Founder - Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel

Coco Chanel (real name Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel) was born to give the world one of the most sought after fashion brands – Chanel. Her personal life was no less than a rollercoaster ride, but on the professional front she was passionate about fashion. The brand first came into limelight when one of her lavishly designed hats was worn by the popular theatre actress Gabrielle Dorziat for one of her plays. Coco Chanel soon opened a boutique that specialized in sporty and leisure clothing for women. The brand eventually gained tremendous popularity amongst the fashion circles. Today, top notch celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Anna Mouglalis, and other popular names constitute the prestigious Chanel clientele.

Founder - Christian Dior

As a boy he used to sell his fashion sketches for 10 cents. Little did the takers know that they were buying these from a potential designer, who is born to make the world a more fashionable place. Christian Dior always had an inclination towards arts and fashion. No wonder, he transformed his undying passion into a profession that earned awards and adulation galore. Dior dresses were known for bustier style bodices, hip padding, wasp waisted corsets and massive petticoats that allowed the dresses to flare out waist down. Christian Dior a brand born in 1946 still rules the roost with its uber luxurious fashion bric-a-bracs.

Founder - Estée Lauder, Evelyn Lauder

Little did beauty editor Carol Phillips know that an article pruned by her pen – ‘Can great skin be created’, for the popular fashion magazine Vogue (America) would lead to inception of an iconic skincare brand. The article published under the guidance of Dr. Norman Orentreich generated interest and a business idea in the mind of Estée Lauder. She roped in the same beauty editor and the doctor to help create a brand that was about to take the world by storm. August of 1968 saw the launch of a unique brand Clinique that was positioned as world’s first allergy tested, dermatologist-driven skincare line. With a wide range of skin care products formulated with scientific precision, the brand is still going strong worldwide.

Founder - Zino Davidoff

Born to a humble tobacco merchant in Ukraine, Zino Davidoff was born to make create a brand par excellence. As a young boy, Zino was sent to Latin America where he learnt tobacco trade, worked at tobacco plantations and experienced the world-famous Cuban cigars! He later used his learnings to transform his father’s modest tobacco shop into a high-class tobacco brand. His customers were the rich and the famous who appreciated finer cigars and similar products. Beyond tobacco products, the brand also ventured into items as pipes, humidor and even got licenses to manufacture perfumes!

Founder - Renzo Rosso

Diesel is a 33 year old fashion brand which specializes in creating fashion clothing and accessories for young adults. Renzo Rosso was born to a modest farmer family in Brugine, and showed unusual interest in textile designing. He studied industrial textile manufacturing. He stunned the people around with his very first creation which was a pair of low waist flared jeans that he stitched on his mom’s sewing machine. In years that followed he created several interesting pairs of jeans and sold them for a nominal amount. He also worked as a part time mechanic and even a carpenter to finance his studies. In the year 1978 he launched the brand Diesel which took the fashion world by storm.

Founder - Donna Karan

What would you call a girl born of an ace tailor and a stunning model? Donna Karan! As a teenager she started off her career selling clothes on New York’s Central Avenue. In 1988 she launched her very own fashion label by the name DKNY. Today, fashionistas around the world swear by the brand called DKNY, short for Donna Karan New York. With an array of chic and luxurious range of contemporary wear, designer Donna Karan truly rules the present-day fashion world. The brand enjoys a global presence and is operating through an extensive network of stores around the world.

AB Electrolux is a Swedish multinational home appliance manufacturer. It is the world's second-largest home appliance maker by 2010 market share. Its products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and cookers sold under brands such as Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux, Zanussi, Eureka and Frigidaire. The company also makes appliances for professional use.

Founder - Elizabeth Arden

If you think, ‘makeovers’, ‘colour-coordinated accessories’ etc., are new-age fashion mantras it might surprise you to know that Elizabeth Arden started it all way back in early 1900s. As a young girl she worked as a bookkeeper with a pharmaceutical company. In between her work hours, she spent her time reading books on skincare. She also traveled the fashion capital of the world – Paris, France extensively. She scoured the local and elite beauty salons trying to learn various facial massage techniques. The hard work and insight gained soon translated into a series of top-notch skincare and beauty products. In an era, when wearing makeup was the sole prerogative of the entertainers, Arden propagated it as every woman’s must-have. She was the first to introduce the concept of eye-makeup, and also skin ceramides. Today, almost a century later, the brand Elizabeth Arden enjoys a global presence and is considered a revered fashion brand.

