Here’s Why 2025 Was a Love Letter to Luxury in India

2025 proved to be a remarkable year in luxury. This was the year global maisons stopped testing the waters and started making statements, where blue-chip brands, cultural institutions and automotive giants chose India as a moment. From historic firsts on the Met Gala carpet and landmark retail arrivals to culturally charged collaborations that reshaped the dialogue around craft, representation and power, luxury in 2025 felt far more intentional. As the year winds down, here’s a look at the moments that defined how India showed up on the world’s most exclusive stages.

Ananya Panday became the first-ever Indian brand ambassador for Chanel

Ananya Panday made history in April 2025 when Chanel named her its first-ever Indian brand ambassador. The appointment reflects Chanel’s strategic focus on India’s rapidly expanding luxury market as well as its desire to connect with a younger, globally attuned generation of consumers. In announcing the partnership, Chanel highlighted how Ananya “embodies a generation of changing tastes and fiercely independent spirits,” aligning her values with the house’s ethos of timeless elegance and personal expression.

Four Indians made their MET Gala 2025 debut

MET Gala 2025 became a watershed moment for Indian representation on the global style stage, with multiple Indians making their debut on the iconic blue carpet. Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan marked a historic milestone as the first Indian male actor to attend the Gala, stepping out in a striking bespoke ensemble by Sabyasachi Mukherjee that blended cultural richness with the event’s theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Kiara Advani also made her first Met Gala appearance in a sculptural Gaurav Gupta gown, elegantly revealing her baby bump while interpreting high fashion through a personal lens. While Diljit Dosanjh brought a regal, Maharaja-inspired look designed by Prabal Gurung, designer Manish Malhotra opted for an embroidered cape coat.

Vivienne Westwood debuted its first-ever India show in Mumbai

British luxury fashion house Vivienne Westwood made a landmark debut with its first-ever runway show in Mumbai on April 1, 2025, firmly placing India on its global couture map. Set against the iconic Gateway of India, the event presented a mix of Spring/Summer 2025 looks and carefully selected archive pieces, alongside a capsule collection crafted from India’s finest natural hand-woven textiles such as Khadi cotton, Chanderi silks, wool and other traditional fabrics sourced from across the country. The collection married the brand’s signature sculptural tailoring with India’s artisanal textile heritage, celebrating craftsmanship while spotlighting the cultural depth of indigenous materials.

Elon Musk’s Tesla launched in India 

In a landmark moment for India’s automobile landscape, Elon Musk’s Tesla officially entered the Indian market in mid-July 2025 with the opening of its first flagship Experience Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, showcasing its popular Model Y all-electric SUV. The Model Y, priced at around ₹61 lakh on-road for the rear-wheel-drive variant and higher for the long-range version, represents Tesla’s initial step into a market long courted by the company amid years of negotiations over import duties and EV policy. While the company is currently importing vehicles rather than manufacturing locally, its entry into Asia’s third-largest automotive market signals a strategic bet on India’s growing appetite for premium electric mobility.

Bvlgari brought its Serpenti Infinito exhibition to Mumbai

Bvlgari brought its acclaimed Serpenti Infinito exhibition to Mumbai in October 2025, marking the India edition of the global showcase that began in Shanghai and Seoul earlier this year. Hosted at the Art House in the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), the immersive experience united jewellery, art and culture through the lens of Bvlgari’s iconic serpent motif. The exhibition, curated by Nature Morte under artistic director Sean Anderson, featured over 75 works by Indian and international artists alongside archival high-jewelry pieces, immersive digital installations including Refik Anadol’s AI-driven 360-degree sculpture, and contemporary interpretations of the serpent in art and design.

Galeries Lafayette opened its first India flagship in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda

Parisian luxury retail icon Galeries Lafayette has officially landed in India with the opening of its first flagship store in Mumbai’s historic Kala Ghoda district on 8 November 2025, in partnership with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL). Spanning approximately 90,000 square feet across five levels in the restored Turner Morrison and Voltas House buildings, the flagship offers more than 250 global designer and luxury brands under one roof. The curated retail experience goes beyond fashion to include beauty, accessories, personalised styling, private lounges, concierge services and cultural programming, positioning the store as a new destination for luxury discovery and experiential retail in one of India’s fastest-growing high-end markets.

Prada partnered with Indian artisans to launch a limited-edition Kolhapuri collection

Prada is taking a culturally mindful turn by partnering with Indian artisans to launch a limited-edition sandal collection inspired by traditional Kolhapuri chappals, set to debut globally in February 2026. The move comes after earlier in 2025 the brand faced criticism for showcasing sandals resembling the iconic Indian footwear without proper attribution, igniting a broader conversation about cultural credit and design ethics. In response, Prada signed a memorandum of understanding with two Indian government-backed organisations – LIDCOM in Maharashtra and LIDKAR in Karnataka to develop the “PRADA Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri Chappals” project, which blends local craftsmanship with Italian design sensibilities. The limited run of approximately 2,000 pairs will be priced at around ₹84,000 per pair.

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