You must have seen some people who are always fascinated with big brand names only no matter if the quality of the product is good enough or not but they only go with their Favourite foreign brand. There are a few Indian brand names that failed to gain market and popularity among their customer because of their desi brand name. This might be the reason that we Indians started bending ourselves towards all those names which sound French or Italian or some American. Even though many might have no idea what they mean or how to pronounce them.
Have a Look at some of the foreign-sounding brands which are actually owned by Indians or produced in India:
1. Chandon Wine
This wine is actually manufactured in India only with grapes which are grown a few hundred kilometres outside of Mumbai.
2. Lakme
Lakmé is an Indian makeup brand which ranked number 1 among the cosmetics brands in India. Lakme started as a 100% subsidiary of Tata Oil Mills (Tomco). It was named after the French opera Lakmé, which itself is the French form of Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) who is renowned for her beauty. It was started in 1952 famously because then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was concerned that Indian women were spending precious foreign exchange on beauty products and personally requested JRD Tata to manufacture them in India.
3. Hidesign
This brand is very famous worldwide. It produces leather goods and is based in Pondicherry, India. Now, You will be amazed to know that Tamil Nadu’s tanneries supply its leather products to some of the biggest brands worldwide. Surprising?
4. Allen Solly
Well, this brand is purely Indian which is an initiative of Maura Fashion and Lifestyle and it is also a division of Aditya Birla Fashion and lifestyle, which is one of India’s largest and fastest-growing brands. All those shirts and wallets are made in India only. No matter how posh or expensive the brand is, at the end of the day it’s all an Indian mind behind it.
5. East India Company
The company that once exploited India is now owned by Sanjiv Mehta. It is now one of the high-end luxury goods providers. Yes, it is a proud fact that an Indian now owns the company which once ruled India.
6. Amrut Single Malt
You will be surprised to know that Amrut Single Malt is heading as the 3rd best single malt in the world. Well, it completely satisfies the saying that does not judge a book by its cover. You might wonder why Amrut Single Malt is bottled in Europe. But it has always been brewed and bottled at its own distillery in Bangalore.
7. Da Milano
It really sounds Italian and very classy. But what does it mean? The name refers to the powerful people from Milan who had Milano as their surname. Aloisio da Milano, who was an Italian architect who worked in Muscovy, Francesco Canova da Milano, a lute player and composer, and Giovanni da Milano, an Italian painter, are some of the names that inspired Da Milano, which is completely an Indian brand. They are good at high-end leather products and home furnishing which supplies to the county and overseas as well.
8. Monte Carlo
Yet another name which you probably didn’t know is Indian. Yet another name to lure the Indian customers toward “Made in India” products, Monte Carlo is completely 100% Indian woollen brand of Ludhiana-based Nahar Group.
9. Franco Leone
This name is justified as this name was actually brought by two Italians who once owned the brand. Later, it was bought by an Indian. Well the name itself is very classy.
10. Munich Polo
Many would have been in a real dilemma of knowing this as a German-based brand unless they were told that it is Indian. This European-sounding name is an Indian brand of kidswear. Well, the concept of alluring customers has really worked well and, at the same time, it does make immense business sense.
11. La Opala
La Opala is one of those brands pioneered as high-end tableware. It might have a French-sounding name but this brand’s products and the brand itself is 100% Indian. At times sound blends better when French essence is mixed!
12. Peter England
Each English name makes eyebrows high really: is this from England or India? Yet another brand which is a part of Madura Fashion style and partnered with Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd, Peter England has grown its popularity as one of the largest menswear brands in India.
13. Flying Machine
This is another brand which is completely Indian and is owned by Arvind mills garment division. This is India’s first jeans brand; in fact, it was India’s first homegrown denim brand.
14. Louis Philippe
There is no doubt that it is an Indian brand! This is another premier brand for menswear, and the name was taken as an inspiration from the French King. This brand was launched in the country in 1989. Louis Philippe is also owned by Madura Fashion and Lifestyle.
15. And Designs
Well flourished globally, not just India And Deigns has explored globally which was founded by Anita Dongre, Meena Sehra and Mukesh Sawlani. It came into existence in 1995 and its evolving ideas meet the expectations with international styles and fashions.
16. American Swan
An online shopping site which sells jackets and jeans along with other fashion accessories. This online brand is completely Indian and its headquarters is in Gurgaon. This brand is owned by American Swan lifestyle.
17. Royal Enfield
It used to be a British motorcycle manufacturing company. Now, this brand is in the hold of Eicher Motors Limited, which is an Indian automaker located in Chennai.
18. Jaguar Land Rover Cars
One of the world’s most famous car brands, both Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors since 2008. Jaguar was acquired by Ford in 1990, which also bought Land Rover from BMW. Ford then sold both Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors. Thus an Indian automaker is the owner of two iconic British brands.