Founder - Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley

Escada is an international luxury fashion group in women's designer clothing. Founded by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley the company was acquired by Megha Mittal in the year 2009. The brand enjoys a global presence as it operates through 60 well established stores across different countries. It is particularly popular in North America, western and eastern Europe and Asia.

Founder - Stephen Marks

With a controversial name that sounds quite like the tabooed ‘f’ word, the brand FCUK -short for French Connection United Kingdom, was destined to generate immediate interest. Backed by a range of top-notch range of men’s and women’s wear along with bold T-shirt slogans like ‘hot as FCUK’ and the works, the brand has successfully established itself as a young-adult fashion brand. In spite of all the controversies, FCUK operates successfully through a network of stores in the UK, US and Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, China, and India.

Founders- Donald Fisher, Doris F. Fisher

Founded in 1969, by Donald George Fisher – an American businessman, GAP continues to be one of the most loved clothing & accessories retailers from America. Boasting an extensive range of sportswear, casual wear, t-shirts, sweatshirts, along with an exclusive kids' range, GAP has won hearts and patronage of fashion-conscious youngsters across the globe. Today, it operates successfully through 3,076 stores worldwide, with nearly 2,551 stores in the United States!

Founders- Giorgio Armani

He would have been the most stylish medical professional ever or the coolest dude in army. But as destiny would have it, Giorgio Armani realized his true passion that gave the world a venerated fashion brand - Armani. The brand spells sheer luxury, and is known the world over for its clean and tailored lines. What distinguishes the brand Armani from other fashion houses is its specialization in men’s clothing. Suits, tuxedos, shirts, denims, you name it you have it!

Founders - Hubert de Givenchy

Founded in 1952, Givenchy is a French brand known for luxury clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics. It is one of the rare brands to have had the honour of adorning divas like Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy, with its charismatic creations. It is no wonder that the man behind the brand, made it to the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame in 1970! In the year 1993 the brand achieved a record sale worth $176 million. Today, almost half a century later, the brand continues to be synonymous with elegant fashion clothing.

Founders - Ardeshir Godrej, Pirojsha Godrej

Godrej Group is one of the largest conglomerates based in Mumbai, India, involved in various industries that include appliances, precision equipment, machine tools, furniture, healthcare, interior solutions, office equipment, food-processing, security, materials handling and industrial storage solutions, construction and information technology. It has presence in seven major companies with interests in real estate, FMCG, industrial engineering, appliances, furniture, security and agri-care – to name a few – its turnover crosses 3.3 billion dollars.

Founders - Guccio Gucci

Inspiration and perspiration were certainly the two main ingredients that earned Gucci the iconic fashion brand status. As a young boy Guccio Gucci worked with some of the posh hotels in Paris and London. The classy luggage that the guests got with them caught his attention. He was smitten by the rich leather work and intricate crafting. Soon he started off his own leather goods business in Florence, under the label Gucci. With exotic leather products on its catalogue the brand Gucci soon shot to fame. Today, Gucci is the biggest Italian fashion brand and is known for its wide range of fashion clothing, watches, shoes, leather goods and also jewellery. It enjoys a global presence through 278 stores located in different countries!

Founder - Namihei Odaira

Hitachi, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational conglomerate. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies. Hitachi has been a diversified company that has 11 business segments: Information and Telecommunication Systems, Electrical Systems, Social and Industrial Systems, Automotive Systems, Electronic Component Devices, Construction, and Financial services. On the 2011 Forbes Global 2000 list, Hitachi was ranked number 473.

Founders - Cher Wang, HT Cho, Peter Chou

HTC Corporation, formerly High Tech Computer Corporation, is a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones and tablets. The company initially made smartphones based mostly on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system (OS) software, but in 2009 it began to shift its core focus away from Windows Mobile devices to devices based on Android OS, and in 2010 to Windows Phone OS as well.

Founders- Chung Ju Yung

Hyundai Group, major diversified corporation in South Korea. The international company supplies a product line that ranges from ships to stereo equipment. Headquarters are in Seoul. Hyundai began as a construction firm founded by Chung Ju Yung in 1947. The company operated within South Korea until 1965, when it initiated a road building project in Thailand that marked the beginning of its growth into a multinational conglomerate.

