VERVE and FICCI
When two countries with very different yet equally strong luxury traditions meet, the dialogue is sure to be stimulating. The Roundtable on the Luxury Goods Market organised in the capital by Federation of Indian Chamber Commerce of Industry brought together a high-profile delegation from French association Comité Colbert and Indian business leaders, designers and retailers to discuss the luxury environment in India and explore business opportunities between India and France. The speakers included an impressive gathering of international luxury leaders including Elisabeth Ponsolle, CEO, Comité Colbert, Francoise Montenay, President of Chanel, Paul Deneve, Chairman and CEO of Jeanne Lanvin, Damien Vernet, General Manager Middle East and India, Louis Vuitton and Elisabeth Ricard, Communication Director, Pernod Ricard and many more. Representing India were Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI who moderated the sessions, Vivek Bharti, Advisor, National Policy, Programme & Projects, FICCI, among others, all of whom presented fascinating power-points on the various aspects of luxury including its history, its challenges and its future.

Verve made quite an impact with editor and publisher Anuradha Mahindra making some insightful concluding comments at the event. Taking the point of the enormous growth of the Indian luxury market many notches further, she said, "If the luxury market is growing at 20 per cent, the aspirations of Indians are growing at an astounding 2000 per cent." She also underlined Verve's commitment to celebrating women of all ages, and not just women in their 20s, on its pages and covers.