ALLEN SOLLY PARTNERS WITH WIMBLEDON TO LAUNCH SOLLY
SPORT
Allen Solly celebrates an industry first collaboration with their exclusive collection for
men
April 2015: In a significant strategic collaboration announcement made by India’s
pioneer brand in semi formal dressing, Allen Solly, announced its exclusive
partnership with the most prestigious tennis event in the world, The Championships,
Wimbledon. This partnership and announcement also marks the launch of Allen
Solly’s sub-brand Solly Sport in its third decade of operations in the Indian retail
market.
Solly Sport, with its Wimbledon collection will offer Indian consumers a chance to
experience the essence of the tennis championships through a line of apparel
distributed in more than 200 stores while establishing itself as the only brand in the
country to foster such a partnership.
According to Sooraj Bhat, Chief Operating Officer, Allen Solly, “Solly Sport has
partnered with Wimbledon to exclusively market a fashionable casual-wear line
under a licensing arrangement with Wimbledon. Lifestyle inspirations in apparel are
fast taking root in the Indian apparel scenario. Solly Sport is a tennis lifestyle brand
and we believe that our association with Wimbledon will bring to our consumers an
authentic tennis lifestyle line. We are really excited about such an association with
one of the most iconic global sporting events" he went on to add.
According to Mick Desmond, Commercial Director of Wimbledon: "We are
delighted to be announcing our exciting new association with Allen Solly. Tennis and
Wimbledon have a long and illustrious history in India and it is on that great
foundation that we are looking to build an equally long and successful future. Our
partnership with Allen Solly will be key to helping us achieve our aim of growing
awareness of the Wimbledon brand in this important market and we look forward to
working together over the coming years.”
Solly Sport will market an exclusive line of men's wear lifestyle apparel under a
licensing agreement with Wimbledon. The line was designed in collaboration with the
leading French design firm — Groupe Carlin International to bring cutting-edge on
and off court tennis fashion to the Indian consumer. Similar to Allen Solly’s unique
proposition of Friday Dressing which revolutionised men’s fashion in India, the
Wimbledon line through its partnership will offer Indian consumers a chance to
experience the essence of The Championships. Solly Sport as a sub-brand has
already shown a lot of promise in the market and this sub-brand is likely to grow to
200 crores in the next three years.
Tennis is exploding in India with children and adults signing up for the game.
Increasingly, role models of iconic Indian sportsmen, encourage players to aspire to
the highest laurel in the sport. The Wimbledon collection will also be retailed from the
exclusive Allen Solly stores, department store Central and approved menswear
stores across the country. It will also be available to purchase online through its
official brand website www.allensolly.com.
About Allen Solly:
Allen Solly was the pioneer in bringing the semi-formal revolution to the Indian
market post liberalization in India. It captured the imagination of young people and
professionals alike giving them a chance to make a fashion statement at work. The
brand has evolved rapidly in the past few years, becoming one of the fastest growing
brands in India. Allen Solly recently concluded a complete makeover after launching
a new logo and a new retail identity designed by a British design firm.
Allen Solly created ripples in the Indian market by releasing new rules in corporate
dress code. It scorned whites and greys thereby making the corporate world a
colourful and vibrant place. Originating from the large portfolio of international brands
of Coats Viyella — UK, Allen Solly truly has been the brand that transformed the way
people dressed by bringing in its concept of Relaxed Formal Wear to India — bold
and bright colours, concepts and patterns.
Allen Solly is currently retailed from 222 exclusive stores across India and is present
in all leading menswear stores and department stores. Overall, Allen Solly has been
growing aggressively at a CAGR of 34% and will end Financial Year 2015 at over
800 crores as retail revenue for the current year. The brand is operated in India by
the Aditya Birla Group.