ITV

Category: Brands

  • Brand new day as Epic Brand Map goes global with India as launchpad

    Brand new day as Epic Brand Map goes global with India as launchpad

     MUMBAI: What’s in a brand? Quite a lot, if you ask the folks at the newly minted Epic Brand Institute. The Epic Brand Institute (EBI) has officially stepped onto the global stage with the public launch of its flagship framework the Epic Brand Map (EBM), a system designed to bring Evocativeness, Precision, Insight and Clarity (yes, that’s EPIC) to the chaotic world of brand-building.

    Already battle-tested by corporate heavyweights like the Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group, Reliance, Mahindra, HCL, and international giants like Coca-cola, Medtronic, Sun Life Financial, Mars, Walmart and Nokia, the framework is finally being made available to the wider world of founders, marketers, consultants and creatives.

    Created by global brand strategist Saurabh Uboweja, also the founder of BOD Consulting, the EBM will now form the core of EBI’s in-person training cohorts. The first will be hosted in New Delhi from 9–11 June 2025 at the India Habitat Centre, and a second will follow in Dubai from 19–21 September 2025.

    “We’re launching not just a course, but a global movement,” said Uboweja. “After years of working behind the scenes with some of the biggest names in business, we’re now opening the EPIC Brand Map to a new generation of brand-led business builders.”

    The inaugural Delhi edition will be an intimate affair, limited to 30 handpicked founders and practitioners looking to sharpen their brand-building acumen. Dubai, meanwhile, is set to attract a mix of Middle East and South Asian brand professionals hoping to join the ranks of EPIC strategists.

    With storytelling getting louder, attention spans shrinking, and differentiation harder than ever, EBI’s pitch is simple stop winging it and start mapping it. The message is clear: if your brand strategy feels like a game of darts in the dark, it might be time to go EPIC.

  • Totoro threads the needle as Uniqlo drops Ghibli gear this July

    Totoro threads the needle as Uniqlo drops Ghibli gear this July

    MUMBAI: When fashion meets fantasy, expect a wardrobe straight out of a dream or a Ghibli film. Uniqlo is all set to sprinkle a bit of My Neighbour Totoro magic into your closet. The global apparel giant announced the third edition of its highly anticipated UT collaboration with Studio Ghibli, titled “My Dear”, which will hit shelves across India on July 4, 2025.

    This latest drop from the cult-favourite collaboration features 14 designs celebrating the iconic storytelling and whimsy of Studio Ghibli. Expect artistic nods to beloved films and characters, from soot sprites to forest spirits, brought to life through UT’s crisp cuts and cotton charm.

    The line-up includes 11 styles for men priced between Rs 1,490 and Rs 2,490, and six adorable styles for kids starting at just Rs 990. All items will be available at Uniqlo stores across India and online, making it easier than ever for fans to wear their fandom on their sleeves quite literally.

    The visuals this time around are extra special, thanks to returning Thai artist Kanyada Phatan, known for her delicate interpretations of Ghibli’s universe, and Studio Ghibli’s own legendary producer Toshio Suzuki, whose sketches have been woven into the fabric of the campaign.

    The “My Dear” launch will also be marked by a special event, though Uniqlo is still keeping those details under wraps. Given the previous buzz around this collaboration which first launched in February 2022 fans can expect a summer splash of colour, nostalgia, and cinematic flair.

    With Ghibli’s emotional storytelling and Uniqlo’s wearable minimalism, this capsule collection is bound to enchant both fashionistas and anime loyalists alike. So mark your calendars, because on 4 July, your T-shirt drawer might just get its own fairy-tale ending.

  • Reel luxe: Mukta A2 rolls out Opulence format in Vadodara

    Reel luxe: Mukta A2 rolls out Opulence format in Vadodara

    MUMBAI: Forget first-class, Vadodara’s movie buffs can now go full throttle with ‘Opulence’. Mukta A2 Cinemas has just unveiled its most premium offering yet with the launch of ‘Opulence’, a swanky four-screen multiplex housed inside The Emperor Mall, Vadodara. With 528 plush seats, Dolby Atmos sound, 2K laser projection, all-silver screens, and immersive 3D, it’s not just a trip to the movies, it’s a full-blown affair of the senses.

