It's right time to come to India: H&M official

The current fashion market in India is ripe for international brands to set foot in the country, said an official of the Swedish multinational retail-clothing company H&M, two stores of which have been opened here.

"Now is the right moment to come to India as the market is growing. The population here is unique in a way that they dress up globally. So, we have great opportunity in India," Janne Einola, country manager, H&M Hennes & Mauritz Retail Pvt Ltd India, told IANS here.

The first store of the brand, which deals in women's, men's and children apparel and accessories, was launched at the Select Citywalk here, and its second outlet has opened up at the Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj here.

Einola says that this is just the beginning of many more stores to come.

"We are here for long time. Our business idea is to serve sustainable fashion in the best price in pan-India and not only five metropolitan cities, including Mumbai. But we also have a long-term plan to take the same idea to tier-II and tier-III cities," he said.

This year many international brands -- Aeropostale and Gap, for instance -- have forayed in India.

So, any fear of competition?

"H&M sees itself as its own biggest competitor. We are continuously assessing ourselves against our previous performance and the objective is always to surprise our customers and exceed their expectations of us by focusing on our business concept of fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable manner.

"That has worked for us since 1947," he said.