June 28, 2019
While Indian textiles have been known to clothe ancient Romans, Indian pepper and spices have enhanced the taste of dishes the world over since eons
Trade flourished with Greece, Egypt, Africa, Rome, China, Japan, Iran, among others, with India supplying silk, pearls, metals, perfumes, spices, and tea
Over the next decade, it is expected that India will be the birthplace of many internationally sought-after brands in a cross-section of consumer spaces
India was once referred to as “Sone ki Chidiya”, or “the golden bird”. In modern times, the golden bird has taken the shape of successful consumer brands
Titan by the Tata Group has sold over 150 million watches across 32 countries. The Indian brand took domestic and international markets by storm with its slim, aesthetically designed quartz watches. Today, Titan has a presence in Africa, Asia Pacific, and Middle Eastern countries and does India proud in a segment that has been traditionally dominated by Swiss and Japanese watchmakers. Titan currently stands as the world’s fifth largest watch manufacturer, and recently added the first ever smartwatch made by an Indian company to its list of achievements.
Indian brands have been creating ripples in global markets for over a century. This phenomenon is neither new nor surprising. While Indian textiles have been known to clothe ancient Romans, Indian pepper and spices have enhanced the taste of dishes the world over since eons. Indian gems have adorned emperors, kings, queens, and courtesans across the seas since centuries. Trade flourished with Greece, Egypt, Africa, Rome, China, Japan, Iran, among others, with India supplying silk, cotton, pearls, metals, utensils, perfumes, spices, tea, and a whole lot more.
According to historians, there was a time when India was referred to as “Sone ki Chidiya”, or “the golden bird”. In modern times, the golden bird has taken the shape of successful consumer brands such as Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles, Flying Machine jeans, and apparels, Hidesign leather bags and accessories, Amrut single malt, La Opala tableware, among numerous others. The nation has continued to be the flavour of the world, and the demand for Indian origin products is only growing. High quality and competitive pricing have contributed to this growth.
Indian brands that have made the international mark also include Cafe Coffee Day. The brand runs more than 1530 cafe outlets in India and the chain has expanded to countries like Austria, Malaysia, Egypt, Czech Republic. Another popular example is that of Peter England, a men’s apparel brand that is present in more than 300 cities around the world. The State Bank of India, the largest retail bank in the nation, operated more than 190 foreign offices in around 36 countries back in 2016. The growth of Indian brands has only fastened with improved investment.
Airtel, an Indian telecommunication brand, offers telecom services in more than 18 countries. Indian two-wheelers and commercial vehicles are also scorching the tracks with growing markets in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. TVS Motor is serving 60 countries and Hero MotoCorp selling in 40 countries, meanwhile, the likes of Eicher Motors and Ashok Leyland have cracked into new markets. Separately, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission is looking to open franchise outlets, where Khadi products sourced from across India will be on sale.
Indian ethnic wear brand Fabindia has stores in Italy, Dubai, and Singapore, while Hidesign has stores in Moscow, Vienna, Hanoi, Johannesburg, and Berlin. Personal care brand Shahnaz Husain sells out of Mykonos, Belarus, Peru, St Petersburg, and London, meanwhile, one can find Nalli Silks in Mountain View, California, and in Singapore. Packets of MTR food products can be found in stores across the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, UAE, Singapore, Oman, Dubai, and Malaysia. A variety of lifestyle products, treated in Indian traditions, have found global takers.
Be it brands borne out of hand-woven fabric or traditional ayurvedic formulations, heavy engineering or automobile, goods from India have represented high-end workmanship. This is an important reason why ‘Made in India’ has high demand across the globe. Over the next decade, it is expected that India will be the birthplace of many internationally sought-after brands. Recent testimony to this is the Amul logo displayed on the t-shirts of the Afghanistan players, the second time participants of the cricket world cup 2019. Amul is one of India’s best-loved brands!