Inalsa is a small home appliances company operating in India. It is a subsidiary of Taurus Group, head quartered in Spain, which is one of the most popular brands in Europe with its innovative product range of appliances since 1962. Inalsa is the pioneer in food processors and launched it in India twenty five years ago and continues to be the undisputed leader in this category. Currently, its range is expanded to over 30 product categories with more than 200 product references.

Founders - Issey Miyake

He was a witness to the gruesome Hiroshima bombings. He had the honour of creating 'turtle necks' for the legendary Steve Jobs which eventually became an integral part of Jobs' signature attire. He did the costume for Ballett Frankfurt with pleats in a piece named "the Loss of Small Detail" William Forsythe and also worked on ballet "Garden in the setting"Well. These are just some of the highlights from the life of Japanese designer Issey Miyake who founded the eponymous brand in the year 1970. Specializing in high-end women's apparel, Miyake is a brand associated with fashion and finesse. The brand is also associated with a fine range of classical & contemporary fragrances.

Founder - Nathaniel B. Wales

Kelvinator is a well recognized Consumer Durables Brand. Its product range includes Direct Cool Refrigerators, Frost Free Refrigerators, Semi Automatic Washing Machines, Fully Automatic Washing Machines and Split Air Conditioners. Kelvinator takes its name from William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who developed the concept of absolute zero and for whom the Kelvin temperature scale is named.

Kitchen Appliances India Limited launched its Kenstar brand in India in October 1996. Post that, Kenstar set up state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at Aurangabad, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) and Salt Lake (Kolkata). Today, through its 28 Sales & Service offices, 300 service franchisees and more than 3500 trade partners, Kenstar is well connected throughout the country. And thanks to its impressive product range (Microwave Ovens, Air Coolers, Vacuum Cleaners, Mixer Grinders, Food Processors & host of other kitchen appliances), Kenstar enjoys the position of being one of the most preferred premium brands in India.

Founders - Kenzo Takada

As a boy, he was an ardent fashion magazine reader. As a lad, he joined a fashion school much against the wishes of his parents. As a designer, his first few creations were a vivid assortment of bold fabrics. As the founder of the celebrated brand – Kenzo, the world knows him by the name Kenzo Takada. Kenzo started off his fashion career by creating women’s apparels and almost a decade later in 1983 he launched men’s clothing line as well. After winning awards and accolades galore, Kenzo Takada has also made a foray in household bric-a-bracs. In the year 2005, he launched a line of tableware and decorative furniture under the label ‘Gokan Kobo’, which is gaining steady popularity worldwide.

Founder - Harish Kumar

Maharaja Whiteline Group makes home and kitchen appliances including products like Food Processors, Mixer Grinders, Hand Blenders, Electric Kettles, Hand Blenders and many more. It dominates a share of about 22% in home appliances with a product range of over 60 products in 18 product categories. Recently, Maharaja acquired Gem and Beltek, and diversified its range into the consumer durables industry. The company is soon launching a range of ceiling fans and office accessories.

Founders - Marc Jacobs

In spite of a disturbed childhood, Marc Jacobs an American born Jewish designer succeeded in making a mark for himself as an ace fashion designer. In 1987, he designed his first creation under the eponymous label. Jacobs was also the youngest fashion designer to have been awarded with the prestigious – Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Perry Ellis Award for ‘New Fashion Talent’. Today, the brand Marc Jacobs is present in 60 countries and operates successfully through 239 Marc Jacobs retail stores.

Founders - Michael David Kors

Michael David Kors is the proud founder of the eponymous fashion brand that caters to elite fashion needs of women. The brand specializes in sportswear for the jet-set women. In addition to the regular collection, Michael Kors has launched runway collection under the labels Michael Michael Kors and Kors Michael Kors, while the former deals in women handbags, shoes and apparels, the latter is particularly famous for denims and footwear. The clientele includes celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Michelle Obama, Heidi Klum, Catherine Zeta Zones, amongst others.

Founders - Hashmukh, Rakesh

Mitashi is the leader in TV video game industry and one of the fastest growing brands in the Consumer Electronics segment in India. With brands such as Game-in, Playsmart and Skykidz, Mitashi has established itself as a value leader across its various product categories of Audio/Visual Entertainment products including TV games‚ educational games and educational laptops. After successful stint in the Toys & Games industry, Mitashi ventured into Consumer Electronics segment in year 2001 with products like LCD TVs, DVD players, DVD/VCD boomboxes, Mp3 & Mp4 players and Portable DVD players.

