30 May 2026, Mumbai

Luxury and premium retail subsidiary of Reliance Retail, Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) has reported a significant resurgence in FY26. The company recorded revenues of Rs 3,494 crore, representing a 45 per cent increase compared to the previous year, a stark acceleration from the 5 per cent growth observed in FY25. This top-line expansion was accompanied by a material improvement in profitability, with net losses contracting by 51 per cent to Rs 137 crore. According to the parent company’s integrated annual report, this performance was underpinned by a combination of recovering consumer demand in the luxury segment and a rigorous operational rationalization program that included the closure of underperforming storefronts to optimize capital allocation.

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Strategic portfolio integration and market dynamics

Beyond its headline financial figures, RBL has focused on streamlining its corporate structure, absorbing several joint ventures and subsidiaries - including Genesis Colors and CAA Brands Reliance - to bring luxury and designer-label operations under a singular, integrated umbrella. While the portfolio remains highly diversified, market analysts observe a notable performance disparity. Premium beauty and lifestyle categories have demonstrated robust recurring demand, outperforming high-end fashion, which often remains seasonal. Despite significant investment, several indigenous designer labels within the RBL stable, such as Ritu Kumar and Rahul Mishra, continue to navigate the challenges of scaling profitability. As the platform transitions from an aggressive acquisition phase toward long-term operational integration, the focus remains on stabilizing unit economics across its current footprint of 935 stores and 762 shop-in-shops.

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Flagship premium luxury platform

Reliance Brands Limited is a flagship premium and luxury retail platform managing over 50 international labels spanning apparel, footwear, accessories, and home lifestyle. The company focuses on diversified omnichannel expansion and strategic brand partnerships. It maintains a growth-oriented outlook, centered on operational efficiency, premium market leadership, and long-term brand equity.

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30 May 2026, Mumbai

Fashion e-commerce platform Ajio has unveiled a strategic evolution for its annual Big Bold Sale, which commenced on May 27, 2026. Headlined by Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor, this new campaign shifts the marketing narrative away from traditional discount-heavy storytelling toward an emphasis on rapid, same-day fulfillment. By positioning delivery speed as a core customer value, Ajio is responding to a broader shift in consumer behavior where near-instant access to fashion has become a significant competitive differentiator. This tactical adjustment aligns with the platform’s ongoing integration of its hyperlocal commerce infrastructure, designed to meet the growing demand for convenience-led retail.

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Leveraging offline assets for scale

This consumer-facing push is underpinned by the significant expansion of ‘Ajio Rush,’ the platform's high-speed delivery service. As of March 2026, the service is operational in over 600 cities, representing a 60-fold quarter-on-quarter growth. Rather than relying on centralized warehousing, the platform utilizes its extensive network of over 1,700 Reliance fashion and lifestyle outlets as decentralized fulfillment nodes. This omnichannel strategy allows Ajio to route orders directly from the nearest retail store, drastically reducing transit times and optimizing unit economics. As e-commerce competition intensifies - with rivals like Myntra expanding rapid-delivery models - Ajio's ability to sweat its existing physical store assets provides a robust framework to sustain its aggressive growth targets throughout the two-week sale period ending June 13.

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Premier fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform

Ajio is a premier fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform under Reliance Retail, offering a diverse portfolio of international and domestic brands. Its core business includes apparel, footwear, and accessories. The platform focuses on omnichannel integration and rapid delivery expansion, maintaining a strong growth outlook supported by India's retail evolution.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

VIP Clothing has signaled a significant transformation in its market trajectory, reporting a 79.78 per cent increase in net profit after tax to Rs 980.96 lakh for FY26. Boosted by a 7.15 per cent rise in annual operating income, this performance highlights the company’s success in refining its cost structures amidst a competitive domestic apparel landscape. The final quarter of the year proved particularly decisive, with a 40.89 per cent sequential growth in total income, reflecting a sharpened focus on high-margin product distribution and streamlined inventory management.

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Navigating the premium shift in Indian innerwear

The broader Indian innerwear sector is witnessing a structural change, with market size projected to climb from $10.9 billion in 2025 to nearly $19.8 billion by 2034. As consumers transition from traditional utility-based purchases toward premium, comfort-oriented brands, manufacturers are increasingly compelled to modernize their supply chains. VIP Clothing’s results indicate, its ‘house of brands’ strategy - encompassing labels like Frenchie and Feelings - is effectively capturing this premiumization trend. By prioritizing operational leverage over volume-only expansion, the firm is insulating itself against the inflationary pressures currently impacting freight and raw material costs across the textile value chain.

