7 Indian Brands in the 7th decade of Independence

India’s Independence Day. The day to express our love for all things #Indian. I decided to list my fav Indian brands (being a retailer, retail brands do dominate this list). 

1.      Tanishq - a brand that truly understands the Indian woman A brand built on a string ideology, product and #customer #insight 

2.      AND and Global Desi - 2 brands that offer what the modern Indian woman wants. Western office wear but for the Indian woman – that’s (think colours and prints no Western brand would have). And its sister brand, the fusion Indian Global Desi actually can be credited for creating the category.

3.      ID Foods - Idli is India's breakfast, no longer just a Southern staple. By making it easier to cook it, ID has ensured countless young Indians away from home or young housewives / working women with no time to make the batter from scratch, still can enjoy a home cooked meal. Their latest #innovation, the vada mix in a special package, just proved again why brands with customers at their core rarely fail.

4.      Indian Railways - the way the network has modernised and kept pace with changing time is admirable. To go almost paperless in ticketing in India, wasn't even a possibility 5 years back! Yes, I am sure there is lot more to be done here but you cannot fault them for making a lot more effort than earlier. We have to also give them bonus points for not thinking like a monopolistic Government undertaking

5.      Jaypore.com - a brand with India at its core. Unabashedly Indian. A mix of private label, premium labels and luxury brands too, best of what India has to offer under one portal

6.      Peter England - ok the name perhaps does not warrant being on an Indian brand list, but it is so! The first right priced men's shirt which almost single handedly is responsible for creating the men's ready to wear category almost 2 decades back.

7.      Amul butter – A product you will find in every Indian household. International brands can come but we will continue to instinctively pic Amul over any other butter on the shelf! 

In case you are wondering if there were any criteria applied, well yes and no. I thought of the brand that were Indian, then brands which were built on ‘Indian’ #insights and of course are #leaders because clearly Indians love them. I do!

What would your list of brands include? And Why?