Tag: Anita Dongre

  • Anita Dongre shines in Beverly Hills

    Anita Dongre shines in Beverly Hills

    MUMBAI: Anita Dongre has brought a touch of Rajasthan to Rodeo Drive country. The celebrated Indian designer has opened her 3,000 square feet  flagship boutique on Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, becoming the first Indian designer to debut a store in this iconic fashion district.

    This new outpost is Dongre’s fourth international store after New York and Dubai, a milestone that underscores her mission of “taking India to the world.”

    Co-hosted by Mindy Kaling and Poorna Jagannathan, the launch saw a gathering of South Asian trailblazers from Hollywood and fashion, including Jay Shetty, Payal Kadakia, Richa Moorjani, Deepica Mutyala, and Nidhi Sunil, among others. Together, they celebrated a designer who has long woven culture, craftsmanship, and conscience into couture.

    The store itself feels like a serene slice of Rajasthan, its hand-painted Pichhwai walls, embroidered cushions, and bespoke wallpaper handcrafted by Indian artisans. Every corner reflects Dongre’s signature balance of mindful luxury and timeless artistry.

    At the centre stands a striking elephant matriarch and calf installation from The Great Elephant Migration, an art movement supporting sustainability and indigenous craft communities. Made from invasive lantana weeds, the sculptures are both art and activism, a fitting metaphor for Dongre’s eco-conscious vision.

    “Every creation we make is touched by the hands of skilled women artisans whose stories inspire our work,” said Dongre. “Bringing their artistry to Beverly Hills isn’t just about fashion, it’s about giving India’s craftspeople the global platform they deserve.”

    Rooted in Rajasthan yet globally resonant, Dongre continues to redefine what modern Indian luxury looks like: authentic, ethical, and exquisitely made. With her Beverly Hills store, she adds another glittering thread to her international legacy.

  • Cab Experiences drives ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ in Mumbai for women’s financial independence

    Cab Experiences drives ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ in Mumbai for women’s financial independence

    Mumbai: The Mumbai edition of ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ scheduled to take place in December, will represent the cultural diversity and unity of India, through the medium of the Indian textile, the traditional saree. The national event organised by the ministry of textiles and the Government of India is being curated by Cab Experiences, a brand solution agency known for its bold ideas, creativity and impactful brand transformations.  The event with a mix of activities, coinciding with an exhibition-cum-sales- “Gandhi Shilp Bazaar- National” is organised to promote handloom sari culture in India, inviting the participation of women from various strata of society, showcasing distinctive ways of draping the sari, hereby presenting India as a country having “Unity in Diversity”.

    The event’s core is women, representing diverse backgrounds, uniting in a Walkathon wearing sarees. This will symbolise the beautiful union of women from varied walks of life, standing together for a common cause for the nation.

    Previously, the walkathon was successfully held in Surat with 15000 sari-clad women walking together showcasing Indian culture. The Mumbai edition of ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ will also exhibit the rich cultural diversity of the country and will jointly be driven by a Member of Lok Sabha, Union State Minister of Textiles,  Darshana Jardosh and Member of Parliament  Poonam Mahajan. The event will also witness celebrities across the industry like Anita Dongre, Shaina NC, Faye D’Souza, Sonali Bendre, Amruta Fadnavis, Mini Mathur, Sonali Kulkarni, Arpita Mehta and many more.

    The walkathon will be a tribute to the rich legacy of the Indian handloom industry and will see the enthusiastic participation of 5000 women including leading women professionals, Bollywood and television celebrities, sports personalities, businesswomen, designers, influencers, homemakers, women from the music industry as well as transgender/ LGBTQ activists.

    Among the many strong influential personalities will be Faye D’souza, Anita Dongre, Dr Jaishree Sharad, Sonali Bendre, Dolly Jain, Shaina NC and Amruta Fadnavis. The event will also see Angadwadi women considered as the main frontline health workers in India and women from the Koli community- one of the biggest indigenous groups in Maharashtra renowned for their extensive cultural legacy and traditions. The walkathon aims to bring all these extraordinary women personalities under a unified platform of  One Bharat Sari Walkathon – to walk with pride for the nation, upholding the power of the traditional saree that symbolizes women’s empowerment and cultural identity. Mumbai being the financial capital of India, the event will also be promoting the cause of financial independence as the underlying theme for the Walkathon. This message will be driven through participating brands, celebrities and the media.

