India’s luxury market has evolved, leaving behind the niche of five-star hotel boutiques for prime retail formats in Delhi’s DLF Emporio, Mumbai’s Jio World Plaza, and other upscale malls across metro cities. 

The rising number of luxury retail stores is attributable to the increase in disposable income, high-net-worth individuals, and young individuals willing to shell out a percentage of their income on international luxury labels.

Below is a list of the top luxury brands in India, including their founding dates, owners, presence in the Indian market, and products.

Quick Comparison

Rank	Brand	Founded	Owner / Parent	India Presence	Core Products
1	Louis Vuitton	1854	LVMH (Bernard Arnault)	Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru	Leather Goods, Fashion, Accessories
2	Gucci	1921	Kering (François-Henri Pinault)	Delhi, Mumbai	Handbags, Fashion, Footwear
3	Chanel	1910	Privately held (Wertheimer family)	Select counters, Delhi & Mumbai	Fashion, Fragrance, Beauty
4	Rolex	1905	Hans Wilsdorf Foundation	Authorised boutiques, major cities	Luxury Watches
5	Cartier	1847	Richemont Group (Johann Rupert)	Delhi, Mumbai	Jewellery, Watches, Accessories
6	Hermès	1837	Hermès family (Axel Dumas, CEO)	Delhi, Mumbai	Leather Goods, Silk, Fashion
7	Dior	1946	LVMH (Bernard Arnault)	Delhi, Mumbai	Fashion, Fragrance, Accessories
8	Prada	1913	Prada Group (Prada & Bertelli families)	Delhi, Mumbai	Leather Goods, Fashion, Footwear
9	Tiffany & Co.	1837	LVMH (Bernard Arnault)	Select stores, Delhi & Mumbai	Fine Jewellery, Accessories
10	Burberry	1856	Publicly listed (Burberry Group plc)	Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru	Fashion, Trench Coats, Accessories

Louis Vuitton – the first international luxury brand to enter India

 Image Courtesy: Louis Vuitton Official Website

• Founded: 1854 
• Owner: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (Chairman & CEO: Bernard Arnault) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru

Louis Vuitton trademark was registered in Paris in 1854, when it was founded by a French craftsman, Louis Vuitton, as a manufacturer of travel bags. The brand is part of the LVMH luxury group, headed by Bernard Arnault, and is one of the most recognizable fashion and leather goods houses in the world. 

Louis Vuitton was the first international luxury brand to enter the Indian market, establishing its boutique in Delhi in 2002. Currently, the company has several stores in Mumbai and Bengaluru, providing the Indian market with its luxury fashion, leather goods, and accessories.

What Louis Vuitton is famed for: High-end leather products and accessories, luxury bags and travel goods, fashion designer clothes and watches, haute joaillerie jewelry.

Products: Handbags and leather goods, luggage and travel accessories, ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, watches, and fine jewelry.

Gucci – Italian fashion label with a growing presence in India

 Image Courtesy: Gucci Official Website

• Founded: 1921 
• Owner: Kering (Chairman & CEO: François-Henri Pinault) 
• India Presence: Delhi, Mumbai

Gucci was founded in Italy in 1921 and has become a global luxury fashion house offering a wide range of accessories, leather goods, cosmetics, and fine jewelry. The label is owned by French luxury retail group Kering, which also owns Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. 

Gucci was the second international luxury label to enter the Indian market in 2007 when it opened its first franchise-owned boutique in Delhi.

In 2009, the company reorganized its management structure in India and transitioned to a joint venture retail model. Today, Gucci operates several multi-brand retail stores across Delhi and Mumbai.

What Gucci is famed for: Luxury accessories and leather goods, Italian fashion designer bags, modern footwear, fine jewelry, watches, and cosmetics.

Products: Handbags and leather goods, ready-to-wear clothing and footwear, watches, cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories.

