Berlin, Porto, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kraków and now Bengaluru. It’s an interesting trajectory for Maybach Icons of Luxury to take after a string of boutiques across Europe and the UAE. High-end luggage, handmade eyewear, premium clothing and accessories, fine writing instruments line shelves—emblazoned with the Maybach logo it's no crime to covet—awaiting a new class of craftsmanship-conscious Indians who know the cred Icons of Luxury enjoys in the space.
Known for its signature craftsmanship inspired by a legacy of automotive design excellence and products for those who like to travel well, the luxury lifestyle marque—long celebrated for its partnership with Mercedes-Benz—is finally in India.
You may also like
The store, managed by the eyewear chain GKB Opticals, came up earlier this month in the city’s upscale Phoenix Mall of Asia. Esquire India got chatting with founder Wolfgang Thelen, who helmed Maybach’s diversification into the luxury space with the same design ethos, 15 years ago.
We also had the company of Priyanka Gupta, Director, GKB Opticals, and Ronak Sheth, founder of Eternity Lifestyles, which has partnered in the launch of the brand’s first India boutique. We spoke to them about bringing the storied brand to India, the evolving appetite for artisanal craftsmanship, and why Bangalore made perfect sense for their India debut. Excerpts from the conversation:
Esquire: Wolfgang, let’s start with something fun—we’ve got a special travel-themed edition coming up and we’re curating the Esquire 10, our monthly list of standout lifestyle products. Is there a Maybach piece you'd nominate for that list?
Wolfgang Thelen: Without a doubt—the crossbody bag. It’s one of my personal favourites from the collection. I use it all the time—it's functional, stylish and just the right fit for travel. The upcoming season will introduce it in a striking vision blue as well, adding to the appeal.
ESQ: And if we were to add eyewear to that travel list?
WT: Then I’d suggest either The King or My Creator in blue. These aren’t just accessories—they’re engineered objects of beauty and comfort. We’d be happy to share visuals of those styles.
ESQ: Let's talk personal style. Maybach clearly has a perspective on it—but what defines style for each of you?
Priyanka Gupta: For me, style is about individuality. It's not about chasing trends, it's about setting them. People often label brands as “for men” or “for women”, but Maybach is truly unisex. I personally love the crossbody bag—it’s something I carry often. It’s spacious, elegant, and has an understated confidence. That’s real luxury: utility without compromising beauty.
Ronak Sheth: I agree. Personal style is first and foremost about comfort. At Maybach, everything—whether it’s eyewear or leather goods—is built around that. Eyewear especially is about how it sits on the nose, how it feels on the ears. Luxury should disappear into your experience, and comfort is a huge part of that.
WT: From the brand’s legacy, we’ve always believed in “travelling in luxury.” Maybach began with the most luxurious cars in the world. Today, our products continue that legacy—whether it’s a leather bag or handcrafted eyewear. It’s about translating that same dedication to craftsmanship into everything we create.
You may also like
ESQ: Priyanka, you touched on how more women are gravitating toward luxury in India. How do you see the market evolving in terms of valuing craftsmanship over just big brand names?
PG: India is a land of artisans. Whether you look at bridal couture or homegrown design, detail and handiwork matter to Indian consumers. I think luxury had a phase where branding overtook authenticity, but we’re seeing a return to valuing the product itself. Today’s buyer wants something meaningful—something that will last generations. And with sustainability becoming a global concern, there’s more interest in investing in timeless quality over seasonal novelty.
ESQ: Let’s talk about the India launch. Why Bangalore for Maybach’s first standalone store in the country?
WT: It wasn’t just about choosing a city—it was about finding the right setting. We’ve seen Indian customers shopping in our boutiques in London, Dubai and Germany. It felt like the right moment to bring that experience home to India. Bangalore stood out because of its younger, tech-savvy demographic. People here are curious, open-minded and aspirational. Combine that with Phoenix Mall—the most premium retail space in the country—and it all just aligned.
PG: GKB has had a long-standing relationship with Maybach Eyewear. We already displayed the collection in our key stores, and our customers kept asking for the full brand experience. This store is our way of saying, “You don’t have to travel abroad anymore to own a Maybach.” It's here, in India, now.
You may also like
ESQ: Maybach Icons of Luxury has just 11 stores globally, so there’s a clear sense of exclusivity. How do you decide when a market or city is ready?
WT: We’re not in a rush, and that’s deliberate. We believe in getting the location, and the timing, just right. India is important for us—but that also means we’re in it for the long haul. Mumbai and Delhi are absolutely on the radar, but first we want to get everything right. We don’t just open stores—we craft experiences. Bangalore is only the beginning.
ESQ: Finally, the marque has a storied automotive heritage. How does that DNA translate into eyewear and lifestyle products?
WT: Craftsmanship is the common thread. We use materials that are rare and noble—horn, titanium, wood, piano lacquer. These are not just luxurious—they’re technically and artistically demanding to work with. The same attention to detail that went into building the world’s most elegant car interiors now goes into every frame of eyewear or piece of leather we make. It's a natural evolution, really. We’re still designing for those who travel well—and now, they can do it in style, with Maybach in hand.