreign clothing brands in India. It was originally founded in Los Angeles in 1984 by Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Change, married South Korean immigrants. 

Later, the Changs changed the brand’s name from Fashion 21 to Forever 21 and started selling fast fashion at low prices. 

In 2016, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. acquired the exclusive online and offline rights to the India network of Forever 21.

4. Giorgio Armani 

Founded: 1975

Headquarters: Milan, Italy

Giorgio Armani is another leading foreign clothing brand in India. The brand is named after its founder Giorgio Armani, a luxury Italian designer. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails haute couture, leather goods, shoes, home interiors and accessories.

In 1965, Armani joined fashion house Nino Cerruti as a designer. There he met Sergio Galeotti and in 1975, both of them started the company. 

Giorgio Armani’s first store was opened in the Jio World Plaza Shopping Mall based in Mumbai. It is a popular fashion brand amongst those who love Italian fashion.

5. Marks and Spencer 

Founded: 1884

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Marks and Spencer is one of the leading clothing brands in India. The brand’s journey began in 1884 when Michael Marks came to the north of England and managed to secure a Kirkgate Market in Leeds. 

After arriving with little money and limited knowledge of English, Marks used the slogan “Don’t ask the price, it’s a ‘Penny” to build his success. His stand selling basic home goods was quickly booming as a result of this straightforward idea and his diligence. 

Marks partnered with Tom Spencer, a cashier at wholesalers Dewhirst, to help his expanding business. This collaboration established “Marks & Spencer” and its first Penny Bazaar stores, shaping the company into what it is today.

In 2001, M&S opened its first store in India. In 2008, it formed Marks & Spencer Reliance India Pvt. Ltd. in a joint venture with Reliance Retail.

6. Louis Vuitton

Founded: 1854

Headquarters: Paris, France

Mr. Louis Vuitton was one of the most popular French fashion designers and businessmen. At the age of 33, he founded the Louis Vuitton brand of leather goods in 1854 on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris, France. 

Prior to this, Mr. Vuitton had been appointed as trunk-maker to Empress Eugénie de Montijo who was the wife of Napoleon III. 

Introduced by Louis Vuitton in 1888, the Damier Ebene pattern features a checkerboard design with the brand’s name and floral motifs. Made from coated canvas, the Damier Ebene is durable and resistant to water. 

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) now owns the Louis Vuitton brand. The first LV store was opened in India in 2003 at the Oberoi Hotel, New Delhi.

7. Gucci

Founded: 1921

Headquarters: Florence, Italy

Gucci is a leading foreign clothing brand. It was founded in Florence, Italy by Guccio Gucci in 1921. Initially, the brand sold leather goods and luggage. However, the business grew rapidly under the direction of Gucci’s sons. 

Gucci sells handbags, ready-to-wear, accessories, footwear, and home decoration. It also sells fragrance and cosmetics under the name Gucci Beauty. The Gucci family claims its origins are rooted in Florence since 1410. 

Gucci first opened its store in India in Mumbai in 2007. In 2012, it opened its largest store in the country at the Oberoi Hotel, Gurugram. Many customers in India are big fans of this Italian luxury brand. 

8. Prada

Founded: 1913

Headquarters: Milan, Italy

Prada is an Italian luxury brand with a history of more than 100 years. The brand was initially known as Fratelli Prada when it was founded in 1913 by Mario Prada and his brother Martino. Fratelli Prada is the Italian term for ‘Prada Brothers.’

By the 1990s, the fashion industry recognized Prada as a luxury brand. Miuccia Prada established Miu Miu in 1992 as a subsidiary of Prada to expand business. 

Prada specializes in leather handbags, shoes, accessories, ready-to-wear and other fashion goods. In India, Prada’s products are available both online and at malls. It is one of the top foreign clothing brands in the country. 

9. Emporio Armani

Founded: 1981

Headquarters: Milan, Italy

Emporio Armani, founded in 1981, became the second brand of the Armani family after Giorgio Armani. It features ready-to-wear and runaway collections focused on latest trends and modern traits. 

Emporio Armani targets a younger market, and incorporates sport influences into Armani’s relaxed elegance. The brand launched its first stand-alone store in India at Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi.

10. GUESS

Founded: 1981

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States

The Marciano brothers founded Guess in 1981. They redefined denim after drawing inspiration from European influence. The 3-zip slim-fitting, stonewashed jean, was one of their first creations. 

The first shop to welcome the GUESS brand was Bloomingdale’s, which placed an order for two dozen pairs of jeans. In a matter of hours, they vanished from the shelves. 

GUESS, as a leading foreign clothing brand in India, offers a wide selection of jeans, clothing, and accessories in over 100 countries worldwide. It has collaborated with major brands to operate in India since 2012.

Conclusion

Some of the leading clothing brands in India are Zara, Giorgio Armani, Marks and Spencer, Forever 21, Prada, Guess, Gucci, Emporio Armani, Louis Vuitton and H&M. All these brands originated in Europe and are famous amongst fashion lovers across the globe. Want to start your own fashion company? Connect with Registrationwala for assistance in fashion company registration! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Who founded the H&M clothing brand?

Erling Persson founded H&M in 1947.

Q2. What was the original name of Zara?

Zara’s founder originally named it Zorba after drawing inspiration from the film Zorba the Greek.

Q3. Where was Michael Marks, the founder of Marks & Spencer, originally from?

Michael Marks was originally from Slonim, a town that was part of the Russian Empire at the time (now a part of Belarus).

Q4. What was the original name of Forever 21?

Forever 21’s founders originally named it Fashion 21.