November 22, 2026

-

Premium

The Bespoke Ride

FOR INDIA'S SUPER rich, the pinnacle of luxury and performance is no longer simply buying a Rolls-Royce or a Ferrari but turning them into a piece that tells their story. Jet-setting ultra-wealthy Indians are even travelling to Goodwood in the UK (home to the Rolls-Royce) or Maranello in Italy (Ferrari) to configure their cars to reflect their passions, memories, or personal milestones. So, for a Rolls-Royce customer, dealership is only the first leg in the car-buying journey. Those who are unable to travel to the factory in the UK visit one of the five Rolls-Royce Private Offices around the world to design their dream car."Some clients enjoy the opportunity to come to the private office to sit with a designer and create something special. Some come to Goodwood to get a sense of what our craftspeople are capable of doing," Julian Jenkins, Director of Sales & Brand, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, tells BT.Some prefer visiting the Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood. "We engage with them through the summer months. Our clients are in a relaxed state of mind as they have more time, and are more creative as a result," says Jenkins.Every bespoke commission starts with a discussion with clients. And brands are happy to oblige. "We listen. We don't say no," says Jenkins. The carmaker says no only for legal or regulatory reasons.About 20-30% Rolls-Royce customers in India opt for significant bespoke commissions, says Jenkins. Some spend as much as the price of the car, he adds. A bespoke commission takes at least a year. The marque's more ambitious Coachbuild creations can take four-five years, says Jenkins.

The Talent Hunt

PEOPLE RARELY REMEMBER what a brand sold them. They remember how the experience felt. This is a lesson the Assistant Business Development Manager at BlackCab Agency Network, Parth Sathe, started understanding through internships across hospitality and automotive retail.Before enrolling in the Global Luxury Goods & Services Management programme offered by S. P. Jain School of Global Management in collaboration with POLIMI Graduate School of Management, Sathe associated luxury with exclusivity and beautifully crafted products. He had yet to appreciate the work that went into making an experience appear effortless. "A smooth evening or a well-run launch looks easy because a lot of people have sorted out every detail well in advance," he says.The shift in perspective reflects a broader change in how the luxury industry is understood. Beyond fashion and design, luxury spans hospitality, travel, beauty, retail and premium experiences, creating opportunities in areas such as brand management, merchandising, client relations and digital commerce. As India's luxury market evolves, the challenge is not simply to find people who admire luxury brands but to also build a workforce that understands the business behind them and knows how to translate a brand's promise into an experience for which people are willing to spend.BEYOND FASHION AND DESIGN Gianluca Tedaldi, Director at POLIMI Graduate School of Management, says the luxury industry is at a turning point. While Europe has historically been its centre of gravity, he sees markets such as India playing an increasingly important role in its future growth. The industry needs more than designers and creative professionals, he says. It requires managers who understand a brand's heritage and can translate it for different markets, he adds.Beyond fashion and design, opportunities span retail and client experience, brand management, market development, merchandising, luxury hospitality, and the business of craft and manufacturing. The common thread, says Tedaldi, is cultural fluency: understanding the history and codes of luxury while helping shape its future.Nitish Jain, Founder and President of S. P. Jain School of Global Management, sees the range of