ITV

Category: Brands

  • Pantaloons weaves Pujo magic with ‘Hok Tomar Agomon’ festive campaign

    Pantaloons weaves Pujo magic with ‘Hok Tomar Agomon’ festive campaign

    MUMBAI: When the dhaak rolls, the shiuli blooms, and Kolkata’s skyline glitters with pandals, you know Durga Pujo has arrived. But this year, Pantaloons wants the celebration to be as much about your arrival as Maa Durga’s. The fashion retailer has launched its heartwarming new campaign, Hok Tomar Agomon (Celebrate Your Arrival), turning the festive lens from collective joy to individual expression. Inspired by the iconic “Maa asche” call, the campaign captures how Pujo is not only about welcoming the Goddess but also about embracing one’s own journey with style, flair, and a fresh start.

    “Durga Pujo is a festival of joy, belonging, and new beginnings,” said Pantaloons and Style Up CEO Sangeeta Tanwani. “With Hok Tomar Agomon, we wanted to capture that spirit of arrival not just of Maa Durga, but of every individual stepping into the season with confidence and style.”

    Conceptualised with Talented, the campaign infuses nostalgia with modern flair. From kaash phool and joba blossoms to bamboo scaffoldings and boats symbols of Maa’s arrival Pantaloons’ visuals are paired with Indo-Western silhouettes, contemporary accessories, and a flair designed to spark that unmistakable IYKYK feeling among Bengalis.

    The festive collection features vibrant designs and easy-to-wear pieces curated for every mood of Pujo from pandal-hopping and adda sessions to family feasts. It promises memorable festive moments for a new generation, while staying rooted in cultural traditions.

    With a high-impact media rollout spanning television, digital, outdoor, and in-store activations across West Bengal and beyond, the brand aims to bring its campaign to life wherever Pujo is celebrated.

    This year, Pantaloons isn’t just dressing up Pujo. It’s inviting every individual to celebrate their own arrival with confidence, individuality, and style. Hok Tomar Agomon.

  • Pickleball goes under the hammer as GSP sets stage for Season 2 auction

    Pickleball goes under the hammer as GSP sets stage for Season 2 auction

    MUMBAI: The paddles are ready, and so is the gavel. Global Sports Pickleball (GSP) is set to host India’s first-ever live pickleball auction on 7 September 2025 in Mumbai, marking a defining moment for the fast-rising racquet sport. Season 2 of the Pro & Challenger League will see ten franchises bidding for five players each across both categories, making it the biggest player pool ever assembled for an Indian pickleball auction. For fans at home and abroad, the action will stream live on GSP’s official Youtube channel, turning the auction itself into a spectator sport.

    This milestone comes as GSP continues to build a full-fledged ecosystem for pickleball. Over the past two years, the organisation has gone beyond tournaments developing courts, retailing gear, and running grassroots clinics in India and Dubai. Its league calendar already includes flagship events like the Indian Open and the Grand Slam, both designed to put Indian pickleball on the global sporting map.

    GSP chief architect of pickleball growth Hemal Jain explained: “From grassroots clinics to national academies, our vision has been to craft a robust foundation for pickleball in India. This auction for our 2nd season is more than a sporting event, it’s a pivotal step in our shared journey to place pickleball on the world stage.”

    Hindi filmmaker and GSP co-founder Shashank Khaitan added: “Pickleball is no longer the hidden star of the racquet sports world, it’s ready for its moment. With this auction and Season 2 of the League, we’re not just creating teams; we’re creating benchmarks. And a platform where dreams can come true.”

    With ten teams, two categories, and a first-of-its-kind live auction, Season 2 of the Pro & Challenger League promises to be a turning point one where India doesn’t just play pickleball but takes it mainstream.

  • Siraj bowls into Skechers squad with 23 wickets and new shoe deal

    Siraj bowls into Skechers squad with 23 wickets and new shoe deal

    MUMBAI: Mohammed Siraj isn’t just making batsmen dance now he’s stepping into Skechers too. The fiery Hyderabad-born pacer, fresh off a dream run in the India–England Test series, has been signed by the Comfort Technology Company as its newest cricketing ambassador. Siraj, who helped India square the five-match series 2–2 with 23 wickets including a decisive five-for in the final Oval Test will now lace up in Skechers’ performance-driven cricket shoes for Gujarat Titans and the national side. His new partnership sees him join fellow stars Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, and Yastika Bhatia in the brand’s cricket roster.

    “For me, comfort and focus are everything when I’m on the field. Skechers gives me that confidence,” Siraj said, adding that the brand’s attention to detail mirrors the intensity he brings to every spell. Skechers CEO of South Asia Rahul Vira praised Siraj’s “relentless spirit and raw talent,” calling his Test heroics against England the perfect example of the brand’s ethos of resilience and performance.

    The Skechers Cricket line features the full-spike Elite with 11 metal spikes for maximum power, and the 7-spike Blade for agility gear tailored for bowlers who thrive on traction and control. With the cricket range available online and at select stores, fans can also catch behind-the-scenes content via @skechersperformanceindia.

