Italian fashion house Versace will soon have its first standalone Versace home-line store at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Blues Clothing Company (BCC), the franchisee of Versace, signed a deal with the airport officials early this month. This follows another deal signed by BCC last year with airport officials to open exclusive Versace's clothing and accessories store at Delhi airport.

“The Indira Gandhi International Airport will house both Versace apparel and Versace home-line standalone stores this year,” Blues Clothing Company managing director Dinesh Sehgal told Financial Chronicle. The clothing accessory store would open by July this year.

Blues CLothing Company is the franchisee of many International brands including Corneliani and Cadini.

Both the stores, apparel and home-line, will provide the latest collection of clothing, accessories, home furniture and furnishings and at same prices as in European markets. “The home-line store will cover an area of about 6,000 square feet,” said Sehgal.

As regards to the proposed individual Verasce home-line store at Emporio, Sehgal said, “Nothing has been finalised about the store. It’s still in the pipeline”.

Versace had been pre-testing its new-home collection by selling it at its existing apparel and accessories store at Emporio since Decenber 2009.

“In just about three months after the launch of home–line collection, we have seen the demand for Versace’s home–line collection. The response has been good,” said Sehgal. He did not specify the exact numbers.

The competition in India is gearing up as many international brands are looking to open their exclusive home and furnishing stores including Fendi Casa, Armani and now Versace. “Versace stores at the airport was important. Since the people travel a lot, it gets easier for them to pick up the stuff. Also, the demand for luxury lifestyle in India is increasing by the day. The luxury sector will see a tremendous growth in the years to come,” said Sehgal.

Versace runs three exclusive outlets for its various brands in India. Out of these, two are here at Emporio and the third one at Oberoi Trident in Mumbai. Versace Home collection includes home furniture and furnishings from crockery, cushions, vases and lighting to sofas and couches, dining and centre tables and chairs. The cost of the items can run into lakhs, with cheapest item priced at Rs 2,500.