Bangalore is leading the redefinition of luxury living in India, largely due to its reputation as the IT capital. "Bangalore accounts for roughly 5% of the senior management category in the IT sector, who aspire to a lavish lifestyle," explains Vestian's Shrinivas Rao.

Today's young Indians aren't 'Indian' at all. They're global consumers with modern values and an increasing desire for an international lifestyle, from Levi's jeans to Starbucks coffee. And the world is beginning to take note.

What is luxury? How does strategy in the luxury sector work? And what can it teach other brands? Marco Bevolo, one of the authors ofPremium by Design: how to understand, design and market high end products, provides a vision of the business of prestige, desire and seduction.

As the Indian middle class continues to expand, Moët Hennessy is capitalising. It's creating a new line of sparkling wines made from Indian grapes that embody both affordable luxury and the country’s proud heritage.