Arvind signs deal to retail Hanes, Wonderbra in India

Arvind Lifestyle Brands signed a licensing agreement

with US-based Hanes brands Inc to market and sell basic and intimate apparel under the Hanes and Wonderbra brands -- two of the largest and well-known global apparel brands. Announcing the deal, Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman & MD Arvind said, "This transaction is a significant milestone as it signals our entry into the highly lucrative market of branded apparel essentials with lingerie and undergarments. This market segment of branded essentials is estimated at over Rs 18,000 crores and is expected to grow over 18 percent year-on-year. This new market niche, thus, offers a completely distinct and promising business opportunity for us, which will only help further consolidate our position in the Indian market."

Gerald Evans, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Hanes brands adds, "We are very excited to enter this licensing agreement in India for two of the strongest global brands with Arvind, a leader in the apparel and retail market. Our Hanes and Wonderbra brands have great growth potential in the branded apparel essentials and lingerie market in India. We are confident that Arvind Lifestyle Brands, which has one of the largest portfolios of licensed US brands in India, is the right partner for us to aggressively expand growth in India."

Arvind plans to increase the current number of Hanes points of sales in India from 5,000 to 15,000 in the next three years. "With one of the strongest portfolios of homegrown and acquired global brands it was only logical then, that we look at the branded apparels essentials and lingerie market as the next area of growth, given the changing lifestyles of Indian consumers and the subsequent shift in consumption to the organised sector. The transaction will give a new edge to our product portfolio. We plan to grow the Hanes vertical within Arvind to achieve Rs 500 crores revenues over the next four years," explained J Suresh, MD & CEO, Arvind Lifestyle Brands.