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Strategic infrastructure and future positioning

Looking ahead, VIP Clothing is accelerating its efforts to solidify its footprint in both Tier-II and Tier-III markets. With organized retail and e-commerce platforms accounting for a larger share of category spending, the company is optimizing its distribution network to meet heightened demand for functional, performance-oriented fabrics. While the innerwear market faces challenges related to high online return rates and evolving fashion cycles, VIP’s recent profit trajectory suggests that its current fiscal discipline provides a durable foundation for navigating the projected 6.49 per cent CAGR of the domestic innerwear market through 2034.

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Prominent innerwear and apparel manufacturer

Established in 1991, VIP Clothing Limited is a prominent Indian manufacturer and marketer of innerwear, socks, and apparel. Operating under brands like VIP, Frenchie, and Feelings, the company serves a broad demographic across men’s, women’s, and kidswear. It is currently executing a strategic turnaround focused on brand strengthening and operational efficiency.

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30 May 2026, Mumbai

Fashion-tech label NewMe has reached a significant retail milestone with the inauguration of its 25th brick-and-mortar outlet in Vadodara. Situated at Kanha Capital in Alkapuri, the new store underscores the brand's aggressive expansion strategy within the Indian market. Since its inception, the company has successfully transitioned from a digital-first startup into a robust omnichannel entity, currently maintaining a presence in 14 cities. By adhering to a company-owned, company-operated (COCO) retail model, the brand retains complete oversight over the consumer journey, ensuring consistent brand positioning across both high-street and mall locations. This control is fundamental to the brand’s objective of delivering a unified, high-energy retail experience that resonates with India's Gen Z demographic.

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Scaling through data-driven fulfillment

Looking ahead, NewMe has finalized a capital-intensive rollout plan to establish an additional 25 stores by 2026-end. This expansion will target high-growth hubs such as Vizag, Ludhiana, Bhopal, Agartala, and Kolkata, alongside an increased presence in North-East India. The physical expansion is being complemented by the scaling of ‘NewMe Zip,’ the brand’s quick-commerce initiative. By utilizing its retail stores as decentralized fulfillment nodes, the company aims to optimize inventory velocity and reduce delivery times. With over 2.2 million customers served to date, NewMe is prioritizing hyper-local demand mapping to refine its product assortment, ensuring that its rapid, trend-led collections remain highly accessible across both physical and digital touchpoints.

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A Gen-Z focused fashion-tech brand

NewMe is a Gen Z-focused fashion-tech brand specializing in trend-led apparel and accessories. It operates through a COCO retail model, integrating offline stores with an online platform and quick-commerce services. The brand focuses on rapid speed-to-market cycles, targeting youth-centric fashion markets with a strong emphasis on digital agility.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

Lux Cozi has formalized a multi-year extension of its brand ambassadorship with actor Varun Dhawan, securing the partnership through 2030. Having served as the face of the brand since 2016, Dhawan’s continued association is central to Lux Industries’ strategy to maintain resonance with a diverse demographic, particularly the Gen-Z and millennial cohorts. This move arrives as the company navigates a complex retail landscape where brand recall and celebrity-driven equity are critical for sustaining market share. By aligning with a high-profile figure, the brand aims to strengthen its competitive positioning amidst increasing pressure from both legacy players and emerging digital-native innerwear brands.

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Addressing operational realities and market diversification

The renewal underscores a commitment to brand stability even as the parent entity, Lux Industries manages recent financial volatility. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, the company reported consolidated revenue of Rs. 2,923.55 crore, though consolidated net profit saw a decline to Rs. 106.07 crore compared to the previous year’s Rs. 164.54 crore. Analysts attribute this shift to rising input costs and margin compression. In response, the organization is implementing a structural realignment, including the incorporation of a wholly-owned subsidiary, Lux and Cozi, to facilitate a planned demerger of its core business segments. This transition is designed to sharpen focus on high-performance product categories and streamline manufacturing, ensuring the brand remains agile while catering to evolving consumer preferences across men’s, women’s, and children’s innerwear.

