Reliance Brands ties up with Kate Spade NY for standalone stores in India

Reliance Brands on Wednesday announced it will bring Kate Spade New York brand to the country through a long-term distribution and retail license agreement.

The partnership will leverage Reliance Brands' market expertise in the country to establish a network of standalone stores across major Indian cities beginning later in 2016, the company said in a statement.

Under the terms of agreement, a subsidiary company of Reliance Industries will have the exclusive distribution rights to the Kate Spade New York brand in the country. "We are confident that Kate Spade New York's strong heritage and strong design point of view will resonate with Indian consumers, bringing a new dimension to the women s wardrobe," said Darshan Mehta, President and CEO of Reliance Brands said.

The CEO of Kate Spade and Company Craig A Leavitt pointed out that expanding into India is an important next step for the company as it expands and builds global brand engagement.

"With India's rapid development and increasingly aspirational consumers, we see significant growth opportunities in the region in the long term," he said. Reliance Brands portfolio of brand partnerships comprises the likes of Diesel, Dune, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gas, Hamleys, Kenneth Cole, Quiksilver, Steve Madden and Superdry, among others.