    From recliners and loungers to couple’s beds and leather sofas, comfort here doesn’t come in small measures. Add to that gourmet snacks, ambient lighting and a thoughtfully designed lobby, and you’ve got yourself a cinematic spa day.

    As a cherry on top, the launch syncs with the release of ‘Housefull 5’, giving audiences a blockbuster to match the opulence.

    “This isn’t just a format, it’s a reimagined moviegoing experience,” said Mukta A2 Cinemas managing director Rahul Puri. “We wanted to launch where the love for cinema runs deep, and Vadodara was the perfect fit.”

    Located beside VCA Ground on Vasna-Bhayli Road, the venue features a gourmet F&B counter with wraps, pizzas, desserts, and a range of beverages all served up in style.

    Satwik Lele, COO, added, “With Opulence, we’ve married comfort, technology, and hospitality into one seamless space. It’s cinema, but elevated.”

    With this launch, Mukta A2 Cinemas which operates nearly 100 screens across India and overseas including Bahrain reaffirms its ambition to lead with innovation. And if the seats at Opulence are anything to go by, they’re not just raising the bar they’re reclining in it.

  • Casagrand bats for a third term with Sourav Ganguly as brand face

    Casagrand bats for a third term with Sourav Ganguly as brand face

    MUMBAI: From test matches to testaments of trust, Sourav Ganguly is playing a long innings off the pitch this time, as the face of Casagrand for the third year running. South India’s leading real estate developer, Casagrand, has extended its partnership with the cricketing icon, reaffirming its national ambitions with a familiar, dependable face. With its eyes set on expanding footprints in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Coimbatore, the brand is sharpening its game plan and who better than the man who redefined Indian leadership on the field?

    Known for his fearless captaincy and ability to build winning teams, Ganguly echoes Casagrand’s own growth story: bold, strategic and future-focused. “A home isn’t just a structure, it’s a dream nurtured,” said Ganguly. “Casagrand reflects that belief by building spaces that care for well-being and legacy. I’m proud to partner with a brand that understands the spirit of togetherness and vision.”

    Founded in 2003, Casagrand boasts over 160 completed projects and a cumulative 53 million square feet developed across urban hubs. In FY 2024–25 alone, the company launched over 18 projects, ramped up activity in Hyderabad and debuted in Pune cementing its reputation as one of India’s fastest-scaling real estate players.

    But Casagrand isn’t just about handing over keys. It’s pioneering post-handover support with features like assured rentals, resale assistance, and maintenance services, giving homeowners more than just square footage peace of mind. Its communities prioritise green spaces, smart layouts and multi-generational amenities, built with a vision that housing should enable legacy, not just lifestyle.

    The renewed Ganguly partnership goes beyond celebrity endorsement, it positions Casagrand as a brand built on shared values of trust, resilience, and ambition. With India’s property landscape getting more competitive, this brand–captain duo seems ready for a new innings complete with boundary-pushing aspirations and a stadium full of dreams.

  • Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    MUMBAI: India’s musical ambitions just got a global mic check. In a pitch-perfect move set to reshape India’s live music industry, Sony Music India has teamed up with Los Angeles-based entertainment heavyweight The Hello Group (THG) to launch THG India, a joint venture that promises to give Indian artists a global stage and the backing to own it.

    Billed as the first international collaboration of this scale for Sony Music India, THG India blends the local label’s deep industry roots with THG’s international clout in live touring, publishing, and artist development. Based out of Mumbai, the new entity aims to provide a complete support system from artist management to worldwide bookings to help Indian talent break into international circuits without missing a beat.

    “This is more than a business deal, it’s a bridge for Indian music to go global,” said Sony Music India managing director Vinit Thakkar. “With THG’s unmatched touring network and our homegrown muscle, we’re unlocking a future where Indian artists can thrive not just locally, but on the world’s biggest stages.”

    From Bts and Enhypen to The Chainsmokers and Twice, THG’s publishing and tour booking legacy is packed with platinum plaques and packed stadiums. THG India now aims to channel that pedigree into India’s booming music scene, which has seen a surge in independent acts and a hungry live-event audience post-pandemic.

    “The talent in India is phenomenal and the world is listening,” added The Hello Group CEO Taylor Jones. “THG India will ensure they’re heard. With a team on the ground and decades of experience behind us, we’re here to make Indian music truly borderless.”