    From topping the ICC ODI bowling charts in 2023 to scripting a dramatic comeback this summer, Siraj’s rise has been meteoric. And now, as he trades in one set of spikes for another, his journey from the gullies of Hyderabad to Skechers’ global stage is one that looks set to run on comfort, power, and plenty of pace.

  • Satyaki Pal joins DamGoodFish as senior manager for growth and marketing

    Satyaki Pal joins DamGoodFish as senior manager for growth and marketing

    MUMBAI: DamGoodFish has hired Satyaki Pal as senior manager, growth and marketing. Pal, who brings nearly a decade in digital and media roles, joins the seafood brand after stints at some of India’s biggest agencies.

    He was previously director, digital at Interactive Avenues (2022–24), where he led key accounts in Gurugram. Before that, he served as account director for client servicing (South) at Logicserve Digital in Bangalore, overseeing performance marketing mandates. His earlier roles include media planning leadership at Phd, Havas, iProspect and AdGlobal360, alongside business development at Linq Digital and Click Thru Network.

    Pal’s appointment signals DamGoodFish’s intent to sharpen its brand presence and accelerate growth in a competitive category.

  • playR suits up as UP Yoddhas’ kit and merch partner for PKL season 12

    playR suits up as UP Yoddhas’ kit and merch partner for PKL season 12

    MUMBAI: The UP Yoddhas are stepping onto the kabaddi mat this season with fresh fire in their kits, thanks to premium sportswear brand playR, which has been named the official kitting and merchandise partner for season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League.

    The new kits, revealed under the theme “Passion in every thread, elegance in every colour” promise to fuse resilience and pride with athlete-driven design and cutting-edge fabric technology. Designed for agility, comfort, and durability, the gear aims to keep players looking sharp while surviving the sport’s grit and grind.

    For playR, the tie-up is more than stitching uniforms. “Our partnership with the UP Yoddhas goes beyond designing kits, it is about capturing the team’s resilience, energy, and pride,” said iCOREts, founder of playR and director, Ravi Kukreja. “We are eager to see the Yoddhas showcase their spirit on the mat in kits that combine passion, strength, and elegance.”

    Led by a powerful mix of raiders and defenders including Surender Gill, Guman Singh, Dong Geon Lee, Sumit, Ashu Singh, and Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi, the Yoddhas will debut their new look in the season opener against Telugu Titans on 30 August in Visakhapatnam.

    The deal not only strengthens the Yoddhas’ commercial roster but also cements playR’s reputation as one of India’s fastest-growing sportswear brands: balancing performance, fashion, and function for athletes and fans alike.
     

  • Deep shades of Glitz as Asian Paints, Deepika reimagine luxe walls

    Deep shades of Glitz as Asian Paints, Deepika reimagine luxe walls

    MUMBAI: Walls are talking and they’re doing it in style. Asian Paints has unveiled a bold new chapter for its luxury brand Royale Glitz, taking it beyond high-end wall finishes to the realm of full-blown décor inspiration. At the centre of this glossy makeover is none other than Deepika Padukone, making her much-awaited return as brand ambassador, lending her effortless grace to a campaign that paints luxury in fresh colours.

    Royale Glitz now positions itself not as the finishing touch but as the starting point of design stories. With curated textures, statement wallpapers, and a “Glitz Up Your Décor” guidebook packed with QR-linked demos, the campaign shows how a single wall can spark the reinvention of entire living spaces. “It’s about creating emotionally charged spaces that reflect who you are,” said Asian Paints MD & CEO Amit Syngle. “A single wall can bring alive the entire space.”

    Padukone embodies this shift, gliding through a home where walls are canvases of memory, mood, and meaning. With a super-smooth Crème Finish, Teflon Surface Protector, and an 8-year warranty, Royale Glitz mixes artistry with performance, offering homeowners both beauty and durability. Mccann Worldgroup India CEO & CCO Prasoon Joshi  described the film as “an artistic journey every frame as elegant and fluid as the product itself.” For Asian Paints, the message is clear: walls are no longer silent backdrops, they’re storytellers of personal expression.

  • Rural India, local disruptors, small packs drive FMCG growth: Worldpanel

    Rural India, local disruptors, small packs drive FMCG growth: Worldpanel

    MUMBAI: Once a luxury, now a lifestyle. Premiumisation in India is no longer the preserve of posh metros and plush wallets, it’s trickling down to rural towns, reshaping FMCG, and even spilling over into housing, cars and gadgets.

    That’s the big takeaway from Worldpanel India’s latest report, which reveals that premium brands now account for 15 per cent of FMCG volumes across everyday categories like detergents, soaps, toothpaste, tea, biscuits and skincare. And while the trend slowed briefly in 2024, the long-term trajectory is clear: India wants more “premium” and it wants it on its own terms.

    Once seen as laggards in this space, rural households are now powering premium growth. Their share of super-premium volumes has jumped from 30 per cent in 2021 to 42 per cent in 2025, and affordable premium products now see over half their demand from villages.

