Brands
Mumbai gets its haute moment as Galeries Lafayette opens in Kala Ghoda
MUMBAI: Mumbai’s luxury skyline just got its most fashionable new landmark. This Saturday, 8 November 2025, the iconic Galeries Lafayette, the Parisian temple of couture and culture throws open its gilded doors in the heart of Kala Ghoda, inside the restored Turner Morrison and Voltas House buildings. The debut marks the French retail legend’s first flagship in India, in partnership with the Aditya Birla Group, fusing 130 years of Parisian chic with Mumbai’s pulsating cultural energy.
Spread across a sprawling 90,000 sq. ft., the flagship is more than a store, it’s a stage for style. Designed by London-based Virgile + Partners, the space blends art, architecture, and avant-garde retail. Expect over 250 global brands across couture, ready-to-wear, beauty, and accessories, including some of the most coveted names in fashion, curated for both men and women.
From haute couture to streetwear, from skincare to fragrance, the store promises to be a fashion symphony under one roof, reflecting how India’s new luxury consumer moves seamlessly between tradition and trend.
“India today is shaping a new global language of luxury, one defined by culture, confidence, and contemporary expression,” said Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited CEO for international brands Sathyajit Radhakrishnan. “Galeries Lafayette Mumbai is designed for a generation of shoppers who seek experiences beyond the product where discovery, emotion, and design merge into a personal journey.”
The flagship’s allure goes beyond racks and runways. Private lounges, concierge services, personal stylists, and rotating art installations turn shopping into an immersive experience. With its calendar of design-led events, Galeries Lafayette Mumbai positions itself not just as a retail destination, but as a cultural hub for the city’s creative class.
For the French maison, this marks a defining chapter in its international expansion. For Mumbai, it’s a homecoming of sorts, a meeting of two worlds where the romance of Rue La Fayette meets the rhythm of Fort.
Store address: Turner Morrison Building, 16 G Vaidya Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai.
Timings: Open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.
As the lights come up on this magnificent space, Galeries Lafayette Mumbai isn’t just opening a store, it’s opening a new chapter in India’s luxury story, one shimmering sequin at a time.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
