Big brands always fascinate consumers. They have become an integral part of every Indian household. The Indian obsession with foreign and international brands has drastically increased over the years. Even the product quality is determined by its label. Several Indian brands have gained immense popularity at the global level. Due to their superior quality, we often mistake some Indian brands for foreign ones Well, here are some Indian brands and products that you might have thought of as foreign:
HiDesign
One of the most popular brands for leather goods, known for its international quality, is often mistaken to be a foreign brand. This brand produces high-quality leather goods and is based in Pondicherry, India. It was started by Dilip Kapur in 1978. Currently, the company operates in various countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Kenya, UAE, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. HiDesign happens to be the manufacturer and marketer of products, including laptop bags, travel bags, handbags, wallets, belts, jackets, shoes, etc. It opened its first store in India in 1990, Pondicherry.
Da Milano
This brand sounds very classy and Italian and provides the sublimity of a luxury brand at an affordable price. The name refers to the powerful people from Milan who had Milano as their surname. Da Milano entered the Indian market in 1989 with art manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh and Kolkata. They produce high-end leather products and home furnishing. Their products include designer handbags, wallets, belts, computer bags and much more. However, the brand has nothing to do with Italy other than the inspiration from the Italian people.
Ferns N Petals
It is a popular Indian gifting brand that offers a wide range of gifts for any occasion. It was started by Vikas Gutgutia in 1994 and is considered one of the largest flower retailers in the world. Fern N Petals, which started with one flower shop in Delhi, has become the largest florist chain with more than 300+ stores right now. Apart from flowers, the brand offers plants, cakes, chocolates, gift hampers, personalized gifts and more such gifting options.
Van Heusen
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Famous in the USA and India, this fashion brand was founded by the Philips Family in the 18th century. But now it is owned by the Aditya Birla Group. It is India’s largest and fastest-growing apparel brand that represents style, luxury and comfort.
Old Monk
This iconic Indian dark rum was launched in 1954 by Mohan Meakin Ltd. in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. By 2013, it became the world’s largest black rum-selling company. It is a dark rum with a distinct vanilla flavor, blended and aged for a minimum of seven years. Since 1982, Old Monk has been awarded several gold medals at Monde World Selections. It was ranked 5th among Indian spirits brands at Impact International’s 2008 list of Top 100 Brands at Retail Value.
Royal Enfield
Established in 1893 it was then known as Enfield Cycle Company. In 1901, Enfield Cycle produced its first motorcycle. This British company is now owned by the Indian company Eicher Motors. Eicher Motors bought it in 1994, and since then, it has been known as Royal Enfield India. Today, Royal Enfield is an Indian multinational motorcycle manufacturing company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This bike is used mostly by the Indian Army and Police. Being one of the oldest motorcycle brands in the world, it enjoys the longest motorcycle production run of all time.
La Opala
The brand first perfected in France was transplanted to India in 1988. La Opala is one of the brands to pioneer high-end tableware. It brought the beauty and perfection of the opal glasses to Indians. It sounds French but this brand and its products are 100% Indian. Mr. Sushil Jhunjhunwala introduced it in India in 1988. The main objective of the company is to manufacture glass and glass products of all types.
Allen Solly
Allen Solly is purely Indian and is an initiative of Madura Fashion and Lifestyle. It is also a division of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, which is one of India’s largest and fastest-growing brands. All its shirts and wallets are made in India only. This brand was launched by William Holin in 1774 and bought by Madura Garments in 1990. Allen Solly is among the topmost brands in India and it scored the highest amongst all brands in its segment as per the Economic Times Brand Equity survey.
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo Fashions Limited was launched by Oswal Woolen Mills in 1984 and it turned out to be a 100% Indian woolen brand. Ludhiana-based Nahr Group holds the flagship of this Indian brand that sounds foreign. Today Monte Carlo has become India’s leading brand for apparel. It holds the prestigious title of being one of the first organized fashion apparel brands in India.
Peter England
Yet another brand that is a part of Madura Fashion in partnership with Aditya Birla Ltd. Peter England was founded in 1889 in Ireland to provide the British soldiers with fine Khaki trousers during the Boer War, but later in 2000, the brand was acquired by Aditya Birla Group. Peter England has grown in popularity as one of the largest menswear brands in India. The brand was listed in the top 5 most trusted brands in the apparel category for seven consecutive years.
Louis Philippe
This is yet another premier brand for menswear, and the inspiration behind the name was the French king. This brand was launched in the country in 1989. This brand is owned by Madura Fashion and Lifestyle. The product line of the brand ranges from affordable and mass-market to luxurious, high-end style and it caters to every age group, from children and youth to men and women.
Lakme
The Indian brand Lakme started as a 100% subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills (Tomco). Today, the cosmetics brand is owned by Hindustan Unilever. This company, which was started in 1952, has been manufacturing cosmetics for both local and international consumers. The name has been taken from the popular French Opera Lakme, which ideally represents the French form of Goddess Lakshmi. The company is the title sponsor for Fashion Week, which takes place in Mumbai biannually.
Chandon Wine
The French wine specialist Moet Hennessy in his quest for new wine-making territories found out the potential of the Nashik region to produce world-class, premium quality sparkling wine. Thus, he began his journey in India and now it is available across twenty-two cities in India. The wines are exclusively made in India. Chandon wineries are spread across the Nashik region.
Munich Polo
This is yet another brand that is purely Indian with a European-sounding label. It is one of the leading Indian brands of kidswear. The official website of the company resonates with the German city via its depiction of Munich’s rich cultural history.
Flying Machine
This brand is owned by Arvind Lifestyle Brand Limited and was launched in 1980. Flying Machine is India’s first jeans brand; in fact, it was India’s first homegrown denim brand. With its international quality and global acceptance, Flying Machine is often mistaken for a foreign brand.
