US-based apparel brand Waimea to launch offline in India

US based apparel brand Waimea plans to expand offline in the Indian market after debuting online in the country around two months ago. The brand is exploring partnerships for its offline launch and has already linked up with multi-brand retail chain Tipsy Topsy.

“The decision to expand in India stems from its rapidly growing fashion market, particularly in the streetwear and denim segments,” said Waimea New York’s chief executive officer Mahesh Khemlani, India Retailing reported. “India offers a youthful demographic with a penchant for bold fashion choices, aligning perfectly with our target audience… Our long-term plans for India involve establishing a strong foothold in the market, expanding our retail presence across key cities, and continuously innovating our product offerings to meet evolving consumer preferences.”
 
Waimea will retail its men’s denim and casual wear with Tipsy Topsy, a retail chain which operates around eight stores in Andhra Pradesh. The brand is also in talks with apparel retail business Ant Eye.
Waimea currently manufactures its garments in China. As the brand grows, it is open to looking into partnerships with manufacturers in the Indian market in the future, according to Khemlani.
 
Entrepreneurial brothers Rajesh and Mahesh Khemlani launched Waimea in Puerto Rico, US in the year 2000 as a subsidiary of Rams Import Inc. The brand has sold on average 3.5 million pieces of denim each year for the past five years.