India housing Luxury market.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-17/mick-jagger-s-daughter-jade-to-design-homes-in-mumbai-suburb.html

LVMH unit in talks with India's Gitanjali .

* L Capital in exclusive talks with India's Gitanjali -source

* Size of the deal could be $100-125 mln -report

PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - L Capital, the investment firm co-funded by luxury group LVMH (LVMH.PA), is in exclusive talks to buy a stake in India's biggest jewellery retailer Gitanjali (GTGM.BO), a source close to the matter said on Monday.

"The talks with L Capital are well advanced ... and they are exclusive," the source said, declining to be named.

A report published by the Economic Times said L Capital wanted to buy a significant minority stake in Gitanjali that would give it control of the Indian company's branded jewellery and retail businesses. [ID:nSGE71A00V]

The report said the size of the deal could be between $100 million and $125 million.

However, a separate source said talks were being delayed by Gitanjali's plans to hive off units such as its retail business and would not be willing to sell a stake in its diamond business, from which it earns most of its revenues.

L Capital declined to comment, while Gitanjali said on Friday that global players and private equity funds had shown interest in the L Capital is funded by LVMH, the world's biggest luxury group, as well as by Groupe Arnault, the investment vehicle of LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault. It also includes institutional and private investors.

The unit behind the deal would be L Capital Asia, the first source added, which raised funds last year for acquisitions in the region.

An associate of the same source said private equity firms TPG and KKR had also shown interest in a stake in Gitanjali but were no longer in the race.

Earlier this year, Gitanjali said it expected sales this year to reach $2 billion and planned to complete the acquisition of four Italian jeweller brands by February after acquiring Italian jeweller Valente Milano in September. [ID:nLDE70F07S]

Last autumn, L Capital, together with private equity firm Florac, acquired a majority stake in French fashion houses Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot to help fund their expansion in the United States and Asia. but nothing was finalised yet, and it did not wish to comment specifically on L Capital.

Where is the Luxury market heading?

   I live between 3 countries and travel a lot. I admit I love luxury, I mean who does not. But every time I look at the so called lux. clothing stores, I am reminded more and more of Mc Donald's and Starbucks. Don´t get me wrong I still live Dior, Valentino,etc etc....but if you really look at them at all the stores marching on to all the developing countries. existing in all the developed countries all with the same layout, the same clothes the same same same...just like Starbucks! It´s great that they want to be the same but come on I think it get a bit boring and the consumers now are so well informed...and we DO live in a global village, everyone travels. Do I REALLY want to see the same LV store in Paris, In Milan, in Barcelona, in Shanghai..all with the same layout all looking the same...hu hum..it´s boring to me..
   So I consider and many people like me who are looking for something more. Who REALLy want something different and exclusive and unique. We turn now to artisans and local specialities and Lux. thats just make as a single piece of art...Like the brands used to be until the started to mass manufacture and outsource production from their own countries. Now it´s all about the numbers.
    True luxury has lost it´s meaning and it´s quite sad. It´s just marketing, now. No one stops to think of something new to offer in the market. I know so many rich Chinese and Indians who want to copy the western big brands who want to make another Zara story.  what about looking deeper and finding something from your own country and culture that can be offered to the west?
    the future of real lux. will be locally produced, hi-quality artistic goods that are unique and make the buyer feel special when they buy it because they know there is just that ONE piece  in the world!

Manish-Arora-Confirmed-Paco-Rabanne-Creative-Director

 I loved this piece of news!! Please click on the link to read the article. Made no sence to me to repaste it when I have not written it. It´s Time Indian fashion became more global. With all the talent and years of history and culture am sure it´s something to look out for in the near future!

Yarn Factory...Italy.

  This is from my visit yesterday to a factory. I love how a dress is created out of nothing..to see the woolen yarns and fibers and to see the process to clean, dye, spin them into thread...I love it!! In the textile district near Florence I visited a factory that makes thread. I had seen a factory that makes elastic with a friend form India. To see how they have boxes of wool and fibers waiting in the storeroom and then the whole process it goes through to make thread was amazing to me. When I look at a beautiful creation of a dress and think of all the people and effort it has gone through just so someone can wear it its mind boggling. I wish people would think a little before buying, and buying clothes and bags and shoes that they will throw away or discard after just a season. Fast fashion (like H&M, Zara) makes fashion more affordable but should people not think a little before buying something and having it sitting in their wardrobe or wearing it just a few times. The money send on a expensive but good quality dress is an investment that is wiser in every way. You don´t buy too much if it´s too expensive and you DO wear it more than 2-3 times!
    I love fast fashion and it´s so much fun..but its like a child going crazy in a candy shop...u over buy...u want all..it´s more than u need. In the end u end up with a fashion eqivalant to a tummy ace..over stuffed wardrobes. So think, think..before u buy too much.  Carbon footprints of a garment these days is too much. :) Love fashion...but more wisely. A lot of thought and effort has gone into making us feel better and prettier. Be more picky, people.
 

Chocolate fair!!...Florence:::

   Hello! and sorry. After a break of nearly a month, I am back. I am in Florence now and will be here until April. I bring you the most amazing fair I have attended until now...Chocolate. Yummm.. The pictures speak for themselves...so enjoy!
   Oh! Please leave comments to support my blog and spread the word....Most grateful...Muuuua..Hina

Indian Traditional clothes...The Sari

Anyone ever traveling  to India; cannot help but notice it’s clothes. Unlike most other countries India has still managed to keep its fashion heritage. The clothes are colourful, vibrant and prepossessing. The beautiful textiles and prints is any textile designer’s paradise for inspiration. The cleaver and inventive  drapes catches  your eye like no other contemporary clothes. Every village, city and town has its own variation. Worn commonly in India widely across all cities is the sari. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size.  This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.

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