India, Oct. 17 -- There's something surreal about seeing Byredo next to Bode, Maison Margiela sharing floor space with Misho, and a sculptural Givenchy bag glinting in the same frame as handmade Deepa Gurnani accessories. But this isn't Paris: it's Mumbai. More specifically, Kala Ghoda, where Galeries Lafayette, the legendary French fashion temple, is gearing up to open its doors in India. And honestly? It might be the most exciting thing to happen to Indian retail in years.

For India's increasingly expressive and fashion-fluent audience, Galeries Lafayette is a portal that not only showcases coveted global brands but also offers a new way of engaging with high fashion via a luxury department store. What was once admired from afar, throu...