Written By: Resham Daswani

Why the ethnic-wear franchises scene in Mumbai is booming in 2026

No matter where you go in Mumbai during the holiday season—Linking Road, Phoenix Palladium, or any suburban high street—one thing is certain: ethnic wear is making a triumphant return. "Desi glam" is back in full swing on social media, shoppers are shelling out more cash for special event attire, and weddings are bigger and better than before the pandemic.

One thing this means for investors is that this category is both emotionally driven and recession-resistant, so demand cycles will be stable and predictable.

There is more to ethnic dress in Mumbai than meets the eye. It is a commercial expression of culture. Homegrown ethnic brands have stepped up to the plate, providing standardised franchise systems, ROI models that are friendly to franchisees, and great brand memory, whereas global fashion giants are struggling to localise their goods.

Let's dissect this market area to see why it's one of the most promising and risk-free retail investment opportunities in 2026.

What Attracts Investors to Ethnic-Wear Franchises?

• Ethnic clothing, in contrast to fast fashion, has year-round sales with seasonal highs around weddings, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, and Diwali.
• Average transaction values are higher since customers buy complete looks, including kurtas, dupattas, and accessories, in one shopping trip.
• Brand-led loyalty: Franchises are able to more easily meet revenue targets through repeat purchases at festivals and for gifts.
• The omnichannel advantage is that franchises may attract both in-store and online customers thanks to the integration of top brands' in-store and online sales.
• Support from franchisors: Faster scalability thanks to robust backend systems, design pipelines, and nationwide marketing.

For contemporary investors seeking a happy medium between idealistic retail and practical stability, ethnic-wear firms provide it in spades.

Top 5 Ethnic-Wear Franchises in Mumbai for 2026

Legitimacy and direct interaction for serious investors are possible by each of these businesses' active franchise or business enquiry processes stated on their official websites.

1. Manyavar & Mohey Franchise:

• Genre: Formal and Occasion Wear for Men and Women Owner: Vedant Fashions Ltd.
• A Business Model for Franchising: EBO

When people in India think about wedding festivities, manyavar immediately comes to mind. The experience is a roundoff by its sister brand Mohey, which specialises in women's bridal and party attire. When it comes to ticket sizes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 rupees, they are unrivalled.

Exciting Reasons for 2026:

• Market dominance in festive apparel.
• Social media, over-the-top (OTT), and YouTube advertising campaign for wedding season.
• Confirmed unit economics and high location resale value.
• Providing unprecedented openness in the Indian fashion retail industry, Vedant Fashions has released sample franchise agreements and spelt out its franchise procedures in detail.

An advantage for investors is that this is a volume-driven bet, thanks to Mumbai's high wedding density. Places that are close to wedding clusters, premium malls, and event venues tend to do better.

2. Biba Franchise - Festive Garb for the City-Dwelling Indian Woman

• Category: Mid-Premium Women's Ethnic Wear
• Franchise Model: Shop-in-Shop / Exclusive Brand Store

For more than 20 years, BIBA has been synonymous with high-quality ethnic apparel for women priced between 2,000 and 8,000 rupees. The importance of BIBA has increased alongside the number of women in the workforce and the popularity of hybrid fashion, which combines ethnic and modern styles.

Exciting Reasons for 2026:

• Elegantly blending affordable and aspirational clothing.
• Regular seasonal updates to maintain collection vitality.
• Satisfaction among franchise partners is high because of the openness of marketing budgets and the training of employees.
• Its official website features an active business enquiry form that franchise partners can use.

The high-street or mall formats in the Mumbai suburbs of Andheri, Ghatkopar, or Thane are ideal for investors because of the consistent footfall that leads to month-on-month growth.

3. FabIndia Franchise:

• Heritage and Modern Retail Collide
• Franchise: High-End Lifestyle & Handloom Apparel Products Business Model: Company-Managed Stores Owned by Franchisees

Investors may reach a new kind of customer through Fabindia's "craft revival meets conscious luxury" positioning. This customer is worldly, quality-sensitive, and dedicated to buying goods created by artisans.

Exciting Reasons for 2026:

• The company is branching out into lifestyle stores that sell apparel, housewares, and health and wellness products.
• Stable margins with lower discounting cycles.
• Direct onboarding is guaranteed through the formal franchise inquiry process conducted through the official website.

Benefit to Investors: 

• Premium pricing is effective among Mumbai's diverse and environmentally concerned population.
• Expanding your retail portfolio with a Fabindia franchise goes beyond just fast fashion.

4. Soch: The Most Rapidly Growing Festive Brand in India

• Market: Women's Party and Formal Wear Business Model: Franchise-Owned/Franchised (FOFO)
• Soch has expanded fast in Tier-1 cities and is currently focussing on lesser metros. Its diverse selection of sarees, kurtis, and designer collections attracts a large customer base in Mumbai.

