Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister Plan Push into India

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (New Albany, Ohio) has unveiled a multi-year franchise partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Ltd. (Bengaluru) to expand the global reach of its brands in India. The agreement calls for Myntra Jabong to build a brick-and-mortar retail store presence in the country, regional e-commerce sites and branded digital storefronts operated by licensed and independent third parties. (The companies did not disclose specifics on the number or locations of the planned stores.)

“With the strength of A&F Co.’s brands today, we are thrilled to partner with Myntra Jabong to more deeply engage with new and existing customers in India,” said A&F CEO Fran Horowitz. “It’s an incredibly dynamic and diverse market, and one where we see tremendous long-term potential as we continue to pursue global brand growth.”

Said Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha: “We are delighted to bring the much-sought-after and iconic brands, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, renowned for their commitment to enduring quality and exceptional comfort, to India, for our fashion-forward customers. We will apply Myntra’s fashion and tech expertise to connect Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister with the country’s thriving fashion audience and help them scale as we have done with numerous other global brands. The Indian lifestyle market offers potential to global brands, and we are pleased to be their preferred partner in crafting their India growth journey.”

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates 750-plus stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Myntra is a wholesale unit of the Flipkart Group, a major Indian e-commerce site that offers more than 9700 brands, including MANGO, H&M, Levi’s, U.S. Polo Assn., Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Philippe, Jack & Jones, Forever 21, Marks & Spencer, MAC, Huda Beauty and Estee Lauder.