Yves Carcelle is one the of the most important names in the fashion phone book. The French gentleman has been with Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) group for 20 years now. Louis Vuitton has been the biggest and most profitable acquisitions among all the labels and businesses that LVMH acquired. Carcelle,chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier,is a modest man. We respect roots and believe in modernity too, he said at Vuittons enormous new store in Londons New Bond Street. At Louis Vuitton,our stores house old trunks which built our reputation alongside the newest collections by Marc Jacobs. An Indophile,Carcelle commissioned a small India collection to Marc JacobsVuittons design chiefto be created from heritage Indian saris. The limited edition dresses are now sold in size 38 at the New Bond Street store and Paris Avenue Montaigne store exclusively. India has the greatest mix of culture,its the world of tomorrow, Carcelle said. If any country in Europe had a growth of 8 or 9 per cent,wed be praying to Ganesha everyday. He adds that working in the organised chaos that India offers,is challenging. So how soon are the suits at LVMH going to purchase an Indian label? Indian designers are too ethnic. Thats fine as the Indian market is big enough for them. But they dont appeal to a universal taste, he explains. If theres one thing he would like to see change in the Indian luxury scene (besides reduced taxes),it is the creation of a bigger and better distribution network. We need more spaces like the DLF Emporio mall in Delhi,a real network of very exclusive,well-managed luxe malls, he says.