Exciting Reasons for 2026:

• Site selection, MOU, and training are the steps in a clear and comprehensive franchising procedure that may be found online.
• A renewable franchise agreement for five years with complete operational support.
• Millennial women shoppers are very into it right now.

Benefit to Investors: The process outlined by Soch makes franchise formation less risky. It provides consistent volume and brand draw thanks to its mall presence and mid-premium pricing.

5. Global Desi Franchise - The Indo-Fusion Favourite

The Indo-Fusion and Boho Ethnic Wear Segment is owned by House of Anita Dongre and operated through the Exclusive Brand Store franchise model.

Global Desi is a great brand to keep an eye on if you're trying to attract a contemporary, city-dwelling woman who loves western styles adorned with Indian designs.

Exciting Reasons for 2026:

• Strong sense of style spearheaded by Anita Dongre.
• Excessive premium margins and a fantastic allure.
• The franchise's official business enquiry section is now up for business.

Benefit to Investors: Perfect for high-end areas such as Powai, Bandra, or Phoenix Palladium. Stores frequented by style-conscious working professionals are ideal for this.

A Regional Perspective: The Many Reasons Why Ethnic-Wear Franchises Is Perfect for Mumbai

• Every cultural festival is celebrated in Mumbai, which results in high festive density and continuous increases in footfall.
• A complete ecosystem around celebration apparel is created by designers, planners, photographers, and jewellers; weddings are an economic driver all year round.
• Diverse and well-off consumers: millennials in corporate America, families from Gujarati and Punjabi backgrounds, and every other group buy ethnic clothing.
• Real estate suitable for retail use: Shopping centres, main streets, and mixed-use projects provide a variety of store alternatives.
• Reliable logistics: During peak demand months, Mumbai's supply chain network guarantees quicker inventory replenishment.

How to Evaluate a Fashion Franchisor in 2026: A Proven Strategy For Ethnic-Wear Franchsies

Ask the following seven questions of potential investors before they sign your Letter of Intent (LOI):

• How much does the franchise fee and royalties actually cost?
• Will there be sale or return options or inventory support provided to me?
• Has the marketing budget been allocated?
• Can you tell me the typical payback period for a store?
• In charge of hiring and training employees?
• Do Mumbai zones have location exclusivity clauses?
• Is it possible to open more than one store under a same contract?

When a franchisor provides an open and honest answer sheet, it shows that they appreciate the trust of their investors.

What is the 2026 advantage? Why should investors act now?

The return of urban consumers to occasion dressing and the 60% brand sales driven by Tier-1 cities are predicted to propel India's ethnic wear market to ₹1.6 trillion by FY2026. This expansion is being led by Mumbai because:

• With one of the biggest retail purchasing capacities, it is India's fashion capital.
• This is where influencer-driven style trends begin to spread before reaching every state.
• Stores in Mumbai provide Indian ethnic apparel, which is popular among foreign tourists and non-resident Indians.

When you add these larger trends to the growing number of malls in Mumbai (Seawoods, Oberoi, and Growel's 101 growth), you get a retail environment that is ideal for ethnic franchisees because to the enormous volume of customers.

Final Thoughts: How Do You Pick Ethnic-Wear Franchises?

• Mid-range prices, consistent demand for women's clothing, low-risk, high-volume: BIBA or Soch.
• Choose a premium positioning, like Fabindia or Global Desi, for increased profits in the lifestyle market.
• Leader of the high-profile celebration: Manyavar-Mohey, unparalleled in her field.

Each of these brands brings a verified franchise enquiry system, ensuring you don’t have to rely on third-party brokers or unverified leads.

Franchising ethnic clothing offers financial and emotional benefits in 2026, when investors shift their money from risky internet ventures to stable retail assets. It's more than just style; it's heritage transformed into business.

Create a shortlist of your favourite brands right now if you're ready to investigate these possibilities. One of the most promising retail franchise industries for 2026 is ethnic clothing in Mumbai, with franchise pricing ranging from ₹50 to ₹120 lakhs and a break-even point within 24-36 months.

Invest in your success, rather than only observing it.

Disclaimer: The brands mentioned in this blog are the recommendations provided by the author. FranchiseBAZAR does not claim to work with these brands / represent them / or are associated with them in any manner. Investors and prospective franchisees are to do their own due diligence before investing in any franchise business at their own risk and discretion. FranchiseBAZAR or its Directors disclaim any liability or risks arising out of any transactions that may take place due to the information provided in this blog.For more such opportunities, visit us on our Insta and FB