MUMBAI: Semi formal dressing brand Allen Solly has inked an exclusive partnership with the most prestigious tennis event in the world, The Championships, Wimbledon. 

This partnership marks the launch of Allen Solly’s sub-brand Solly Sport in its third decade of operations in the Indian retail market.

Solly Sport, with its Wimbledon collection, will offer Indian consumers a chance to experience the essence of the tennis championships through a line of apparel distributed in more than 200 stores while establishing itself as the only brand in the country to foster such a partnership.

According to Allen Solly COO Sooraj Bhat, lifestyle inspirations in apparel are fast taking root in the Indian apparel scenario. "Solly Sport has partnered with Wimbledon to exclusively market a fashionable casual-wear line under a licensing arrangement with Wimbledon. Solly Sport is a tennis lifestyle brand and we believe that our association with Wimbledon will bring to our consumers an authentic tennis lifestyle line. We are really excited about such an association with one of the most iconic global sporting events," he said. 

Wimbledon commercial director Mick Desmond said that the partnership with Allen Solly will be key to help them achieve its aim of growing awareness of the Wimbledon brand in this important market. “We are delighted to be announcing our exciting new association with Allen Solly. Tennis and Wimbledon have a long and illustrious history in India and it is on that great foundation that we are looking to build an equally long and successful future,” Desmond added. 

Solly Sport will market an exclusive line of men's wear lifestyle apparel under a licensing agreement with Wimbledon. The line was designed in collaboration with the leading French design firm – Groupe Carlin International - to bring cutting-edge on and off court tennis fashion to the Indian consumer.  

Similar to Allen Solly’s unique proposition of Friday dressing, which revolutionized men’s fashion in India, the Wimbledon line through its partnership will offer Indian consumers a chance to experience the essence of The Championships. Solly Sport as a sub-brand has already shown a lot of promise in the market and the company expects this sub-brand to grow to Rs 200 crores in the next three years.