Manish Chopra Takes the Helm at Sabyasachi Couture as New CEO
- Sabyasachi Couture has appointed former Shein India executive Manish Chopra as its new CEO.
- The move aligns with the revival of India’s luxury fashion market and Sabyasachi’s global expansion plans.
- Parent company ABFRL reported strong growth in its designer-led portfolio, with a 46% year-on-year increase.
In a strategic leadership move, Aditya Birla Group-owned luxury fashion house Sabyasachi Couture has named Manish Chopra as its new Chief Executive Officer. Chopra steps into the role after his tenure at Reliance Retail-backed Shein India, where he played a key leadership role.
The appointment comes at a significant juncture for the Indian luxury fashion industry, which is witnessing a strong revival following a muted 2024. Homegrown designer labels such as Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, and Gaurav Gupta are increasingly focusing on global expansion and premium retail strategies.
Chopra had joined Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. in mid-2023 to lead Shein India’s operations, following his previous role at Meta. Despite the strategic partnership inked between Shein and Reliance Retail in 2023, the Shein consumer app remains in its nascent stages in India. The alliance has also faced geopolitical headwinds, with Beijing discouraging Chinese firms from moving production overseas amid ongoing tariff tensions with the U.S.
Email queries to Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL) which owns a 51% stake in Sabyasachi Couture and Reliance Retail remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
Aditya Birla Group had acquired the majority stake in Sabyasachi Couture in 2021 for Rs 398 crore as part of its wider strategy to create a strong presence in India’s ethnic and luxury fashion space. The group has also invested in other top-tier fashion labels such as Tarun Tahiliani, Masaba, and Shantanu & Nikhil, underlining its commitment to building a robust designer-led portfolio.
In May 2024, the Aditya Birla Group demerged ABFRL and Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands to sharpen focus and enhance growth potential in their respective markets. The move consolidated Western-wear labels such as Reebok, American Eagle, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Peter England, and Allen Solly under Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands, while ABFRL retained its focus on ethnic and designer labels.
For the March 2024 quarter, the newly structured ABFRL reported a 9% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching R s 1,719 crore. Ethnic wear businesses witnessed a 19% rise, while designer brands saw a striking 46% growth demonstrating the growing appetite for premium Indian fashion.
According to a report by IMARC Group, India’s luxury apparel market reached $7.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $10.7 billion by 2033, driven by rising disposable incomes, expanding global brand presence, and a growing preference for premium ethnic wear.
The appointment of Manish Chopra signals Sabyasachi Couture’s strategic intent to scale further and cement its status as a leading global luxury brand originating from India.
