CANALI CULTURE 90 YEARS

“You cannot manage, what you cannot measure” Stefano CANALI.

Premium Italian menswear brand Canali recently held a gala event in Mumbai to commemorate its 90th anniversary in partnership with Reliance Brands Limited. The immersive celebration attracted the city’s fashion-forward crowd, including Canali’s CEO and president, Stefano Canali.

The event highlighted Canali’s rich heritage and ongoing commitment to craftsmanship, elegance, and style. As part of the festivities, the brand showcased its Anniversary Capsule Collection, an innovative reimagining of Canali’s iconic overcoats and suits. Combining traditional design elements with modern functionality, the collection is a testament to the brand’s dedication to timeless elegance and its willingness to embrace advanced technologies. The event showcased the brand’s rich Italian history and its commitment to pushing boundaries in the world of luxury menswear.

“Indian consumers do have passion for weddings, and there is a need for sophisticated offerings where the wedding suits are concerned,” Stefano said.

“Canali has been paying close attention to it for many decades, and we came up with something specific — we embraced the bandhgala jacket, giving our own interpretation to this. When this was introduced, one of the things I highlighted was the wonderful marriage between Italian and Indian culture. This was very successful and was instrumental in gaining market share in the Indian market.”

“These markets are very important for us. We believe they will certainly grow more over the next years and that’s the reason why we decided to replicate events in both Beijing and Mumbai,” Canali said.

The event united Bollywood stars, business leaders, and loyal patrons to celebrate a brand that has been redefining menswear for nine decades. Bollywood stars such as Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, and Imran Khan attended the event, which took place at the historic IFBE in Mumbai, all of whom were dressed impeccably in their cherished Canali suits. This former ice factory has been transformed into an event space, providing an enchanting backdrop for the celebration of Canali’s achievements in the luxury menswear industry.

As Girish Bajaj conversed with Stefano Canali at the event, he inquired about the brand’s vision for redefining fashion over the next decade.

Stefano Canali shared its commitment to balancing its rich Italian heritage and Made-in-Italy excellence with innovation and contemporary design. The brand’s focus on high-quality materials, refined design, and local elements showcases its dedication to craftsmanship and tradition.

Canali’s evolution of formalwear and recent expansion into casualwear demonstrates its ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences and maintain a strong customer base.

In the coming years, Canali aims to redefine fashion by staying true to its culture and values while prioritizing customer engagement, retention, and innovative design. As the brand continues to expand its reach, it will remain focused on maintaining its reputation for quality, consistency, personalization, and sustainability in the ever-evolving fashion landscape.

With 190 boutiques and over 1,000 retail stores in more than 100 countries worldwide, Canali has solidified its position as a premier luxury menswear brand. The choice to host the 90th-anniversary events in strategic markets like China and India underscores the importance of these regions in the company’s continued growth and success.

Overall, Canali’s 90th-anniversary celebration in Mumbai served as a dazzling tribute to the brand’s enduring impact on the world of men’s fashion and its ongoing pursuit of excellence and innovation.

The evening’s highlight was an exclusive showcase of Canali’s 90th Anniversary Capsule Collection, a testament to the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship and legacy. Guests were treated to an up-close look at the limited-edition collection, which skillfully reinterprets Canali’s iconic overcoats and suits with cutting-edge design and modern functionality. The collection embodies the brand’s commitment to both timeless elegance and embracing advanced technologies.The centerpiece of the evening was the unveiling of Canali’s Anniversary Capsule Collection, paying tribute to the brand’s iconic overcoats and suits. Reimagined with cutting-edge design and modern functionality, the collection showcases Canali’s commitment to both timeless elegance and embracing advanced technologies.

Guests were treated to an up-close look at the limited-edition collection, which skillfully reinterprets Canali’s iconic overcoats and suits with cutting-edge design and modern functionality. The collection embodies the brand’s commitment to both timeless elegance and embracing advanced technologies.

