This year, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone was named global brand ambassador for both Louis Vuitton and Cartier. The two behemoths sent a strong message in appointing the star to the international stage: India, as well as the Indian diaspora, are a focus for the global luxury industry.

India’s positioning as a global hub for luxury fashion consumption is on the rise. It is one of the fastest-growing markets in luxury, forecast to be worth $8.5 billion this year, a $2.5 billion increase from 2021, according to Euromonitor International. During the pandemic, people in India began spending more at home, and wealthier citizens found themselves with extra to spend on fashion items. India is set to become the world’s most populated country by 2023, overtaking China, according to a United Nations report released in July this year.