    It isn’t just multinational giants raking it in. Homegrown disruptors like Burhani liquid dishwash in Madhya Pradesh, AVT gold cup tea in Tamil Nadu, and Meera shikakai shampoo in Karnataka and Odisha are winning hearts by marrying premium positioning with natural, health-focused credentials.

    Bite-sized formats like Sensodyne (75g), Nabati wafers (30g), and Tresemme sachets (6ml) are driving trials without denting the “premium” aura. Even super-premium players like Dove, Malkist and Taj Mahal tea are cashing in with affordable packs.

    It’s not just soaps and snacks. Luxury housing sales (Rs 3 crore plus homes) surged 80 per cent in 2024, premium smartphones grew 8 per cent YoY in Q2 2025, and luxury car sales crossed 50,000 units for the first time. Clearly, India’s “premium” shift is rewriting aspiration itself.

    “Premiumisation in India is no longer restricted to metros or high-income households,” said Worldpanel by Numerator, managing director – South Asia, K. Ramakrishnan. “Rural consumers are becoming aspirational, disruptors are redefining premium, and affluent households are reprioritising spends. For brands, this is both a challenge and a golden opportunity.”

  • Lubrizol names Abhishek Shrivastava as IMEA managing director

    Lubrizol names Abhishek Shrivastava as IMEA managing director

    MUMBAI: Lubrizol has appointed Abhishek Shrivastava as managing director for India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), underlining the strategic weight of the region in its global growth plans.

    Shrivastava, who has been with the company for nearly two decades, was previously vice-president of innovation and decision science. In that role he drove the development of growth platforms, sustainable product pipelines and digital capabilities. His new remit spans everything from customer engagement to regional manufacturing and supply-chain expansion, with an emphasis on a local-for-local model.

    Lubrizol president and chief executive Rebecca Liebert said Shrivastava’s “blend of industry knowledge, technical depth and ability to match innovation with customer needs” made him the right choice to spearhead the next phase.

    Shrivastava said India, the Middle East and Africa were “dynamic regions full of opportunity and home to exceptional talent”, adding that Lubrizol would double down on localised innovation and partnerships to stay competitive.

     

  • Delhi’s Loya Qissa welcomes Mexico’s Aruba bar takeover

    Delhi’s Loya Qissa welcomes Mexico’s Aruba bar takeover

    MUMBAI: When Delhi’s iconic Loya says “cheers” it does so with stories. Its much-loved bar takeover series, Qissa, is back. This time shaking things up with a spirited cross-continental collaboration.

    Flying in from Tijuana, Mexico, the celebrated Aruba day drink bar, ranked No. 22 in North America’s 50 best bars 2025, is stepping behind Loya’s counter. At the helm is Frida González, Aruba’s co-owner and one of the brightest forces in Baja California’s cocktail culture.

    González is known for crafting ingredient-forward drinks that are as vibrant as they are honest, championing a style that feels playful yet deeply rooted in Mexico’s northwest coast. Under her watch, the takeover promises a sun-drenched menu echoing Aruba’s signature ‘daytime conviviality’: fresh, bold, and layered with Baja narratives.

    Think zesty pours brimming with Mexican flavours, inventive techniques, and a dash of storytelling, all served against Loya’s backdrop of north Indian artistry and flavour. 

    After its showcase at Loya, Taj Palace, New Delhi,  this edition of Qissa won’t stop there. The collaboration will pack its shakers and journey to Mumbai’s The Taj Mahal Palace, and Bengaluru’s Taj West End carrying a dialogue of craft and culture across three cities.

  • Perform ace’s Connect X bags exclusive Indian sneaker festival

    Perform ace’s Connect X bags exclusive Indian sneaker festival

    MUMBAI:  Talk about making the right move. Perform ace’s connect X has just bagged the exclusive rights to the Indian sneaker festival (ISF): a coup that cements its place at the heart of India’s booming streetwear and sneaker scene.

    Billed as the country’s biggest celebration of sneakers, music and lifestyle, ISF has already become the holy ground for sneakerheads, collectors, and culture vultures. With connect X stepping in, the festival is gearing up to scale bigger heights, blending ‘phygital’ experiences to make sure India’s street style has a truly global strut.

    So, what makes ISF such a cultural heavyweight? Think more than just shoes. The festival brings together limited-edition drops, exclusive showcases from global and local brands, high-octane music acts, and interactive zones with sneaker-trading pits, graffiti walls, customisation booths, flea markets and more.

    This year, Grammy-winning rapper 21 Savage headlined the event: a watershed moment for India’s music-meets-streetwear scene. Past years have seen homegrown favourites like Seedhe Maut and Wazir tearing up the stage, proving ISF is as much about beats as it is about kicks.

    A spokesperson from Perform ace put it simply, “Sneakers and streetwear aren’t just products, they’re identity, creativity and culture. With ISF under the PerformAce banner, we’re creating a platform that lets India’s youth connect, collaborate and celebrate on a global scale.”