CANALI ON CANALI

Stefano Canali, President and CEO of luxury menswear brand Canali Spa, talks about the India story and operating in a post-pandemic world

- KRISHNA GOPALAN

STEFANO CANALI has a relaxed demeanor. The President and CEO of Canali Spa, a scion of the dynasty that is synonymous with menswear, love India for its culture and immense business potential. In a joint venture (JV) with Reliance Brands, Canali wants more of the India piece and says it is here for the long haul. A man with conviction that physical stores for his brand will always be around, he thinks e-commerce will complement it. In a freewheeling chat, he opens up on a host of issues, from how the pandemic has been hugely disruptive to how much India matters to the company. Edited excerpts:

What is it about India that has struck you as being remarkable?

I had a chance to discover India on my first visit in 2008-09. I was very impressed with what I saw around culture and heritage. Casual conversations with people reveal a long history. To some extent, there are quite a few similarities between the people in India and those in Italy—starting with the passion for culture, well-crafted items or anything that is precious. The evolution of a civilisation through art and other forms is quite fascinating.

There is a connection here since Canali is known for making high-quality, well-crafted garments for men. It is very important for customers to fall in love with Canali’s products. That means the customer has to understand what products he is trying, and appreciates the details that the garment comes with.