Chanel – French fashion house with a limited retail presence in India

 Image Courtesy: Chanel Official Website

• Founded: 1910 
• Owner: Privately held (Wertheimer family) 
• India Presence: Select counters and multi-brand retail in Delhi & Mumbai

Chanel was founded in Paris in 1910 by Coco Chanel and has become one of the most recognizable luxury fashion houses in the world. Unlike many other luxury labels, Chanel is privately held – the brand is owned by the Wertheimer family and has declined numerous acquisition offers from public luxury conglomerates. 

Chanel’s retail presence in India is limited to a few counters in Delhi and Mumbai, offering its iconic fragrances and cosmetics.

What Chanel is famed for: Haute couture and designer fashion, fine jewelry, cosmetics, luxury leather goods, fragrances, and accessories.

Products: Ready-to-wear clothing, handbags, jewelry, accessories, watches, fragrance (Chanel No. 5), cosmetics, and skincare.

Rolex – Swiss luxury watchmaker that is not available in India’s single-brand retail stores

 Image Courtesy: Rolex Official Website

• Founded: 1905 
• Owner: Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. 
• India Presence: Authorised retail boutiques in Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities

Rolex was founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis and moved its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. The Swiss luxury watchmaker has been owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation since 1960, and is considered to be inaccessible to purchase due to its complicated ownership structure – as of now, 

Rolex watches cannot be purchased on any stock exchange. Rolex watches are distributed through a network of independent dealers and boutiques in India.

What Rolex is famed for: Swiss luxury watches, complicated mechanisms, and prestigious status symbols.

Products: Luxury watches.

Cartier – international jewellery company with limited Indian retail presence

 Image Courtesy: Cartier Official Website

• Founded: 1847 
• Owner: Richemont Group (Johann Rupert) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier and has been known as a jewelry retailer for royalty and celebrities for almost two centuries. 

Richemont Group, a Swiss luxury conglomerate that owns Glencairn whisky distillery and Heuer watchmaking group, acquired a majority stake in Cartier in 2000. In India, Cartier has a small presence in single-brand retail boutiques across Delhi’s DLF Emporio and Mumbai.

What Cartier is famed for: Fine jewelry, luxury watches, leather goods.

Products: Fine jewelry, watches, leather goods, accessories, and watches.

Hermès – French luxury leather goods house with independent Indian boutiques

 Image Courtesy: Hermès Official Website

• Founded: 1837 
• Owner: Hermès family (majority), Axel Dumas (CEO) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai

Hermès was founded in Paris in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a harness and suede workshop for European nobility – today, Hermès is a French luxury leather goods house with a presence in more than 50 countries. 

The brand is family-owned and led by Axel Dumas, who is the fifth-generation member of the Hermès family to helm the company. In India, Hermès operates several boutiques in Delhi and Mumbai, offering its leather goods and luxury fashion.

What Hermès is famed for: Exceptional craftsmanship and product quality, leather products, and luxury accessories.

Products: Leather handbags and accessories, silk fashion scarves and ties, ready-to-wear clothing, perfumes, and home décor.

Dior – French luxury fashion house controlled by LVMH

 Image Courtesy: Dior Official Website

• Founded: 1946 
• Owner: LVMH (Arnault) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai

Christian Dior fashion house was founded in Paris in 1946 and has become one of the most recognizable luxury fashion designers in the world. 

Dior’s creative designers have redefined women’s fashion apparel numerous times since the brand’s founding – in particular, Christian Dior introduced the world to the legendary New Look fashion silhouette in the 1940s. Dior operates several boutiques in Delhi and Mumbai, offering its luxury fashion, accessories, and jewelry.

What Dior is famed for: Luxury accessories and designer fashion.

Products: Ready-to-wear clothing, handbags and accessories, footwear, watches, and cosmetics.

Prada – international luxury fashion brand and leather goods retailer

 Image Courtesy: Prada Official Website

• Founded: 1913 
• Owner: Prada Group (Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai

Prada was founded in Milan in 1913 by Mario Prada as a leather goods store – today, the company operates in 54 countries and is controlled by Prada Group, a holding company owned by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli. 

