Luxury Redefined: An Interview with Sahil Malik, MD of Da Milano & Rosso Brunello

An Exclusive Interview with Sahil Malik, Managing Director of Da Milano & Rosso Brunello, India’s most successful homegrown luxury brands

Meet Sahil Malik, Managing Director of Da Milano and Rosso Brunello—India’s most successful homegrown luxury brands. In this exclusive interview, he shares insights on crafting timeless leather goods, navigating global markets, and fueling the rise of Indian luxury on the world stage.

Can you share the story behind your journey to becoming Managing Director of Da Milano & Rosso Brunello, and what inspired you to take on this role?

Sahil Malik: My journey has been shaped by a deep respect for craftsmanship and an ambition to build brands that endure. When I stepped into the role of Managing Director, my focus was not just on scaling businesses, but on strengthening their identity and relevance in a rapidly evolving luxury landscape.

Both Da Milano and Rosso Brunello represent a balance of heritage and modernity, and I was inspired by the opportunity to lead them into their next phase of growth—one that is rooted in authenticity, innovation, and long-term value creation.

Da Milano is renowned for its luxury leather goods, while Rosso Brunello brings Italian-inspired footwear elegance—how do you ensure synergy between these brands under your leadership?

Sahil Malik: Synergy comes from shared values rather than sameness. While the product categories are distinct, both brands are anchored in craftsmanship, material integrity, and refined design.

At a leadership level, we align vision, quality benchmarks, and customer experience, while allowing each brand to express its own personality. This clarity ensures that Da Milano and Rosso Brunello complement each other without dilution, creating a cohesive luxury ecosystem rather than overlapping narratives.

How has consumer behavior towards luxury accessories evolved in recent years, and what adaptations has the company made in response?

Sahil Malik: Today’s luxury consumer is far more informed and intentional. Purchasing decisions are driven not only by aesthetics but by quality, brand values, versatility, and longevity.

We’ve responded by sharpening our design language, investing in product storytelling, and offering collections that balance timeless appeal with contemporary relevance.

There is also a growing preference for brands that feel personal and credible, which has encouraged us to deepen engagement rather than chase volume.

As Managing Director, what key innovations or expansions are you most excited about right now?

Sahil Malik: I’m particularly excited about our expansion into thoughtfully designed product extensions and the evolution of our retail formats. We’re reimagining stores as immersive brand spaces rather than transactional points, with a renewed focus on storytelling, materiality, and customer flow.

A key part of this transformation is our new store experience developed in collaboration with Zebra Design, which brings an international design perspective to how our brand is experienced physically.

Alongside this, we are strengthening our digital capabilities to ensure a seamless omnichannel journey. On the product front, experimentation with textures, construction techniques, and limited-edition collections allows us to stay creatively agile while remaining true to our core identity.

Sustainability is a growing focus in luxury—how is Da Milano & Rosso Brunello incorporating ethical or eco-conscious practices into operations?

Sahil Malik: Sustainability in luxury must be intentional and responsible, not performative. Our approach focuses on durability, responsible sourcing, and minimizing waste through smarter production planning.

By designing products meant to last, we inherently reduce overconsumption. We continue to explore improved materials and processes that align with our quality standards while being mindful of environmental impact, ensuring sustainability is embedded into decision-making rather than treated as an afterthought.

With the rise of e-commerce and digital retail, how is the company balancing online growth with the experiential appeal of physical stores?

Sahil Malik: We view digital and physical retail as complementary, not competing channels. Online platforms offer convenience and reach, while physical stores deliver tactile engagement and emotional connection.

Our strategy is to ensure consistency in storytelling across both—whether a customer discovers us online or walks into a store, the brand experience remains seamless, premium, and intuitive. The goal is not to replace one with the other, but to let each channel enhance the overall journey.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring leaders in the luxury goods sector, what would it be?

Sahil Malik: Focus on building substance before scale. Luxury is ultimately about trust—earned through consistency, integrity, and patience. Trends will change, markets will fluctuate, but leaders who stay anchored to craftsmanship, clarity of vision, and long-term thinking will build brands that truly last.

Sahil Malik’s vision propels Da Milano and Rosso Brunello as India’s luxury trailblazers. His strategies blend heritage craftsmanship with innovation, inspiring entrepreneurs. As he eyes global expansion, one thing’s clear: Indian luxury is redefining elegance, one exquisite piece at a time.

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