Master shirt maker Zodiac Clothing to enter US market

Mumbai: Zodiac Clothing has decided to take its shirts to America.

Zodiac already has a presence in various markets in Western Europe and West Asia, and has now set its sights on the highly competitive US market. The company is a leading manufacturer and exporter of premium branded men''s wear, based in India.

Company sources indicate that Zodiac was looking for an opportune time to enter the US market. However, it faced a glitch in its plans, given that the brand is registered as a woman''s footwear brand, and in the US, both clothes and shoes are clubbed under the same trademark. Zodiac hopes that this will soon be defunct.

The company reportedly intends to follow a model similar to what it has in place in the UK, where it sold its brand to a partner. According to sources, Zodiac will take the same shirts that it retails in the Indian market to the US, as the company does not believe in product differentiation for different markets.

Zodiac is also reported to be looking for a new partner for the UK, to facilitate a re-entry. It had earlier brought to a close, its partnership with retailer Ciro Citterio. The company is reportedly looking for a partner with access to retail chains, as previously the Zodiac brand was being retailed through 150 stores owned Ciro Citterio.

In the Middle East, Zodiac is reported to be close to opening a flagship store in Dubai, at the Dubai International Finance Centre sometime this month. Zodiac is already available across the middle eastern markets across retail chains and multi-brand outlets, and the company sees the middle eastern market as an extension of the Indian market, given the significant Indian population in the region.

Zodiac is preparing to launch a third men''s wear brand in India, further segmenting the men''s wear market. The new brand would reportedly target men in the 25-30 age bracket, with occasion-based dressing. A foray into women''s western wear is also reported to be an upcoming possibility.