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Premier hosiery and apparel manufacturer

Headquartered in Kolkata, Lux Industries is a premier Indian hosiery and apparel manufacturer. It operates extensive production facilities, boasting a capacity of 1.2 million garments daily. The firm manages a diverse portfolio, including brands like Lux Cozi, ONN, and Lyra, serving both domestic and international markets across 46 countries.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

The premium men’s occasion wear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL), Tasva has intensified its retail expansion with the inauguration of a new flagship store at Felix Plaza in Gurugram. This development follows a recent Rs 175 crore capital infusion into the brand’s parent entity Indivinity Clothing Retail, which increased ABFRL’s stake to 89.29 per cent. The new location is strategically positioned within a high-growth lifestyle hub, serving as a cornerstone for the brand’s efforts to capture the burgeoning demand for contemporary ethnic menswear in North India.

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Modernizing the ethnic occasion wear segment

The brand’s expansion strategy emphasizes a shift from traditional retail models toward immersive, experience-driven shopping environments. By blending Tarun Tahiliani’s design aesthetics with ABFRL’s robust supply chain, Tasva offers a curated selection of sherwanis, bandhgalas, and indo-western ensembles that appeal to a younger, discerning consumer base.

The brand focuses on providing a seamless fusion of heritage craftsmanship and modern tailoring that feels as effortless as it is sophisticated, states a company representative. This approach addresses a critical gap in the market, where modern shoppers increasingly favor versatile, comfort-oriented garments over traditional heavy-embellishment attire, effectively monetizing the ‘India Modern’ aesthetic.

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Capitalizing on the formalization of ethnic fashion

The domestic wedding and occasion wear market remains a high-priority vertical for ABFRL, driven by the broader formalization of the Indian ethnic sector. With the brand reporting a turnover of Rs 144.24 crore in FY25, up from Rs 100.06 crore in the previous year, Tasva is well-positioned for sustained growth. The brand’s ability to leverage AI-assisted design tools and efficient product lifecycle management enables it to maintain premium quality while ensuring competitive pricing. As the market for organized ethnic wear continues to expand, Tasva’s commitment to scaling its store network across metropolitan and tier-one cities serves as a critical driver for ABFRL’s long-term value creation in the lifestyle and fashion category.

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Merging Indian heritage with modern styles

Launched in 2021 as a joint venture between ABFRL and couturier Tarun Tahiliani, TASVA specializes in contemporary men's wedding and occasion wear. The brand focuses on merging Indian heritage with modern silhouettes and comfort-led tailoring. It is currently executing an aggressive retail rollout and organizational scaling plan.

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30 May 2026, Mumbai

Arvind Limited has appointed industry veteran Rakesh Chadha as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Arvind Atelier, its newly established subsidiary. This executive appointment is a cornerstone of the company’s broader international expansion, which includes a dedicated Design Hub in London and a centralized sourcing platform in the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone). By integrating design-led product development with vertically integrated manufacturing, the firm aims to capture significant market share in the European, MENA, and Americas regions. Chadha, bringing over 27 years of expertise in supply chain management and international business development, will focus on aligning Arvind’s manufacturing prowess with Europe's evolving fashion ecosystem to ensure market-responsive delivery cycles.

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Transitioning toward design-led vertical integration

The strategic mandate for Arvind Atelier centers on moving beyond traditional manufacturing to offer a comprehensive sourcing model. By leveraging its extensive capacity—which includes an annual denim fabric production exceeding 110 million metres and garmenting output of 37 million pieces as of FY25—the company intends to streamline the supply chain for global brands. This approach aims to consolidate categories such as denim, knits, and activewear under a singular, ESG-compliant platform. As global brands increasingly prioritize supply chain resilience and speed-to-market, Arvind’s new hub-and-spoke model serves as a direct bridge between India’s manufacturing scale and international demand, positioning the company as a preferred partner for global retail entities navigating today's complex trade landscape.

Arvind Limited is a premier Indian textile and apparel manufacturer known for its vast denim, shirting, and knits production. A flagship of the Lalbhai Group, it focuses on high-value textile manufacturing, technical textiles, and global sourcing solutions. The company maintains a strong growth outlook, supported by continuous technological integration and responsible manufacturing.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

Italian accessories leader Carpisa has officially launched its operations in India, marking its entry with a flagship store at Phoenix Market City, Bengaluru. Through a long-term licensing agreement with Neopolis Brands, the Naples-based firm intends to capture significant market share in the underpenetrated premium handbag and travel gear category. With handbags priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 and Gen-Z-focused sling bags retailing from Rs 3,000, the brand is positioning itself at the intersection of international design legacy and local affordability. Shailesh Chaturvedi, Chairman, Neopolis Brands notes, the partnership seeks to address a distinct gap in the organized retail sector, leveraging the brand’s global reputation to appeal to India’s rapidly evolving consumer base.