    MOS Darshana Jardosh added, “The ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ event holds particular significance in Mumbai, the financial capital of India, where the spirit of womanhood is deeply embedded in every aspect of its existence. The participation of women from various backgrounds, draped in saris representing their distinct regional styles, will create a beautiful tapestry of diversity. This not only resonates with the vibrant essence of Mumbai but also adds a layer of deep cultural significance to the walkathon. By combining the economic, cultural, and regional elements, the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is poised to make a meaningful impact, celebrating the unity in diversity that characterizes India while simultaneously promoting the enduring legacy of handloom craftsmanship.”

    Lok Sabha member of parliament Poonam Mahajan said, “I believe that sari is not just a garment but a symbol of women’s financial independence and freedom.  The ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ aims to bring women on a platform that supports the Indian textile industry and promotes women’s empowerment. Regardless of whether it’s the CEO of a multinational company or a Koli woman from the indigenous Maharashtrian tribe, each participant will walk the marathon adorned in a traditional saree. This unification through the dignity of labour and a shared love for Indian culture will be the common thread among all participants.”

    CAB Experiences, founder partner and director Rajesh KV quoted as, “  I am thrilled to share that the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is set to make history by bringing together an incredibly diverse group of women. From the vibrant Koli community to dedicated Anganwadi women, accomplished professionals, passionate transgender and LGBTQ activists, to the heart and soul of our homes, the homemakers – this walkathon will unfold as a tapestry of inclusivity, representing the very essence of our country and its rich culture. What makes this event truly unique is the unprecedented collaboration of women from all walks of life. It goes beyond being a simple walkathon; it’s a powerful narrative of encouragement and support for women’s empowerment. A key aspect of this narrative will be positioning the sari as a national symbol and a source of pride for India.”

    The overarching strategy for the “One Bharat Sari Walkathon” is to transform it into a prominent brand narrative that not only highlights the cultural and economic significance of Indian textiles, especially saris but also aligns with the cause of empowering women financially. The goal is to establish the walkathon as a platform for impactful collaborations with multiple brands and associations that share a commitment to women’s financial empowerment. This strategic focus not only ties the walkathon to the broader narrative of India’s progress but also creates a sense of national identity and unity around the sari. The aim is to make the “One Bharat Sari Walkathon” a dynamic and influential platform that fosters positive change, promotes economic empowerment, and celebrates the cultural heritage of India.  It also involves crafting compelling stories and messages that resonate with a diverse audience, emphasizing the walkathon as more than just an event. The focus will be on building emotional connections and showcasing how the association with India, the sari, and various causes can attract a wide range of brands and personalities. By aligning with the CSR goals of participating brands, the platform becomes an avenue for them to contribute to positive social impact.

    The vision for the future of the ‘One Bharat Sari Walkathon’ is global expansion, transcending borders to replicate the event across India and abroad. This ambitious endeavour aims to showcase inclusivity by delving into diverse facets of identity and fashion on a worldwide stage. In this vision, the walkathon becomes a catalyst for tangible change – increasing the income of weavers and instilling a sense of pride in their craft. The event is not just a fashion statement; it’s a movement with a profound social, cultural, and economic impact on local communities and an indelible mark on the world stage. 

  • Condé Nast India, Myntra, TLC, Discovery Plus join hands for a cause

    Condé Nast India, Myntra, TLC, Discovery Plus join hands for a cause

    NEW DELHI: Condé Nast India announces the launch of ‘Behind the Mask’, a mammoth, multilayered social awareness campaign with Myntra, helmed by a five-episode video series, to be showcased on TLC, TLC HD and Discovery Plus with a call-to-action that benefits Indian karigars (craftspeople). These videos ‘unmask’ five of India’s leading fashion designers – Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta and Rahul Mishra on film, giving us an intimate peek into their lives during the pandemic. In these episodes, each designer also creates a prototype of a mask using elements from Indian art and culture, based on the current times. These designs then serve as inspiration for five unique mask collections, each an ode to a craft or a community. Myntra will be offering an assortment of 34 styles and 20 designs that will be available in packs of one, four, five and 20.

    Condé Nast India managing director Alex Kuruvilla elaborates, “Behind the Mask’ is one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever undertaken. From video concept and production to packaging and product design to bringing on board multiple partners, this activity was entirely orchestrated by Condé Nast India during the lockdown, managed remotely by multiple stakeholders. Our objective is twofold: to promote the wearing of masks, and to raise funds for the karigars (artisans) who tirelessly work behind the scenes of the Indian textile industry and are among those worst hit by the pandemic. This initiative achieves the first objective by mass-producing masks inspired by the designers’ prototypes. And it raises funds by donating all profits from the sales of these masks to GiveIndia—all this while creating great content that is at the core of Condé Nast India’s legacy.”

