Then in June, the FIPB rejected the proposal. It also said Massimo Dutti has the sub-brands for various verticals such as apparels, footwear, fragrances, accessories that are classified in a bid to simplify the selections for the customers. Zara Holdings clarified that it has sub-brands such as Massimo Dutti Absolute, Massimo Dutti Soft and Dutti Sport. Then the government officials sought clarifications from the joint venture that it would only sell Massimo Dutti branded products under the single brand retailing window. Last year, lawyeRs for the Massimo Dutti-Tata venture had argued in vain that since Zara Holdings was wholly owned subsidiary of Inditex, it qualified as owner of Massimo Dutti. Vineet Aneja, partner of Classis Law, declined to comment. Massimo Dutti’s latest application has been made through law firm Classis Law. The brand, according to Inditex’s website, has 630 stores across 60 countries. Massimo Dutti will target a more upscale market with higher quality garments ranging from high-end fashion to casual wear for both men and women. Last fiscal it made a profit of Rs 38 crore on revenues of Rs 259 crore.

The brand, which is in the country through a similar partnership between Inditex and Tata, has made profits in two out of its three yeaRs in India. Zara, the world’s favourite fast-fashion brand known for its ability to take a new style from design table to dressing room in a matter of weeks, has become a rage with the country’s swish crowd ever since it opened its first store in May 2010. The joint venture plans to open its first Massimo Dutti store in New Delhi’s upscale Select Citywalk mall where its sister brand Zara made its thumping India debut. The latest pitch for the bridge to luxury brand is through Inditex and its India joint venture partner Trent Ltd, the retailing arm of Tata Group.

Officials said Inditex should have filed the application directly and not through its unit Zara. FIPB rejected the proposal without citing any reason, but government officials said the proposal did not meet India’s single brand retailing investment norm that mandated its original owner bring in a brand. Early last year, Massimo Dutti had applied for a 51:49 joint venture with the Tata Group through Zara Holdings BV, the flagship unit of Inditex Group.

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