Mumbai recently experienced a touch of Parisian elegance as Galeries Lafayette, the renowned French luxury department store, celebrated its highly anticipated India launch this Diwali season. The grand inauguration kicked off with a delightful ‘Riviera style’ journey, whisking guests from the Royal Bombay Yacht Club via golf cart and then by speedboat across the shimmering waters to the luxurious yacht Allegra.
Against the stunning backdrop of Mumbai’s historic Colaba harbor, this 130-year-old French institution created a mesmerizing spectacle. Giant red-and-white balloons soared above the Arabian Sea, complemented by sailboats adorned with the brand’s iconic crimson flags. Onboard the elegant yachts, a distinguished gathering of fashion editors, stylists, designers, and executives from both France and India observed this truly Parisian moment, seamlessly weaving Mumbai’s rich maritime history with a pivotal milestone in India’s luxury retail landscape.
This much-anticipated debut was the culmination of an almost eight-year journey since Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd (ABFRL) first partnered with Galeries Lafayette. A significant two years were dedicated to the meticulous renovation of the historic Turner Morrison and the adjacent Voltas House buildings in Kala Ghoda. “We started as retailers, but we ended up becoming structural engineers and architects,” quipped Ashish Dixit, ABFRL’s Managing Director, expressing immense pride in the transformation of these architectural gems.
Inside the new Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette spreads across Turner Morrison and Voltas House
Where Parisian Chic Meets Indian Grandeur
Spanning an impressive 90,000 sq. ft. across five levels, the store’s interiors, crafted by London’s Virgile + Partners, beautifully marry Parisian elegance with Mumbai’s rich architectural legacy. Guests will marvel at exquisite details: striking monochromatic black-and-white tiled floors framed by golden accents, a delicate lotus-motif parchinkari gracing the atrium, and plush pastel pink seating areas inviting relaxation. A crowning jewel is the store’s iconic cupola, a tribute to ‘l’Intrépide,’ the 1796 French hydrogen observation balloon, which is a signature element of Galeries Lafayette worldwide. This expansive space will host over 250 esteemed Indian and international brands.
The store will house over 250 brands
The Turner Morrison building embodies the classic department store experience, with dedicated floors for beauty, exquisite leather goods and accessories, and a curated selection of women’s luxury and evening wear (a food and drink section is also planned). Meanwhile, Voltas House offers a more specialized experience, featuring an art gallery for rotating exhibits, a charming gift shop, a sophisticated personal shopping salon, and a comprehensive collection of men’s luxury wear. Overseeing these opulent offerings is Alexandra von Canisius, a distinguished fashion executive with an impressive background at luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue in Bahrain and Holt Renfrew in Canada.
While the official grand opening is slated for the first week of November, giving time for full stocking, a preview revealed exciting additions. Notably, Patou makes its highly anticipated India debut, joining other prestigious names like Comme des Garçons and Phoebe Philo. The food section, planned for next year, is expected to be a major draw for visitors.
Patou makes its India debut
Heralding a New Era of Luxury Consumption
The exclusive preview saw prominent figures, including Kumar Mangalam Birla and his family, gracefully mingling with guests. Neerja Birla exuded sophistication in a chic black Patou pantsuit, while matriarch Rajshree Birla radiated elegance in a stunning sari. A brief rain shower temporarily sent rooftop attendees scrambling for cover, but it serendipitously led to an impromptu, relaxed tour of the Turner Morrison building’s impressive floors.
As the weather cleared, guests returned to the rooftop, where K.M. Birla and Nicolas Houze, Executive Chairman of the Galeries Lafayette Group, articulated their vision for India’s burgeoning luxury sector. They highlighted its immense potential, fueled by a rapidly expanding base of affluent and aspirational consumers. Projections from Kotak Securities indicate India’s luxury market is set to reach an astounding $85 billion by 2030, a sentiment echoed by the Mercedes-Benz Hurun India Wealth Report 2025, which identifies 871,000 dollar millionaire households in the country today.
While traditional department stores in Western markets face challenges, emerging economies like India offer a beacon of hope for retailers. Dixit emphasized this distinction, stating, ‘You can’t compare India in 2025 with the U.S. in 2025.’ He confidently predicted a ‘consumption boom’ over the next two decades, noting that even a small increase in purchasing power among India’s vast population creates significant demand for luxury goods and services.
“You can’t compare India in 2025 with the U.S. in 2025”
Luxury Finds a Home in Heritage
Unlike the prevailing trend of locating luxury retail within modern malls in India, ABFRL has deliberately chosen to embrace heritage properties for its prestigious brands. This strategic decision is evident in stores like Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s acclaimed Horniman Circle boutique, conveniently close to the new Galeries Lafayette, and Tarun Tahiliani’s exquisite Ballard Estate showroom. These heritage settings foster a more intimate, sophisticated, and truly elevated shopping experience for discerning customers.
For Galeries Lafayette, a family-owned enterprise, securing a heritage property was paramount, deeply rooted in its brand identity. Its iconic Paris flagship, after all, resides within a celebrated 1912 Art Nouveau building, crowned by its world-famous glass dome.
The glass dome at Galeries Lafayette in Paris
Mumbai marks the brand’s tenth international outpost. Dixit concluded, ‘These projects are truly remarkable as they demonstrate to everyone, including the government, the immense potential in preserving and revitalizing old buildings rather than demolishing them.’