    As live music becomes a serious economic engine for the Indian entertainment industry, the joint venture directly addresses one of its most glaring gaps sophisticated infrastructure for touring and artist development. Backed by Sony’s investment and creative ecosystem, THG India is poised to become the launchpad for the country’s next wave of breakout stars.

    With names like Steve Aoki, I.M of MONSTA X, and Kang Daniel already on its international roster, The Hello Group brings proven star power to the partnership. And for Indian artists who until now have struggled to convert local fandom into global visibility this could be the stage door they’ve been waiting for.

    In a world where music travels faster than ever, THG India is putting Indian artists on the global tour bus no passport needed, just pure talent and the right push.

  • Clean sweep for style as Specta and Gauri Khan surface a tough truth

    Clean sweep for style as Specta and Gauri Khan surface a tough truth

     MUMBAI: “The designer in me prefers beauty; the mother in me prefers safety.” With one evocative line, Gauri Khan slices straight into the modern Indian homeowner’s dilemma and Specta, the engineered quartz brand, serves it up with a sparkling side of design and conscience. Specta’s latest campaign, fronted by the celebrated interior designer and entrepreneur, poses a deceptively simple question: are your kitchen countertops just pretty to look at, or are they also safe enough to eat off? In an age when style and sanitation are often seen as strange bedfellows, Specta’s quartz surfaces promise to bridge that gap with panache.

    In the campaign film, Khan’s voiceover articulates the dual identities of many homeowners aesthetes and caregivers alike and challenges the idea that one must choose between elegance and everyday hygiene. Specta, with its NSF-certified, non-porous, germ- and toxin-free surfaces, makes a compelling case for having it both ways.

    “This campaign is about stirring the pot,” said Specta Quartz Surfaces founder Ankit Jain. “We use kitchen surfaces more than we realise and more roughly than we’d like to admit. Yet, the conversation around what’s safe to touch our food, and our families, is largely silent. We wanted to change that.”

    Designed with Indian kitchens in mind from oil splatters to hot pots and the occasional atta massacre, Specta’s engineered quartz promises durability without compromising on design. The surfaces have been tailored for both performance and polish, making them fit for fast-paced homes and fastidious designers alike.

    The campaign also follows Specta’s continued collaboration with Gauri Khan, including the ‘Gauri Picks’ collection that debuted at the AD Design Show 2024. It reaffirms the brand’s ambition to disrupt the surface segment one hygienic, high-fashion countertop at a time.

    So, the next time someone compliments your chic kitchen the only question worth asking might just be: “But can you eat off it?”

  • Alia Bhatt turns up the gloss with L’Oréal Paris’ bold new hair colour drop

    Alia Bhatt turns up the gloss with L’Oréal Paris’ bold new hair colour drop

    MUMBAI: L’Oréal Paris has turned up the shine dial with its latest campaign featuring global ambassador Alia Bhatt, who’s riding high on her Cannes red carpet glow. The new launch? A revamped Casting Crème Gloss range, now supercharged with glycolic gloss complex and promising 5X glossier hair — minus the ammonia.

    The tagline says it all: “My Time To Shine… Is Now.” 

    And Alia Bhatt, in full glossy glory, is living proof. Flaunting her vibrant locks on-screen, she spells out why this latest innovation is more than just hair colour — it’s a confidence coat.

    The new formula offers visible grey coverage, healthier hair, and a commitment to self-expression. Hair, as the campaign argues, is more than strands — it’s a symbol of transformation, bold choices, and personal reinvention.

    L’Oréal Paris India  general manager Dario Zizzi said:  “Alia has brought incredible energy to the L’Oréal Paris family, and we’re delighted to see her light up the screen in this new campaign with us. With this campaign, we’re celebrating powerful milestones, and the role of beautifully glossy hair in helping women feel confident, proud, and ready to shine. At L’Oréal Paris, we remain committed to delivering cutting-edge innovations that not only elevate hair color but also resonate with our consumers’ evolving aspirations.”

    This drop reaffirms L’Oréal Paris’ spot at the top of the global beauty leaderboard, combining science-backed formulations with empowering messaging. With 40 years of research heritage and a mission to inspire women everywhere, the brand is more than make-up — it’s a movement.

    So whether it’s covering greys or making a glossy statement, L’Oréal’s message is crystal clear: when it comes to self-expression, you’re worth it.

