Dubai based Top Brands LLC expects to have a minimum of 10 standalone outlets for Arrow, the upper mid-market shirt brand, in the GCC within the next 12 months.
Six of these will be in the UAE, with Lamcy Plaza in Dubai hosting the first one and the second expected to be in Sharjah.
This followed the winning of the regional rights for Arrow by Top Brands, which also represents "Colour Plus" and "Be!" owned by India's Raymonds Group.
Arrow, which has existed for 150 years, is owned by the Phillips-Van Heusen Corp of the US.
For the regional alliance, Top Brands has signed on with Arvind Brands, which also has the production rights for Arrow at its mills in India.
"We have been on the lookout for a mid-priced shirt brand, and Arrow represented the best fit. It has won a very high brand recall over the years," said Jatin Mulani, director at Top Brands.
"Apart from the UAE, we will be setting up outlets on our own in Oman and Qatar." Apart from the formal shirts, Arrow's semi-formal and sporty range will be available in the region, as will the accessories and knitwear.
Some local department stores have been selling Arrow shirts for several the years.
This, according to Mulani, will cease as soon as present stocks are exhausted.
"Our intention is to retail Arrow only through the exclusive outlets owned by us. This will be the best platform for the brand to develop on what has been achieved to date."
Arrow shirts will retail at Dh80 and up in the UAE.
For its other franchises, Colour Plus and Be!, Top Brands will shortly have new store openings at one of the new malls in Dubai.
Both brands have been experiencing good growth numbers, the official added.
In fact, Indian owned ready-to-wear brands have been looking with more serious intent at the Middle East markets over the last four years or so.
It is also during this period that such brands are getting to be serviced through more organised retail by way of dedicated outlets.
Gulf News
