Italian riding gear maker Dainese enters India

October 3, 2013: Italian riding-gear maker Dainese has signalled its entry into the Indian market by announcing the setting up a new store in Bangalore. The unit, expected to come up by end-November 2013, will be housed in Orion Mall, located in upmarket Rajaji Nagar. Soon, the brand will also look to expand to other cities and is eyeing New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Coimbatore.

“We offer protection, comfort and style in all our products,” said Federico Minoli, CEO, Dainese Protective Gear. Dainese’s arrival in India, according to Minoli, was triggered by the presence or upcoming plans of high-powered motorcycle manufacturers like KTM, BMW Motorrad, Triumph and Aprilia. “For India, we will roll out our ‘Hot Climate Collection’ which is a range of specially perforated riding gear for hotter conditions,” added Minoli. The ‘Hot Climate Collection’ is a brainchild of the company’s R&D centre in Malaysia.

Dainese currently manufactures a range of its helmets in an export-oriented unit in Vadodara. The plant has an installed capacity of around 500,000 helmets per annum, with current numbers hovering around the 150,000 units mark each year. Almost all of the produce is exported to European markets, but a small number is sold in India. The recently launched line of apparels by Royal Enfield includes Dainese’s helmets.

Dainese’s product line for India includes helmets, riding gloves, protective gear like elbow and knee guards, boots, jackets and pants. All of this, at least for now, will be imported and sold via exclusive Dainese showrooms. The Italian company is famous across the world for its protective gear for motorcycling, mountain hiking, skiing and bicycling. Some of the more high-profile users of Dainese gear include nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi and six-time world champion Max Biaggi.

KARTHIK H

Photograph: Federico Minoli, CEO, Dainese Protective Gear.