Madura Fashion and Lifestyle eyes JV with Ralph Lauren

American fashion major Ralph Lauren is said to be in talks with the

Aditya Birla group’s Madura Fashion and Lifestyle for a 51:49 per cent joint venture. Sources inform that that both may ink a 10-year deal to market premium lifestyle products ranging from apparel, home, accessories to fragrances of the New York-based brand.

This recent development comes right after Arvind has formed a JV with PVH Corp to retail Calvin Klein Jeans apparel and accessories (including belts, bags, and small leather goods) and Calvin Klein Underwear (including sleepwear and loungewear) businesses in India. And Ambani-led Reliance Brands, who is on the aggressive expansion drive for its joint venture partner, US-based Brooks Brothers.

Earlier the American brand was considering several prominent apparel players including Trent, Arvind Mills, and the Murjanis to open stores in India. Currently, Madura is already a supplier to Ralph Lauren. Its keenness to bring in more premium foreign brands to India may have resulted in the JV talks with the company. Madura’s brand portfolio ranges from the affordable to the high-end labels like Peter England, Louis Philippe and Van Heusen to Allen Solly and Hackett London.