Prada Group owns two rival fashion labels, Miu Miu and Church’s, as well as several other businesses. Prada operates several boutiques in Delhi and Mumbai and retails its luxury fashion and leather goods in India.

What Prada is famed for: Luxury accessories and designer fashion.

Products: Handbags and leather accessories, ready-to-wear clothing, footwear, watches, cosmetics.

Tiffany & Co – American jewellery retailer acquired by LVMH in 2021

 Image Courtesy: Tiffany & Co Official Website

• Founded: 1837 
• Owner: LVMH (Arnault), acquired in January 2021 
• India Presence: Select stores in Delhi and Mumbai

Tiffany & Co. was founded in New York in 1837 and has been offering its iconic blue packaging and exquisite jewelry for almost two centuries – in 2021, the LVMH luxury group acquired Tiffany & Co. in a nearly $15.8 billion deal. 

The jewelry retailer has a limited presence in India, with several boutiques located in Delhi and Mumbai.

What Tiffany & Co. is famed for: Signature blue packaging, fine jewelry, engagement rings.

Products: Jewelry, engagement rings, watches, silverware, accessories.

Burberry – British luxury retailer with independent India boutiques

 Image Courtesy: Burberry Official Website

• Founded: 1856 
• Owner: Publicly listed, Burberry Group plc (London Stock Exchange) 
• India Presence: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru

Burberry was founded in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in 1856, by Thomas Burberry. The company is known for creating the iconic military-inspired gabardine fabric and the check wool trench coat. 

Unlike other luxury labels on this list, Burberry is a publicly traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange and has no controlling shareholder. Burberry operates several boutiques in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

What Burberry is famed for: Signature check pattern and military-inspired trench coat.

Products: Trench coats and outerwear, ready-to-wear clothing, handbags, accessories, and cosmetics.

FAQs

Which luxury label was the first international luxury brand to enter India?

Louis Vuitton was the first international luxury brand to enter India – it opened its first boutique in Delhi in 2002.

Which luxury conglomerate owns the largest number of brands presented on this list?

LVMH, headed by Bernard Arnault, owns the largest number of brands presented on this list, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Tiffany & Co.

Is Rolex owned by a billionaire?

No, Rolex is not owned by a billionaire – the Swiss watchmaker is controlled by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation and does not have any shareholders.

Which Indian cities can be referred to as luxury retail hubs?

Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru can be referred to as luxury retail hubs, as they host the majority of luxury boutiques, including those of LVMH, Kering, Richemont, and Prada Group.

Which luxury labels listed above are not controlled by a public conglomerate?

Chanel, Hermès, and Prada are not controlled by a public conglomerate, as they are family-owned.

When was Cartier founded, and who owns it?

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, and it is currently owned by Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont Group.

Is Chanel available in India in the form of full single-brand retail stores?

No, Chanel is not available in India in the form of full single-brand retail stores. Compared to Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Cartier, Chanel has a much more limited retail presence in India.

Which luxury brand has the longest history?

Hermès and Tiffany & Co. were founded in 1837 and can therefore be considered the oldest luxury brands on this list.

How did LVMH acquire Tiffany & Co.?

LVMH acquired Tiffany & Co. in a $15.8 billion deal, concluded in January 2021.

Why has India become an appealing destination for global luxury retailers?

India became an appealing destination for global luxury retailers due to the increase in disposable income, the presence of luxury retail infrastructure (such as DLF Emporio and Jio World Plaza), and rising demand for designer fashion and accessories.

Conclusion

India’s luxury retail market has grown substantially in the past two decades, providing consumers with the ability to shop at the world’s most recognizable luxury boutiques. 

From LVMH’s Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Tiffany & Co. to family-owned Hermès, privately held Prada Group, and publicly traded Burberry, India’s luxury market offers an impressive selection of international luxury labels. 

As the number of affluent consumers continues to grow and luxury retail infrastructure expands from Delhi and Mumbai to Bengaluru, India’s luxury market will continue to be a growth driver for these international luxury groups for years to come.