Ramdev's Patanjali to enter branded clothing: report

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved brand that diversified from medicines to make foray into foods, personal and homecare products, is now all set to venture into branded clothing line as well.

Patanjali is looking at initially setting up 250 exclusive retail outlets for the apparel line with a sales target of Rs5,000 crore for the first year, according to a report in the Mint.

The report said the proposed 'swadeshi' line of clothes will cater to both men and women and the launch is expected by April next year.

Ramdev had, at the inaugural function of a two-day Global Investors' Summit in Indore last year said apart from traditional kurta-pajama, it will come out with Western clothing lines like jeans as well.

Patanjali branded clothes will also be made available through other apparel retailing outlets like Big Bazaar, the Mint quoted Patanjali spokesperson SK Tijarawala as saying.

''Patanjali will have different products in each category – value-for-money clothes for the masses and apparel that will have the snob value meant for the classes,'' Tijarawala said. ''We will start with woven clothes, knitwear and machine-made apparel, including denims.''

Mint said the company, which is currently working on the clothing brand name, has stuck upon ''Paridhan'' (meaning apparel in Hindi) as one probable name

Besides, the company is expanding products and brands in other segments to boost revenue, which currently totals Rs10,561 crore.

The Haridwar-based consumer products major is aspiring to further strengthen its presence and lead in most of the product categories.

Patanjali is looking at a two-fold jump in sales to over Rs20,000 crore this fiscal as it plans to double its distribution network to 12,000 across the country.