It’s not often that one gets to witness a historic moment as a 21-year-old, if not stroked by kind providence. One such opportunity- to see the “Most beautiful Ship in the World”- was recently bestowed on us.
Amerigo Vespucci, a majestic, 93-year-old Italian ship docked in the bustling city of Mumbai, making it a small part of its marvellous (and extensive) world tour.
Coupled with the experience and akin to the essence of Amerigo Vespucci- that is, its exquisite craftsmanship, resilience, and heritage- was a conversation led by an esteemed set of panelists.
On the brisk evening of 1st December, a panel discussion premised on the theme “Crafting Elegance: The World of Luxury between Italy and India” was organized by SDA Bocconi Asia Center to emblematize the synergies between two rich and diverse cultures, mainly in the luxury space.
Moderated by the President of Indo-Italian Chambers of Commerce and Managing director of SDA Bocconi Asia Center Mr. Alessandra Guiliani, the panel featured 2 Indian Industry experts who have left a global impact like Ms. Karishma Swali, Creative Director of Chanakya International and Pavitra Rajaram, Creative Director of Pavitra Rajaram Design. They were accompanied by 3 leading players from Italy who have a prominent presence in the Indian market, Mr Jaffrey Zaman, the Managing Director of Intercos; Mr. Amit Pai, the Managing Director of Poltrona Frau India; and Mr. Nitin Arenja, Managing Director of Technogym.
The discussion spanned sustainability, storytelling, digitalization, and the conjunction between Indian and Italian luxury industries. A predominant tone of diversity, craftsmanship and heritage was set in by the two ladies on the panel. While Ms. Karishma Swali initiated the discussion by emphasizing legacy and the brilliant confluence of traditional Indian embroidery techniques with global fashion houses, Ms. Rajaram beautifully described the history of Indian and Italian artistry which dates back to the 17th Century. She remarked, “The beauty of our country is that we are the last surviving culture in the world where the quality of craftsmanship today is absolutely the same as existed thousands of years ago. We live in a continuum of craft. We live in a continuum of culture. We live in a continuum of dialogue. And we live in a continuum of storytelling. And this is what connects us to Italy.”
In due course, the conversation swayed towards the nuanced layers of technology and digitalization in the realm of Luxury. A master in this domain, Technogym’s Nitin Arenja shared insights on how post-pandemic, fitness is becoming an integral part of luxury living in India. He stated, “The Indian market is now ready for luxury fitness experiences… There's a lot of tech built into our equipment. At this point in the world, I think India has to learn. Rather, we as Indians need to learn.” He elaborated on how Technogym’s innovative solutions, such as connected fitness ecosystems, aim to assist affluent customers who prioritize health as a lifestyle. Mr Amit Pai on the other hand, highlighted the journey of representing the “Italian way of living” while approaching Indian markets. He observed, “Indian consumers are embracing contemporary luxury but still value heritage.”
Lastly, Mr. Jaffrey Zaman offered a fresh perspective on luxury through the lens of beauty. He described how Intercos blends Italian research and innovation with Indian preferences to create premium beauty products. He noted, “India is evolving as a beauty market where consumers are highly aware of ingredients and sustainability.” An example he shared was creating bespoke formulations using natural and Ayurvedic ingredients for Indian consumers.
To conclude, the attendees carried one lasting message from the enlightening dialogue (other than a fabulous Italian experience) that luxury isn’t solely about products- it's about stories, values and legacies that bring even the most distinctive and obdurate cultures together.
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