Oviesse on growth track

S Kumars National Ltd (SKNL) is planning to expand Brandhouse Oviesse, a joint venture between

SKNL’s fashion retail business Brandhouse Retail and Italian apparel retailer Oviesse. The company will open 150 Oviesse stores across major metros and tier II cities of the country in the next five years.

S Kumars is a Rs 3,840 crore textile and apparel major. Where as Oviesse is a fast fashion brand, which offers Italian designs and fashion at a mid premium price. The brand, which was launched in India in August 2010, currently has three stores and plans to open eight more by March 2011. Brandhouse Retail owns 63.5 per cent share in the JV, while Oviesse, part of Italian fashion retailer Gruppo Coin SPA, owns the rest.

The company, which brought luxury brands such as Dunhill, super premium labels like Stephen Brothers and premium brand Reid & Taylor to India, is expecting an influx of international fashion houses in the luxury, super premium, and bridge-to-premium categories over the next year. This will include sports wear, men’s accessories, and brands in the casual and formal categories. SKNL is looking at launching a sports wear brand, a young casuals brand, a formal brand, and a men’s accessories brand, most of these will be launched in 2011.