    This is also the first time two Condé Nast India titles, Vogue and GQ, have joined forces for a campaign of this scale. What makes this project interesting is the extent of collaboration required to pull it off, especially since it was entirely produced in the era of lockdown and self-isolation where nothing but the “essential” was permitted. The making of the video series is a case study in itself, with everything from conceptualising to scripting and shooting done remotely, with help from the designers’ loved ones who happily agreed to play co-filmmakers. Using mobile phones and digital cameras, with extensive notes from the director and DOP and briefings over video calls, the team managed to pull off these videos, that too in broadcast specifications.

    To execute this project, Condé Nast India brought onboard Myntra to produce and sell the masks, TLC, TLC HD to broadcast and Discovery Plus to stream the episodes, and GiveIndia to ensure the profits from the sales reach the right NGOs.

    Myntra CEO Amar Nagaram added, “Behind the Mask’ is an extraordinary initiative, a coming together of enthusiastic and dedicated folks for a common, but the profound cause. We wholeheartedly appreciate the efforts of Condé Nast and are proud to be a part of this ‘one-of-a-kind’ association. Our wide shopper base and reach will enable these masks, inspired by the concepts of India’s leading fashions designers, to reach millions of consumers across the country, thereby supporting this fundraiser campaign in a big way.”

    Discovery Managing Director south Asia- Megha Tata said, “Given the pandemic, there is a need for various stakeholders to come together for the larger good of society. This cause led initiative has the potential to engage audiences in a very endearing way and leave an indelible mark on the audiences. We are proud to have played our part in supporting Kaarigars and remain committed to support such meaningful initiatives in the future as well.”

    GiveIndia President Ashok Kumar ER says: "Our crafts artisans represent the backbone of India's rich heritage and these have been extremely challenging times for them. So we are very grateful that through this partnership Condé Nast India will not only support the karigars but also highlight the crucial role they play in the textile industry. For those of us continuing to stay safe at home, 'Behind The Mask' also acts as a reminder not to take the lives of those less fortunate for granted. Since mid-March GiveIndia has been supporting communities worst-hit by the COVID2019 crisis through our India COVID Response Fund, having disbursed Rs 114+ crore so far. And we welcome Condé Nast India's contribution."

    The episodes will be streamed on the Myntra app on 12 August 2020 and aired on TLC and TLC HD and streamed on Discovery + on 17 August/18 August 2020. The masks will be available for sale on Myntra from 12 August onwards.

    To buy the masks go to www.myntra.com

  • Bulbul partners Unicommerce to grow live streaming eCommerce

    Bulbul partners Unicommerce to grow live streaming eCommerce

    New Delhi: Bulbul, a live video shopping app, signed up with Unicommerce, a leading e-commerce enablement technology platform for managing the growth of its operations.

    Bulbul partnered with Unicommerce to manage its growing orders. With Unicommerce’s warehouse management and vendor panel, Bulbul gets access to fulfilment technology to scale up the operations. It will also enable seamless fulfillment from the warehouse to the end customer and ensure the availability of a wider catalog through a panel which systematically updates availability of inventory.

    Unicommerce will also help BulBul ensure that the seller base for the marketplace grows very quickly, enabling the marketplace to meet the growing consumer demand successfully.

    “We continue to service new industries and are excited by the prospect of associating with Bulbul TV, who are heralding a new innovation in the social commerce domain, by ensuring an engaging video-based user interface for the end consumers. Serving as the backbone of such an exponentially growing social commerce platform has been a truly enriching experience for the team. We have been able to successfully implement the nuances that the new business models required,” says Kapil Makhija, CEO, Unicommerce.

    On Bulbul users watch product videos and also interact live with the hosts to know more about the products. It sells items like gadgets, home, kitchen, apparel, cosmetics, fitness, health, beauty, and jewellery. The app launched in March 2019, has scaled to 2.5 Lakh orders a month and a GMV of Rs. 100 M.

    Due to low prices of data, video consumption has grown exponentially, particularly in mid-tier cities. Players like Bulbul are leveraging video, gamificaiton, WhatsApp distribution, group buying behaviour etc to engage better with this audience. Social media channels such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok are also driving significant engagement across millions of users, with video content being shared 13 more times than image and text combined.

    Bulbul is Unicommerce’s first partnership with a live video shopping platform. Unicommerce is a pioneer in servicing eCommerce sector with clients such as House of Anita Dongre, Being Human, TCNS (owner of W, Aurelia etc.) which sell multi-brand products across multiple channels.

