Luxpresso – 
Stefano Canali, general manager, Canali shares how his brand conveys sartorial elegance offering glimpses of the past, with an eye on the future.
Edited excerpts from the interview
In your presentation at the CII-ET conference, you mentioned that the Indian luxury market is quite peculiar. Please elaborate.
Thanks to the maharajas’ heritage, the Indian consumer is discerning and knowledgeable about men’s clothing quality and craftsmanship, as such representing the ideal Canali consumer. India has a great potential, but unfortunately, it cannot be entirely exploited because of three main hurdles: high import duties, lack of luxury locations and poor infrastructure curbing retail expansion. Should these hurdles be overcome, Indian economy would benefit from larger investments by foreign luxury brands.
Canali designed the nawab jacket, which was very well received here. How did that come about? Do you have any plans to launch another India-inspired design?
We would like to offer to Indian men the chance to be traditional and contemporary at the same time. Usually, we do not design special garments according to a specific country, but as india is very close to its tradition, we launched the nawab jacket, which has achieved great success; each season, [it] is reinvented with different fabrics and designs.
What is the retail expansion plan for India?
We are continually exploring the luxury market to catch the best retail opportunities. In fact, besides the six Indian monobrand boutiques, which we opened in the last seven years, we are about to open a new one in Kolkata at the beginning of 2014.
Where does India stand in relation to the other markets?
For us, India is certainly one of the most important markets of the Asia-Pacific region and it is very profitable. We are investing a lot in terms of retail—training employees in our boutiques and offering the best service ever.
In comparison to the European market, what are the differences in consumer tastes?
Generally, Indian men prefer a more contemporary look for everyday wear, while they keep a traditional look for religious ceremonies and formal occasions. The Indian consumer has an unbelievable passion for clothes and style, their knowledge about quality fabrics is very impressive and deep. Elegance is a key element of the Indian style. Expert, stylish, international Indian men are really attracted by a unique and personalised service.
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