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Scaling through integrated distribution

The market entry strategy emphasizes an omnichannel framework designed to reach diverse urban demographics. Beyond the Bengaluru flagship, Carpisa has deployed shop-in-shop formats within major department stores like Shoppers Stop and mobile pop-up outlets at Brigade Orion Mall. This physical expansion is supported by a robust digital strategy, with collections available via the brand’s proprietary website and major e-commerce platforms including Myntra, Nykaa, and Tata Cliq. By diversifying its sales touchpoints, the company aims to meet the high demand for versatile, contemporary accessories. Maurizio Carlino, CEO identifies India as a fundamental pillar of Carpisa’s international growth roadmap, citing the country’s high-potential retail landscape and energetic consumer demand as key drivers for the ambitious plan to open over 100 stores nationwide.

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Global leader in travel goods and accessories

Based in Napoli, Italy, Carpisa is a global leader in travel goods, handbags, and accessories. The brand is renowned for its Italian design philosophy and versatile product collections. Through its partnership with Neopolis Brands, Carpisa is aggressively scaling its Indian footprint to establish a dominant presence in the premium retail market.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

Reliance Retail’s flagship luxury arm, Reliance Brands has reported a decisive financial recovery for FY26, signaling a shift toward operational maturity. The company registered revenue of Rs 3,494 crore, a 45 per cent increase over the previous year, while simultaneously slashing net losses by 51 per cent to Rs 137 crore. This improvement follows a rigorous internal restructuring, including the consolidation of multiple subsidiaries such as Genesis Colors and CAA Brands Reliance, effectively streamlining the group’s high-end retail footprint.

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Beauty leads while couture faces scaling hurdles

The performance disparity between mass-aspirational categories and high-end fashion remains pronounced. While led by the stellar expansion of Sephora - premium beauty - has become a consistent revenue driver due to the frequency of consumer purchases, traditional designer labels are experiencing a more complex growth trajectory. Brands like Rahul Mishra and Anamika Khanna continue to grapple with persistent losses, reflecting the broader structural challenges in scaling luxury couture within India’s seasonally-driven consumption environment. Beauty monetizes aspiration weekly, while luxury fashion in India still monetizes it seasonally, notes Raahuul Kapoor, Founding Partner, Luxury Ampersand Frolics Group, highlighting the necessity for brands to transition from episodic luxury to everyday lifestyle integration.

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Strategic shifts toward long-term stability

Reliance is now prioritizing consistent unit economics over aggressive, broad-spectrum brand acquisition. By integrating over 900 stores and hundreds of shop-in-shops under a unified operational framework, the conglomerate is betting on long-term systemic efficiency. Industry experts, including Abhay Gupta of Luxury Connect, suggest, the future of the conglomerate’s luxury division rests on stabilizing these diverse holdings. Success will likely depend on the group’s ability to leverage its massive retail ecosystem to sustain brand relevance beyond metro-centric elites, capitalizing on the projected growth of India's luxury market, which is anticipated to reach nearly $19 billion by 2034.

As the luxury retail division of Reliance Retail, RBL serves as the primary platform for over 50 international labels, including Burberry and Diesel. Its portfolio spans fashion, beauty, and children’s retail. The company is currently focused on long-term operational integration, stabilizing its diverse brand stable to capture India's expanding luxury market.

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30 May 2026, Mumbai

JadeBlue has formally extended its retail network in South India with the inauguration of an EBO at Inorbit Mall, Visakhapatnam. Situated on the mall's first floor, this new store marks a significant milestone in the brand’s ongoing effort to capture the growing demand for high-end menswear in Tier-II cities. By securing a presence in one of Andhra Pradesh's premier retail destinations, the Ahmedabad-based retailer is positioning itself to address the shifting consumption patterns of fashion-conscious consumers who are increasingly seeking premium craftsmanship and diverse wardrobe solutions locally.