In addition to the fashion presentation, a spellbinding concert added an air of enchantment to the celebration by Ryan Sadri, the saxophonist, remarkable performance. The performance took guests on a captivating musical journey through different eras, reflecting Canali’s rich history and continuous evolution throughout the past nine decades.

Stefano Canali, President and CEO of Canali Group, shared insights into the company’s strategy to expand its customer base in India. With about 60% of Canali’s business stemming from repeat customers, the brand aims to diversify its offerings to appeal to both loyal shoppers and attract a younger demographic.

One way Canali intends to achieve this is by increasing the casualwear options available in the Indian market. By providing a refreshed wardrobe selection, Canali can cater to its existing customers while also enticing new, younger consumers who may be drawn to more relaxed and contemporary styles.

As Canali continues to adapt its product range to align with the evolving preferences of Indian consumers, the brand remains committed to delivering exceptional quality and craftsmanship—values that have solidified its reputation as a leader in luxury menswear.

Stefano Canali, President and CEO of Canali Group, acknowledges the potential for the brand to expand its reach among Indian consumers beyond its signature bandhgala offering. To achieve this, the company has introduced a “lifestyle component” to its product range, aiming to capitalize on India’s growing market and rising affluent population.

India’s Gross National Product (GNP) continues to experience steady growth, with an approximate 7% increase. According to Knight Frank’s “The Wealth Report 2024,” the country is expected to see a 50% surge in individuals with a total wealth exceeding $30 million. These factors contribute to a promising environment for luxury brands like Canali to thrive in India.

To cater to the evolving preferences of Indian consumers and leverage the country’s expanding market, Canali has established six stores across various cities and recently launched a digital presence through Ajio Luxe, an e-commerce platform specializing in high fashion. This strategic approach enables the brand to tap into India’s vast potential and meet the demands of its discerning clientele.

The Mumbai event was just one part of a series of global celebrations held in strategic markets such as China and India. With 190 boutiques and over 1,000 retail stores across more than 100 countries worldwide, Canali’s influence on the luxury menswear industry remains undeniable. The choice to host these events in significant markets underscores the importance of regions like India in the brand’s continued growth and success.

Overall, Canali’s 90th-anniversary celebration in Mumbai was a testament to the brand’s enduring impact on men’s fashion and its relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. The event successfully paid homage to the brand’s past while looking forward to its future, reaffirming Canali’s position as a premier luxury menswear brand for years to come.

“On the one hand it is important to make sure that the average age is decreasing but at the same time we must not underestimate the importance of the existing customers no matter how old they are,” Stefano Canali said. “Sometimes I’m kind of puzzled by the desire of some brands to just address youngsters, Gen Z and the like. I can’t see the point. Canali as a brand is not focused on Gen Z only, but on many different age brackets.”

The evening was illuminated by candlelight and featured a stage for live music performances, highlighting the raw brickwork of the former ice factory-turned-event space. Backlit mannequins displayed Canali’s signature suits and an installation celebrated the label’s history from 1934 to 2024, providing guests with a glimpse into the brand’s storied past and exciting future.

Canali’s Anniversary Capsule Collection, which reimagined the brand’s iconic overcoats and suits with cutting-edge design and modern functionality. The collection embodies Canali’s dedication to both timeless elegance and embracing advanced technologies, as mentioned by CEO Stefano Canali.

Overall, the Canali 90th anniversary celebration in Mumbai was a remarkable testament to the brand’s enduring impact on the world of men’s fashion and its relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation.

Stefano Canali, the CEO and President of Canali Group, has spoken extensively about doing business in India and the challenges of appealing to various consumer categories, including Gen Z and those influenced by celebrity culture. Gen Z is an attitude, not just an age-dictated consumer category,” he said.

According to Stefano Canali, Canali has a long-standing love affair with India, having established its presence in the country 15 years ago. The brand has since opened seven stores across India, and it continues to see great potential in the Indian market.

Stefano Canali also discussed the need for luxury brands to evolve and reinvent themselves, particularly in light of the changing aspirations of new-age luxury consumers. He emphasized that Canali has implemented a strategy focused on common themes across product categories rather than specializing solely in formalwear or other specific items.