Luxury stores reopen with enhanced safety measures for the ‘new normal’

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 3, 2020

As luxury brands begin to reopen stores in India’s metros, the ‘new normal’ of high-end shopping includes video consultations and increased health and safety. 

 
Designer Tarun Tahiliani has reopened his flagship store in Hyderabad with new sanitisation measures, his eponymous brand announced on Facebook on June 1. “

We’re coming out of this stillness with small steps and a greater leap of faith, while ensuring the safety and well-being of our valued staff and customers, as it’s our utmost priority,” announced the brand on Facebook. 

Traditional wear designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee has opened his flagship stores in Delhi and Hyderabad for video consultations. Customers can order ready-to-wear designs in the sizes currently available in their nearest store. 
 
“We feel it is far too early to open our stores to the public,” Mukherjee told Vogue India.

“Instead, we are providing solutions through video conferencing and contactless deliveries. Understanding that operating this way will not allow us to meet demand, and short term revenues will suffer, we believe this is the best and most sustainable way forward for our business, our employees and our customers… As we begin to resume operations, we will do so deliberately and always in favour of public health.”
 
Sustainable luxury brand Raw Mango reopened its Delhi flagship stores at the end of May, it announced on Facebook. The brand’s Chhattarpur store is open everyday with regular hours and its Lodhi Colony Market store is open on odd calendar days. The stores have new thorough sanitisation procedures in place.
 
Manish Malhotra reopened his Delhi flagship store at the end of May, the designer announced on Facebook, sharing a video of an employee in full personal protective equipment deep cleaning the store. The designer is encouraging store visits by appointment and has reopened with the launch of his latest collection, ‘Tabān’.