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Curated offerings for the modern consumer

The Visakhapatnam outlet introduces a comprehensive portfolio designed to meet varied lifestyle needs, ranging from sophisticated formal attire and elegant ethnic wear to versatile casual fashion and contemporary occasion dressing. This launch serves as a strategic move to blend traditional sartorial heritage with modern retail efficiency, a cornerstone of the brand’s long-term growth trajectory. As JadeBlue continues to scale its presence across India, the focus remains on delivering an elevated shopping environment that prioritizes premium styling and personalized customer service. Industry observers note that this expansion aligns with the brand’s broader objective of strengthening its omnichannel capabilities while maintaining the boutique-style experience that has defined its reputation in the national menswear landscape.

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Offering high-quality craftsmanship

Founded in 1995, JadeBlue is a leading Indian menswear retailer specializing in formalwear, bespoke tailoring, and ethnic collections. With over 80 stores across 40+ cities, the company focuses on high-quality craftsmanship. It maintains a stable financial profile, anchored by decades of tailoring expertise and strategic retail expansion.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

Film actor and producer Anushka Sharma has acquired a minority stake in Agilitas Sports, signaling a targeted entry into the competitive Indian athleisure market. This investment follows her husband Virat Kohli’s earlier partnership with the firm, which saw his sportswear brand, One8, integrated into the Agilitas ecosystem. Beyond capital infusion, the collaboration is focused on high-growth product diversification, with Sharma actively contributing to the development of a dedicated yoga-wear range under the One8 banner. Confirming the development, Abhishek Ganguly, CEO, notes, Sharma’s involvement is instrumental in scaling the company’s wellness-focused apparel offerings to meet the rising demand for performance-driven lifestyle clothing.

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Scaling through vertical integration

The partnership highlights the firm's broader strategy to consolidate the value chain by merging manufacturing capabilities with celebrity-backed brand equity. Unlike traditional retail models, Agilitas operates a vertically integrated framework that encompasses internal R&D, manufacturing - notably through its acquisition of Mochiko Shoes - and direct-to-consumer retail. Industry observers suggest this end-to-end control is a calculated move to secure a larger market share against established global giants. By leveraging athlete and celebrity endorsements to anchor its One8 franchise and Lotto license, the company is effectively building a proprietary sports-tech ecosystem designed for both local scalability and long-term brand durability in India’s rapidly evolving retail landscape.

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Vertically integrated sportswear platform

Founded in 2023 by former Puma executives, Agilitas Sports is a vertically integrated Indian sportswear platform. The company specializes in the manufacturing, brand development, and retail of athletic footwear and apparel. It manages global licenses, such as Lotto, and owns the One8 franchise, focusing on the high-growth Indian athleisure sector.

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29 May 2026, Mumbai

As India’s luxury market tracks toward a $12 billion valuation by 2028, the traditional image of the ascetic politician is undergoing a quiet, high-end transformation. Senior political figures, most notably DK Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister, Karnataka are increasingly integrating global luxury labels into their public wardrobes. This shift signifies a departure from the ‘khadi-minimalist’ aesthetic that has historically dominated Indian political fashion, suggesting that regional leaders are becoming key influencers in a broader national trend of conspicuous consumption.

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Scaling the Tier-II luxury opportunity

Industry data indicates that luxury brands are no longer tethered solely to the corporate corridors of Mumbai or Delhi. With the domestic luxury fashion market expanding rapidly, Tier-II cities are expected to contribute significantly to future sales. Observers note, leaders like Shivakumar - who publicly embraces high-horology staples such as the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and premium cashmere accessories from houses like Louis Vuitton and Gucci - are normalizing luxury acquisition among regional elites. This behavior aligns with a wider socio-economic trend where rising disposable incomes in non-metropolitan hubs are driving demand for artisanal, high-status goods that serve as both personal statements and tangible financial assets.

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Retail strategies for an evolving consumer

For European fashion houses, the emergence of a regional political class as a consumer base offers a strategic opening. Retailers are moving beyond Bollywood celebrity endorsements, focusing instead on ‘experiential retail’ and personalized engagement that resonates with influential local figures. As the appetite for heritage brands deepens in states like Karnataka, luxury retailers are refining their localized marketing tactics, recognizing that status symbols are increasingly viewed as essential accouterments of political and business success. This evolution suggests that the future of luxury in India will be defined less by national icons and more by the aspirational habits of regional power brokers.

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Political landscape in Karnataka

The state of Karnataka remains a high-stakes political theater for the Congress party, characterized by intense internal power-sharing dynamics. A long-time influential party organizer, DK Shivkumar has risen to the forefront of state leadership. His high-profile, luxury-forward public persona marks a distinct departure from traditional political austerity.

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