ITC has now brought the `Wills Lifestyle’ experience to Kolkata with the opening of its `Wills Lifestyle’ store at the crossing of Camac Street and Shakespeare Sarani today. The store was inaugurated by ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar in the presence of a large gathering. With this launch, ITC has 41 `Wills Lifestyle’ stores in 34 cities across the country. The opening of this world-class store brings ITC’s premium `Wills Sport’ brand of relaxed wear to its home city - offering the fashion-conscious public of Kolkata the Spring Summer 2002 Collection in all its infinite variety.

The `Wills Sport’ range of branded premium apparel, marketed exclusively through the `Wills Lifestyle’ stores was first launched in Delhi on July 15, 2000. Within a year, the brand spread out nationally in metros and mini-metros across India. At the prestigious Images Fashion Awards 2001 (IFA 2001), the `Wills Lifestyle’ chain won the award for ‘The Most Admired Retail Chain of the Year’ and the `Wills Sport’ brand for ‘The Most Admired Brand Launch of the Year’.

The opening of the first premium showroom in Delhi heralded the launch of ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Division (LRBD), a strategically planned initiative to leverage the Company’s proven competencies in brand building, hospitality and countrywide distribution. In recognition of ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar’s contribution in leading this retail initiative, ‘The Retail Visionary of the Year’ award was conferred on him at the IFA 2001.

Commenting on ITC’s plans in the Lifestyle Retailing business after inaugurating the Kolkata store, Mr Deveshwar said, ``We are nurturing the `Wills’ trademark to be a clear leader in premium lifestyle retailing in India. Over time, we aspire to position it as a leading Indian international brand with a significant global presence. In fulfilling this vision, ITC aims to make a major contribution to the fibre-to-fashion value chain in India to enhance international competitiveness.’’

At the launch of the `Wills Sport’ range of apparel in July 2000, Mr Deveshwar had clearly outlined the LRBD vision: "ITC plans to establish `Wills Sport’ as an international quality, premium full range wardrobe brand for men and women, constituting relaxed wear for all occasions. It is aimed at people with an active lifestyle and a relaxed mind.’’

The Kolkata store offers the Spring/Summer 2002 Collection, with 70 styles in unique colours of the season for both men and women. A wide range of sizes suitable for everybody, specially in-between waist and in-seam sizes - in a 1500 square feet contemporary chrome and glass retail ambience.