    Atit Jain, COO & Co-founder of Bulbul said, “As we scale up our operations, it is important to invest in the right technology platforms and partners to ensure that we are able to offer a superior experience to our customers. With a robust and scalable solution like Unicommerce as our warehouse management and vendor panel solution, we are fairly confident that we will be able to manage our supply chain operations much more seamlessly and we would be better prepared for our next phase of exponential growth.”

  • A BIG BREAK FOR BUDDING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, PARTICIPATE IN INORBIT PINK POWER IN ASSOCIATION WITH AND

    A BIG BREAK FOR BUDDING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, PARTICIPATE IN INORBIT PINK POWER IN ASSOCIATION WITH AND

    Inorbit’s Pink Power just got bigger and better! Inorbit mall is proud to announce its collaboration with AND, for its ongoing Pink Power campaign, launched on March 8th. This initiative gives female entrepreneurs a platform to build their brands at Inorbit mall across India- Mumbai (Malad and Vashi), Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Vadodara. The most impressive business venture will receive free retail space at the mall for a period of 9 months.

    Inorbit will also provide marketing support throughout the 9 month period which will help improve brand visibility. All winners will be able to participate in the various events at the mall. In addition to this, the winner gets a chance to attend a mentorship session by the founder of AND, celebrated designer Anita Dongre. In this session, the promising entrepreneurs will get insight and guidance on the direction of their business from the business magnate herself.

    AND is a brand that believes in celebrating independent and strong women. It’s loved by the Indian woman for over 2 decades for its contemporary styles and silhouettes. With its #ANDiRISE initiative, AND celebrates the never give up spirit of women who fearlessly chase their dreams despite the challenges they face.

    https://www.andindia.com/iRise/

    Speaking about the association, Founder and Chief Creative officer, Anita Dongre says, “As an entrepreneur, I understand the challenges that new businesses face when looking for retail spaces. It has always been our mission and ideology at AND to empower and support women for their achievements. With Pink Power, I encourage every businesswoman to use this opportunity to help their brand flourish.”

    “A lot of women have great business ideas but don’t have the resources or the platform to bring them to life. Pink Power is an effort to expose enthusiastic businesswomen to a shopping mall platform without having to incur rental costs for 9 months. We sincerely thank Anita Dongre for extending her support towards this initiative. Pink Power is grateful towards the superb mentorship opportunity that is being provided for the winner this year.” said Mr. Rajneesh Mahajan, CEO, Inorbit Malls.

    All women entrepreneurs based across these cities are invited to submit their existing business plan – big or small – by logging on to www.inorbit.in/pinkpower. The online form gives women options to apply under categories such as apparel, accessories, footwear, bags, stationery (gift articles), handicrafts, home décor, and food & beverages. The last day of the registration is April 15, 2019.

    Please find the below link for the campaign video for your perusal:

  • VMLY&R INDIA APPOINTED TO REVAMP ANITA DONGRE’S WEBSITE

    VMLY&R INDIA APPOINTED TO REVAMP ANITA DONGRE’S WEBSITE

    MUMBAI: Fashion designer Anita Dongre’s label House of Anita Dongre has appointed VMLY&R India, a full-service global digital marketing agency, to work on the user experience and creative revamp of the website.

    In over thirty years as a fashion designer, Anita Dongre offers bespoke bridalwear, couture, pret, menswear and handcrafted jewellery by drawing her inspiration from Rajasthan’s rich heritage. Showcasing Indian aesthetics with a modern sensibility through its different collections, Anita Dongre’s brand is a tribute to India’s handrafted traditions and fashions them into contemporary tales. Recognized for her aesthetic of effortless luxury, Anita Dongre is currently revamping her stores in New York and simultaneously launching her brand’s website. Anita Dongre partnered with VMLY&R India to undertake this new challenge.

    As part of the win, VMLY&R has been tasked to revamp the user experience and visual journey on the website for both – a US luxury consumer looking to shop for sustainable contemporary fashion (Grassroot) as well as an Indian consumer looking for rich ethnic wear without alienating one user from the other.

    In revamping the user experience and visual journey on the website, VMLY&R India has to bear in mind Anita Dongre’s two main targets. On one hand a US luxury consumer, looking to shop for sustainable contemporary fashion and on the other hand, an Indian consumer on the lookout for rich ethnic wear. The main challenge lies in not alienating one user form the other.

