Luxury brand Judith Leiber ties up with Suneet Varma

The brand is known for its handbags, but also produces and sells eyewear, fur, cashmere accessories.

Indian fashion designer Suneet Varma has in recent times kept a low profile. All that is likely to change. Last evening, the International Herald Tribune’s (IHT) Suzy Menkes, who is hosting the two day Sustainable Luxury Conference in New Delhi, announced that Varma will now be partnering American luxury label Judith Leiber.

Indian fashion designers have chalked up many firsts: Manish Arora was the first to show first at the Paris Fashion Week, the Mecca of fashion; Hollywood and international celebrities have worn Tarun Tahiliani creations and so on.

But while many have been feted by international buyers and people of note, no formal relationship had so far been cemented with an existing international luxury label and an Indian fashion designer, though many have voiced their willingness to do so.

One of the largest luxury goods companies in the world had even set up an investment division, with the intent of investing in or buying out key Indian fashion designers. During the recently concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) in New Delhi, another big Indian fashion designer let it slip that a likely deal with a large Italian house is on the cards, which will be announced later this year.

Judith Leiber is known for its handbags, but also produces and sells eyewear, fur, cashmere accessories. The brand was started by the Hungarian born Judith Leiber, who later migrated to the US with her husband and this is where the label was born. The Judith Leiber bags have been carried by US First Ladies to the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies from early sixties onwards. The brand is now available in India as well.

Suneet Varma is one of the pioneers of the fashion industry in India. His ornate style made him a favourite for the Indian wedding market. Varma, who had a regular showing much before Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) was formed, has in recent times chosen to stay away from the various fashion weeks that seem to sprout up willy-nilly in India.

This new relationship will definitely bring Varma back into the spotlight and hopefully open doors for other Indian fashion designers, to be either bought by or supported by the big daddys of international luxury goods companies.

The other significance of this development is that international luxury goods feel that Asia as a whole, and India and China in particular, have held up better than Europe and America during the current economic crisis. That this clearly indicates India is their market for the future. And what better way to try and capture that all-important market but by tying up with an Indian fashion designer who has a good knowledge of it.