Arvind signs licensing agreement to bring Aeropostale to India

REUTERS - Indian clothes manufacturer Arvind Ltd said on Thursday one of its units had signed a licence agreement with Aeropostale Inc , making it the latest international fashion brand to plan a launch in the country. Arvind said its subsidiary, Arvind Lifestyle, is expected to open 30 standalone stores and 25 shop-in-shops over the next three years, starting March 2016. The company will also launch an Aeropostale e-commerce site for the country. In August, the textile major announced a similar licencing agreement with Gap Inc . India has swiftly turned into a hot destination for fashion brands, with the likes of Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) and Gap both eyeing store openings or expansion in the country. New York-based Aeropostale is a teen apparel retailer that competes with Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters . (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Mumbai; Editing by Sunil Nair)