  • Dushyant Panda takes charge as VP marketing at Razorpay, adds SME business P&L to his plate

    Dushyant Panda takes charge as VP marketing at Razorpay, adds SME business P&L to his plate

    MUMBAI: Dushyant Panda has been elevated to vice president, marketing at Razorpay, while also taking the reins of the fintech giant’s SME business P&L. Known for blending brand-building brilliance with business acumen, Panda will now spearhead central marketing and drive growth across Razorpay’s core verticals—including Payments, POS, Engage, and Cross Border.

    In his new role, Panda wears multiple hats: brand custodian across units, growth leader for digital and performance marketing, and business builder with full ownership of SME revenues. He now commands the entire product marketing and creative ecosystem, bringing scale, swagger and sharp positioning to every Razorpay launch.

    Before this, he served as senior director, leading marketing for payments and the SME vertical. Panda joined Razorpay in 2021, quickly climbing the ranks from director of emerging business to now owning the company’s full-stack growth engine.

    A NestAway veteran and Kadence research alumnus, Panda began his career decoding consumer insights in southeast Asia. Now, with Razorpay’s rocket ship under his command, he’s out to turn marketing into a “true growth engine”—in his own words, “why settle for just one challenge?”

    The industry will be watching as Panda attempts to do what marketers rarely get to—run both the story and the store.

  • Care packages from maa, signed by Himalaya

    Care packages from maa, signed by Himalaya

    MUMBAI:  From soft lullabies to messy mealtimes, every mum knows: parenting is part instinct, part endurance and a whole lot of heart. Now, Himalaya Babycare, India’s No.1 doctor-prescribed baby care brand, is honouring this quiet strength with its new digital campaign, ‘Maa Ka Bharosa’.

    Rolling out across social media, the campaign comprises six digital video commercials (DVCs), each spotlighting a hero product from Gentle Baby Lotion to Baby Crème. But these aren’t your run-of-the-mill ads. Instead, they’re warm, slice-of-life vignettes that mirror what millions of mums do every day: massage, wash, soothe, repeat with unconditional trust.

    “These moments may seem ordinary, but they’re sacred,” says Himalaya Wellness Company director of Babycare Chakravarthi N V. “Through this campaign, we’re not just showcasing our products, we’re paying tribute to mothers who choose love and care in every routine.”

    And what are they choosing? Products packed with up to 99 per cent natural origin ingredients, pH 5.5 balance, and key Ayurvedic elements like olive oil, almond oil, and licorice. Each formulation is clinically tested, tear-free, and rooted in Kaumarabhritya the ancient Ayurvedic science of infant wellness.

    Importantly, Himalaya Babycare isn’t just mum-approved; it’s also pediatrician-endorsed, with products trusted by healthcare professionals for newborn use from day one.

    Whether it’s bath time or bedtime, the campaign reminds us that parenting isn’t powered by perfection, but by small, consistent rituals and the brands mums trust to carry them through.

    Because in the end, the best baby care isn’t just gentle on skin. It’s also gentle on a mother’s heart.

  • Keval Parekh cuts through the clutter with promotion to GM – eBusiness at Victorinox India

    Keval Parekh cuts through the clutter with promotion to GM – eBusiness at Victorinox India

    MUMBAI:  After over 15 years of sharpening Victorinox India’s digital chops, Keval Parekh has officially levelled up—taking charge as general manager – eBusiness at the premium Swiss brand’s Indian operations.

    A mainstay at Victorinox since 2010, Parekh has played a pivotal role in scaling the brand’s online presence—liaising with e-commerce giants, crafting sleek digital campaigns, and securing B2B deals with multinational corporates. From handling marketplace strategy to steering website development, he’s been the digital Swiss army knife the brand needed.

    Before his Victorinox innings, Parekh built his financial edge at ICICI Bank, where he drove forex solutions for multinationals and managed rural micro-banking initiatives. Earlier stints at Kewal Kiran Clothing and Print Electronics gave him his grounding in retail and B2B sales.

    Now, as GM – eBusiness, Parekh’s challenge will be to take Victorinox’s digital operations to the next gear—navigating a cluttered marketplace with the brand’s signature precision and flair.

    The message is clear: Victorinox isn’t just about sharp blades—it’s now about sharper digital growth.