2021, the year that was: Indian couture catches corporate eye

For two years, the Indian luxury fashion industry has been on a rollercoaster ride — much like everything else, amidst disruptions and labour shortages. A big part of buying couture is the touch-and-feel and having one-on-ones with the designer, which was largely ruled out during the pandemic.

Indian corporate houses, however, injected new life into the luxury fashion industry. The year was peppered with a slew of corporate acquisitions in labels by leading Indian fashion designers. The first such acquisition was announced in January, with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) buying a 51 per cent stake in Sabyasachi,