Milou plans 20 apparel stores in India

Switzerland-based children's apparel brand, Milou, has launched its operations in India with the opening of its first store in Chennai.

The company plans to open 15 to 20 stores in India in the next three years. M N S Nair, chief executive officer of Milou India, said that Milou has been sourcing the knitted garments from Tirupur-based Sreeja Hosieries over the last decade.

"We plan to invest close to Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million) in setting up 15 to 20 stores in Bangalore, Kochi and Hyderabad," he added.

The Rs 35-crore (Rs 350 million) Sreeja Hosieries group has been exporting children wear worth Rs 8 crore (Rs 80 million) to Milou.

Franziska Welti, director of Milou Switzerland, said that India is the third market where the company has its presence, after Switzerland and China. The Swiss collection of Milou has been adjusted to suit Indian climatic conditions, she added.

Milou entered the Chinese market two years back, on its own. Milou garments are available across 150 stores in Switzerland and China. Milou is exclusively sold at 'Coop' retail chain in Switzerland.

"Being in both domains –  garment manufacturing and retailing – allow us to position the brand at least 30 per cent lesser than other brands of international quality," Nair said. 

The range of clothes – dungarees, leggings, sweatshirts, capries, dividers, trousers, bermudas, T-shirts, frocks and shirts – is aimed at children from infants to 12 years. The price range of children's wear is between Rs 100 and Rs 650.