Canadian athleticwear retailer lululemon will open its first store in India at DLF Promenade in New Delhi later this year, under its franchise agreement with e-commerce company Tata CLiQ.

The store will stock men's and women's performance products for yoga, running, tennis, and everyday movement.

Tata CLiQ will launch lululemon on its Tata CLiQ Luxury and Tata CLiQ Fashion platforms to coincide with the store opening, extending the brand's products and experiences to customers nationally.

lululemon EMEA senior vice-president Sarah Clark said: “Bringing lululemon to India is a proud milestone for our teams as we continue to grow our brand around the world. 

“To prepare for the opening, we have been working with Tata CLiQ to build relationships with the New Delhi community, which has a vibrant and active consumer base that is looking for premium performance products that blend technical innovation with elevated style.”

lululemon operates in more than 30 markets across Asia Pacific, EMEA, Mainland China and North America, with market expansion a stated pillar of its growth strategy.

Tata CLiQ chief executive Gopal Asthana told ETRetail last month that the company was preparing to launch lululemon stores nationwide.

lululemon entered India last year through an exclusive partnership with Tata CLiQ.

The India launch follows lululemon's entry into Poland, Greece, Hungary and Romania earlier this year, also via franchise partnerships, including with Arion Retail Group in Romania and Greece.

Asthana added: “Indian consumers are increasingly embracing active lifestyles and are looking for high-performance products that blend functionality and style. We believe they will strongly connect with lululemon’s product offerings and community-first philosophy.

“We are gearing up to open the brand's first store in the coming months, along with its launch on Tata CLiQ platforms, and look forward to growing its omnichannel presence in the country.”