Year-ender 2025: India’s moment in the luxury space

Global fashion is embracing Indian culture and talent. From Met Gala appearances to luxury brand collaborations, India's influence is undeniable. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Vivienne Westwood are showcasing Indian artistry. Prada and Dior are partnering with local artisans. Luxury brands are entering India, recognising its growing market. This signifies a dynamic shift in global luxury.

FASHION AND GLOBAL VISIBILITY

Four debutants, one global moment at the Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala featured a strong Indian presence, with first-time appearances by Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, Kiara Advani, and designer Manish Malhotra. SRK brought his signature restraint in an all-black Sabyasachi ensemble with a long coat, layered necklaces and a gold cane. Diljit delivered a bold cultural statement in an embroidered angrakha, paired with a cape stitched with Punjab’s map and Gurmukhi script, a jeweled turban and a sword. Kiara wore a sculptural custom gown by Gaurav Gupta, featuring a gold breastplate and a dramatic cape inspired by André Leon Talley. Malhotra opted for an embroidered cape coat over a silk shirt, finished with a bejewelled tie.

Chanel’s India moment in global luxury fashion

In 2025, Chanel deepened its focus on India by appointing Ananya Panday (26) as its first-ever Indian brand ambassador, positioning her as a Gen Z face of modern femininity and self-expression in global fashion. The year also saw a historic runway milestone when Hyderabad-born model Bhavitha Mandava (25) became the first Indian to open Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 show in New York, marking her journey from being discovered on a subway to the world’s biggest fashion stage.

Alia Bhatt’s Gucci saree blended tradition and luxury

Alia Bhatt added another defining chapter. At the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, she wore Gucci’s first custom saree, blending Indian tradition with Italian luxury. The look reflected her decision to spotlight her roots on a global stage. As Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador, Bhatt continued to represent the brand internationally, while Levi’s naming her a global ambassador later in the year underscored her expanding influence beyond cinema.
RUNWAYS AND CULTURAL DIALOGUE
Vivienne Westwood stages Mumbai show

British luxury fashion label Vivienne Westwood staged its long-awaited India debut with a landmark runway show set against the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The historic seafront was reimagined as a dramatic fashion stage, showcasing the brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection alongside rare archive pieces. A specially created capsule using Indian handwoven textiles—chanderi silks, khadi cottons and wool sourced from across the country—placed local craftsmanship at the centre of the narrative.

Louis Vuitton’s India-inspired fashion moment

Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2026 menswear show outside Paris’s Centre Pompidou placed India at the heart of its creative vision. The runway was transformed into a life-sized Snakes and Ladders board, conceptualised with Mumbai-based architect Bijoy Jain. Under Pharrell Williams, Indian craftsmanship shaped the collection’s fabrics, motifs and textures. A score co-composed with A. R. Rahman added depth to the show, underlining how global luxury is increasingly engaging with Indian creativity not as collaboration.
The house also sparked one of the year’s most talked-about fashion moments with its ₹35-lakh auto-rickshaw-shaped handbag. Debuting on the Paris runway, the miniature, three-wheeled bag quickly went viral online. Netizens joked that it cost the equivalent of 15 real auto-rickshaws, turning the accessory into a widely debated moment about luxury, humour and cultural inspiration.

CRAFT AND HERITAGE
Prada partners with Indian artisans on Kolhapuri sandals

Prada announced a limited-edition sandal collection made in India. Months after facing criticism for presenting similar designs at Milan Fashion Week without attribution, the Italian house collaborated with artisans from Maharashtra and Karnataka to create Kolhapuri-inspired sandals. Priced at around €800 and limited to 2,000 pairs, the collection acknowledged both heritage and accountability, marking a more conscious approach to cultural exchange.

Mukaish embroidery sparks a global fashion debate

At Paris Fashion Week in 2025, Dior showcased a striking menswear overcoat priced at around ₹1.7 crore, featuring intricate mukaish embroidery, a traditional metal-thread craft from Lucknow. While the design drew attention on the runway, it soon faced criticism for failing to acknowledge the Indian craft and the artisans behind it, sparking conversations around credit and cultural responsibility in global fashion.

Bvlgari brings the Serpenti Infinito exhibition to India

Jewellery and art also found centre stage. Bvlgari brought its celebrated Serpenti Infinito exhibition to India, with Mumbai as the latest stop in the Roman maison’s global journey. Hosted at the Art House at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre and inaugurated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the exhibition explored the enduring symbolism of the serpent through art, history and design, timed with the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.

Jimmy Choo’s Diwali campaign with royal flair

For Diwali 2025, Jimmy Choo launched a festive campaign that mixed glamour with Indian tradition. Designed by global creative director Sandra Choi, the limited-edition collection was shot at Jaipur’s City Palace with brand ambassador Princess Gauravi Kumari, highlighting how luxury brands drew on Indian heritage and royal settings for storytelling.

LAW AND LUXURY ASSETS

Birkin bag gets landmark protection from Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court gave a major win to luxury brand Hermès by recognising the Birkin bag as a well-known trademark in India. The Birkin name and its distinctive three-dimensional bag shape now have stronger legal protection. The ruling followed a case against an Indian company accused of selling lookalike handbags. After examining decades of global use, trademark registrations, promotional history and consumer recognition, the court concluded the marks had acquired extensive fame in India and deserved enhanced legal protection.

GLOBAL BRAND ENTRIES
French luxury retailer makes long-awaited India entry

French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette finally entered the Indian market, opening a five-floor flagship in Mumbai in November. Housing over 250 luxury brands under one roof, the store reflected rising confidence in Indian consumers and a shift towards experience-led luxury shopping.

Rihanna’s beauty brand enters India, faces cultural pushback

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty launched in India in August, rolling out online and across stores in around 16 cities. While its inclusive shade range was welcomed, a campaign image drew criticism for cultural insensitivity, with netizens pointing out how it overlooked real safety concerns women face while travelling alone in India. The reaction highlighted a more discerning, vocal Indian audience holding global brands accountable.


Elon Musk’s Tesla officially enters India

Tesla officially entered the Indian market by opening its first showroom in Mumbai and launching the Model Y electric SUV. With bookings opening the same day, the debut marked Tesla’s first physical foothold in the country and introduced Indian consumers to its premium EV technology.

- India’s luxury market reached nearly $12 billion in 2025, encouraging global luxury brands to increase advertising and marketing spends
- The market is expected to grow at around 74% a year, showing India’s growing importance in the global luxury space
- Luxury spending is moving away from personal goods towards experiences. Luxury travel and hospitality grew 8% in 2025, reaching $103 billion, showing strong demand for experience-led luxury


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