    Commenting on the appointment, Udit Bhambri, Country Head, VMLY&R India mentioned  ”VMLY&R has always come up with innovative ways and we are geared to deliver a more desirable user experience and out of the box ideas to revamp the website. It has been a delightful experience by working together towards one goal and that is by giving a better, more personalized user experience.“

    Talking about the association, Deepikesh Hira, Head – Ecommerce, Label Anita Dongre said “Here the objective is to nurture our treasure chest of handcrafted traditions by reviving, sustaining and empowering the arts and artisans by ensuring continuous work and creating livelihoods. With our new vision, digital plays a leading role and we have found perfect partners in VMLY&R India to work and deliver a better user experience and revamp the website creatively to give it an innovative touch. “

  • RIL is collaborating with Lakme Fashion Week and designer Anita Dongre

    RIL is collaborating with Lakme Fashion Week and designer Anita Dongre

    MUMBAI: World Environment Day – 2018 is going to be special as India is hosting global celebrations of the event today. To commemorate the occasion, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has launched a special T-shirt, branded ‘The Earth Tee’ and designed by renowned fashion designer Anita Dongre, under its unique programme – ‘Fashion for Earth’.

    The idea is to nudge people to switch to fashion that not only enhances aesthetics but also help conserve the environment and our planet.

    During the launch of R|Elan™, at the IMG Reliance’s Lakme Fashion Week in January 2018, RIL collected post-consumer (used) PET bottles from the venue – Jio Garden at the BKC. Those have since been processed, recycled and converted into R|Elan™ GreenGold fabrics – one of the greenest fabrics using which Anita Dongre has designed and created the elegant ‘The Earth Tee’.

    This limited edition ‘The Earth Tee’ has been presented to celebrities, selected by IMG Reliance & Anita Dongre, to join the ‘Fashion for Earth’ movement and spot ‘The Earth Tee’ initiatives.

    RIL a leader in sustainable business development is focusing on promoting the concept of Circular Economy. Earlier this year, at the Lakmé Fashion Week, incidentally – at the same time that R|Elan™ fabrics was launched with Anita Dongre as a design partner – RIL’s R|Elan has launched ‘Fashion for Earth’ an ongoing program to drive awareness pertaining to sustainable fabrics, fashion & living.

    The Earth Tee is the latest initiatives from this program to commemorate the ‘World Environment Day’.

    “Reliance is committed to ensure environmentally sustainable and responsible operations to achieve highest standards of excellence. The ‘Fashion for Earth’ is our endeavour to make people participate in our efforts to conserve environment and the planet. The Earth Tee, designed by Anita Dongre, depicts the new paradigm of environmentally responsible fashion. The initiative is launched to celebrate the initiation of this long-term relationship, as we decided to jointly promote The Earth Tee with Anita Dongre and Lakmé Fashion Week as partners”, a RIL spokesperson said. 

    Reliance Industries, the owner of brand R|Elan, is one of the largest recycler of PET bottles in India, recycling 2.2 billion PET bottles a year.

    The R|Elan GreenGold, made from recycled PET, substantially reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, and cuts down on water usage as well. The fabric is made from pre-dyed fibres that doesn’t require much water. Whatever little water is required, 90% of it is recycled.   

    RIL is the only company in the world that has built a complete circle – right from creation of PET Resin for bottles, and collection of discarded bottles to converting them to Recron GreenGold eco-friendly polyester fibre, which in turn is converted to R|Elan GreenGold fabric for the manufacture of high-fashion apparels.

  • Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show by Anita Dongre

    Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show by Anita Dongre

    Concept: MusicScapes

    This year, the fashion showcase at the Mercedes Golf Tournament is all about rhythm and music put together in a distinctive style. An excellent way to express rhythm is through stylized fashion showcase.

    Music is a poignant way to express depth and simplicity. Fashion is the finest way to express style and elegance. The theme Music Scapes celebrates both music and fashion on the same platform in a simple yet elegant entertainment format.

    The Collection:

    The collection has been specially designed keeping in mind the theme for the Mercedes Trophy. Each of the five sequences represents a different style of music and rhythm.

    The collection is inspired by the Mercedes-Benz attributes of Attitude, Technology, Tradition, Different Definition and Sophistication.
    Each of these attributes are linked to a distinctive genre of music and presented as a musical élange of fashion excellence.

    Designer: Anita Dongre

    Anita Dongre is renowned designer, who has been a part of the fashion industry over 15 years. Both her couture label and pr?t line ‘AND’ are available across India. Anita’s clothes have always been synonymous with elegance and sophistication.