Chennai: French luggage and travel accessories brand Delsey Paris is exploring opportunities to deepen sourcing and contract manufacturing partnerships in India. This is part of a broader strategy to double its India business from its current level of under €10 million by 2030, even as it acknowledges that China’s manufacturing ecosystem continues to dominate the global luggage industry.
Backpacks as a Key Growth Segment
Backpacks are likely to be the first category where India could emerge as a stronger sourcing base. Compared with hard luggage, backpacks require fewer imported specialised components and offer more attractive economics for local production. The company sees backpacks as a major growth segment in India. Despite accounting for just 5% of sales today, the category benefits from higher usage and shorter replacement cycles than traditional luggage. Delsey aims to increase its contribution to around 25% by 2030, supported by the launch of 90 new backpack models globally.
Expanding Sourcing Footprint
The company, which already sources its leather collections from India, is evaluating local partners to produce backpacks and other travel accessories. It believes India has the potential to emerge as a meaningful manufacturing hub if it can build scale and capabilities comparable to those of Chinese suppliers. “We already source leather products from India and are exploring backpacks. It’s an ongoing process. If we find the right fit in terms of quality and finish, we would certainly expand our sourcing footprint,” said Gilles Bariguian, global CEO of Delsey Paris, during the launch of the company’s store in Chennai.
China's Dominance in Global Luggage Industry
According to Bariguian, Chinese companies account for roughly 90%-95% of the $40-billion global luggage industry, either through factories in China or manufacturing networks spread across Thailand, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. Delsey itself designs and engineers its products in Paris while relying on contract manufacturers across Asia to produce its wide range of offerings.
“We would absolutely love to manufacture or assemble more products in India if we find the right partners and quality standards. Every couple of years, we send our product managers to India to assess factory capabilities and monitor progress,” he said. He pointed out that significant gaps remain in the production of travel accessories. While India has made progress in manufacturing and assembly, critical components used in premium luggage—including specialised fibres, high-quality zippers and advanced trolley systems—continue to be sourced largely from Chinese suppliers.
Multi-Pronged Strategy for Growth
Delsey is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to more than double its India business by 2030, banking on the country’s premiumisation trend, a booming travel market and rising demand from Tier-II and Tier-III cities to drive its next phase of growth. The company plans a host of initiatives, including product innovation, retail expansion, e-commerce growth and stronger brand investments to double its business, according to Shashank Kumar, director and country head, Delsey.
Retail and E-commerce Expansion
Delsey currently operates 45 stores in India and plans to add five to seven outlets this year, with a similar pace of expansion expected in the coming years. To strengthen its direct-to-consumer presence, the company plans to launch its own e-commerce platform later this year.
