Roberto Cavalli Launches Flagship Store, Cafe in India

NEW DELHI – Bollywood star power added more shine to Roberto Cavalli's bling as the Italian designer launched his first India store and the accompanying Cavalli Cafe in New Delhi over the weekend.

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The launch follows Cavalli's association, announced earlier this year, with his India partner Infinite Luxury Brands, whose promoters include Indian designer Manav Gangwani, finance expert Rahul Kapoor and entrepreneur Sahiba Narang.

In line with the designer's "global fashion store" concept as seen in London, Paris, Tokyo and New York, the 400 square-foot Roberto Cavalli flagship store is located at India’s luxury hot spot, the DLF Emporio Mall. The upscale shopping address is also home to brands such as Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Canali, Ermenegildo Zegna, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Burberry and others in addition to Indian designers including Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani and Gangwani. Cavalli is not new to India, having earlier opened his Just Cavalli store in the same location, which has been discontinued.

“Indian women are beautiful, elegant, sophisticated, sensual and they want to look divine and fantastic. I do believe in the Indian market and I love the taste for fashion of Indian people... they have a way to mix and match bright colors that is so exciting, and really close to my optimistic vision of fashion and glamor,” said the 72-year-old Cavalli.

The launch party did have its fair share of Indian divas with a bevy of top Bollywood stars present, such as fashion icon Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Jacqueline Fernandez, former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen and Raveena Tandon. With Delhi's swish set in full effect, guests were given a flavor of Cavalli Cafe offerings such as Cavalli wine, Cavalli Premium Italian vodka and chocolates, along with hors d'oeuvres.

In an east-west fusion, a DJ played funky house beats accompanied by the well-known Hamza - live folk musicians from Rajasthan - who were briefly joined by Cavalli himself clapping along as the designer made his entry.

Reflecting Cavalli's trademark look, the cafe features animal skin prints on the furnishings with dazzling, blingy crystal lamps lighting up the interiors. The walls are adorned with a host of black-and-white photographs of Cavalli with global and Indian celebrities including Shakira, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton and Sonam Kapoor, among others.

Cavalli's future plans include opening a store and cafe in Mumbai sometime next year.