Gas Jeans plans to open single brand stores

Gas Jeans, the Italian fashion clothes brand, is looking at opening its own single brand stores in India. The brand Gas has filed an application with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) for setting up stores. The move has come after the government made several changes in the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy which allows international brands to set up stores in the country. The application was submitted on December 16 by Grotto of Italy, the company which owns brand.

Till now, Gas Jeans is present via the franchisee format. It has 65 outlets in the country. Earlier in August, it had formed a joint venture with Reliance Brands for its expansion plans in India. Exclusive GAS outlets are run by Reliance Industries, fashion vertical of Reliance Brands, while wholesale and distribution business is handled by Gas Jeans India, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grotto. Aimed at the youth, Gas is present in 56 countries through 3,000 stores.

With the changes in FDI policy, more international brands are set to open their stores in India. Rohit Bhatiani, Director, Deloitte India, reasons that there would be an ‘impetus on international brands especially after the government has allowed them to sell online through independent company owned e-commerce websites’. He believes that major international brands would enter India but would have a major presence online rather than as standalone stores.

Major global brands have India in their expansion plans. US fashion giant Gap, opened its flagship store in New Delhi in May 2015 while Swedish fashion retailer H&M opened two retail stores in New Delhi in October.