Founders - Donal Morphy, Charles Richards

For over 66 years, Morphy Richards has been a pioneer in household appliances in Europe, both in terms of latest designs as well as technology. Every year, over a whopping 5 million units of Morphy Richards products are sold causing the turnover of the brand to exceed US $200 million. Morphy Richards is a part of the 1.3 billion dollar Glen Dimplex Goup, a leading worldwide manufacturer of electric heating and domestic appliances having strong presence in UK, Europe, America, Canada and Middle East.

Founders - Franco Moschino

Founded by ace Italian designer – Franco Moschino, the brand is best known for its unique fashion sense. Many of Franco’s creation were a spoof on popular designs from renowned fashion houses like Chanel and others. Franco’s Bohemian design sense can be seen in his unique creations like quilted black denim miniskirt decorated with plastic fried eggs on the hem, quilted jacket adorned with bottle tops, corsets made out of safety pins and plug socket drop earrings! His impressive list of clientele includes names like Rossella Jardini, Fran Drescher, Alicia Silverstone, Gwyneth Paltrow, amongst others.

Founders - Paul V. Galvin, Joseph Galvin

Motorola Mobility, Inc., owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Its portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, wireless accessories, end-to-end video and data delivery and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. Motorola invented DynaTAC, the very first commercial portable cellphone, in the year 1984.

As India’s largest Electronics Retail Chain, NEXT Retail India Ltd. specializes in organized retailing of consumer electronics, small home appliances and mobile phones. NEXT is a multi-brand multi-product retail chain which stocks an entire range of consumer durables right from Air-conditioners, FPDs (Flat Panel Displays), CTVs, DVDs, STBs (Set Top Boxes), Home Theater Systems, Mobile Phones, Gaming Consoles, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Microwaves to small home appliances. NEXT retails world’s most popular brands such as LG, Samsung, Videocon, Sony, Electrolux, Kelvinator, Whirlpool, Onida, Philips, Kenstar, Sansui, and its own brand. It also stocks Xbox of Microsoft.

Nikon Corporation is a Japanese multinational corporation which specializes in the manufacture and sales of optical instruments. Its business domains include Imaging Products Business under which it manufactures Digital Cameras, Film Cameras, Interchangeable lenses, Speedlights, Photographic accessories, Software and Sport optics. Under its Precision Equipments Business it makes IC steppers & scanners and LCD steppers & scanners. It is also in Instruments Business for making Biological microscopes, Industrial microscopes, Stereoscopic microscopes, Measuring instruments, Semiconductor inspection equipment and Surveying instruments. Other Businesses include Customized products Business, Glass Business, Encoders Business and Ophthalmic lenses Business.

The brand Nina Ricci is a true manifestation of a woman’s perseverance and passion. Nina started off as an apprentice under a local dressmaker at the tender age of 13. She mastered the art throughout her growing years. Post marriage and child birth she worked at a fashion house – Raffins, and eventually became a partner. She ended her 20 year long association with the brand to start her very own line of fashion clothing under the label Nina Ricci. She found an ideal business partner in her son Robert who helped her with his sharp business acumen. Nina soon shot to fame with her trademark feminine gowns that exuded unmatched finesse and romance. The 1930s saw the modest one-room set-up soon transform into a full-fledged business commanding 11 floors in 3 buildings! The brand continues to surprise its female customers the world over with its best-in-class products.

Founders - Fredrik Idestam, Leo Mechelin

Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation. Nokia manufactures mobile electronic devices, mostly mobile telephones and other devices related to communications, and in converging Internet and communications with global annual revenue of over €38 billion and operating loss of €1 billion as of 2011. It was the world's largest manufacturer of mobile phones in 2011.

Founders - G.L. Mirchandani, Vijay Mansukhani

Mirc Electronics Pvt. Ltd. is the owner of the Onida brand. Starting with a goal of manufacturing television sets, it transformed into a complete consumer durables company with a wide product portfolio including Flat panel TVs (LED & LCD TVs), Air Conditioners, Washing Machines, Microwave Ovens, DVD & Home Theatre systems, Mobile phones, Projector systems and LED lights.