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Tag: Steve Madden

  • Steve Madden taps Shanaya Kapoor as first India brand ambassador

    Steve Madden taps Shanaya Kapoor as first India brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Steve Madden is rolling the dice on Hindi cinema’s next generation. The American footwear and accessories brand has named actress Shanaya Kapoor as its first-ever brand ambassador in India, marking a calculated bet on youth appeal as it deepens its retail footprint across the subcontinent.

    Kapoor, whose style straddles contemporary trends and accessible glamour, will front the brand’s autumn-winter 2025 and spring-summer 2026 campaigns. The partnership, brokered through Reliance Brands, aims to position Steve Madden’s shoes and handbags as tools of self-expression for a generation that treats fashion as identity.

    “Steve Madden has always been a go-to brand for me—it’s where I find pieces that are both fashion-forward and incredibly versatile,” says Kapoor. “I am honoured to be their first brand ambassador in India.”

    The announcement arrives alongside the brand’s latest campaign, Step Into Your Story, which pitches its products as declarations of individuality rather than mere accessories. It’s standard-issue empowerment marketing, but Steve Madden reckons India’s fashion-conscious youth will buy it—literally.

    Reliance Brands, which operates over 1,590 stores across India, is banking on Kapoor’s reach to crack a market where aspiration meets affordability. Steve Madden already sits in its sprawling portfolio alongside Burberry, Versace and Tiffany & Co.

    For Kapoor, it’s another rung on the ladder. For Steve Madden, it’s a wager that star power still shifts product. Time will tell if the shoes fit.

  • Akshat Arora takes on role of marketing director at Third Wave Coffee

    Akshat Arora takes on role of marketing director at Third Wave Coffee

    MUMBAI: Akshat Arora has stepped into the position of marketing director at Third Wave Coffee, effective January 2025. With over 13 years of experience in brand management and client relations, he brings expertise in digital marketing, e-commerce, influencer partnerships, and experiential marketing to the team.

    Arora holds an MBA in marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies and a bachelor’s in business economics from Maharaja Agrasen College. His previous roles include leading marketing efforts for Tim Hortons India, where he served as head of marketing and product, and driving digital initiatives at Bisleri International. He also served as Reliance Brands (Steve Madden)-marketing head and Jaguar Land Rover marketing manager for around three years each.

     Said Third Wave Coffee CEO Rajat Luthra: “Akshat’s extensive experience and innovative approach to business strategies makes him an invaluable addition to our team. Given the opportune stage the brand is at, we look forward to partnering with him as we embark on the next phase of our journey. We are confident that Akshat’s leadership will elevate our marketing strategies and deepen our connection with coffee enthusiasts nationwide.”
     
    “Third Wave Coffee has already defined India’s coffee culture with its specialty coffee offerings and customer-first approach. My focus would be on creating a deeper preference for the brand and driving brand love as we continue to innovate and grow. Together with the team, I am committed to strengthening the brand’s legacy of transforming how India experiences coffee,” said Arora.

    In his new role, Akshat will spearhead initiatives to enhance brand resonance, expand digital outreach, build consumer engagement through offline and online channels and strengthen the brand’s competitive edge in an increasingly dynamic market. His appointment comes at an exciting juncture as Third Wave Coffee celebrates the milestone of opening its 125th cafe and continues its expansion across India, reinforcing its leadership in the specialty coffee sector.

    (Updated 21 January 2025 with inputs from Third Wave Coffee.)

  • Geometry Global Encompass Network ropes in Aaraadhee Mehta as VP

    Geometry Global Encompass Network ropes in Aaraadhee Mehta as VP

    MUMBAI: Geometry Global India has appointed Aaradhee Mehta as Geometry Global Encompass Network vice president – shopper marketing. She will report into Group COO Rahul Saigal.

     

    With over nine years of shopper marketing experience, Mehta has worked with clients such as Colgate, Mondelez, Reckitt Benckiser, Unilever, ITC Foods and Personal Care, HP, Diageo, Diesel, Steve Madden and Brooks Brothers. 

     

    Prior to specialising in shopper marketing, Mehta worked in agencies such as Lowe, JWT and Bates. 

     

    Mehta said, “I’m excited to lead the shopper marketing practice for the country’s largest experiential marketing agency. I am looking forward to working with clients such as Mondelez and Hindustan Unilever and growing our shopper practice in India.”

     

    Mehta’s appointment comes just weeks after the Geometry Global and Encompass Network launch was announced.

  • Scarecrow wins creative duties of Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden and Quiksilver

    Scarecrow wins creative duties of Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden and Quiksilver

    MUMBAI:  Scarecrow Communications has been appointed as the creative agency to handle three of the fashion world’s most renowned brands – Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden and Quiksilver – as they foray to scorch up the Indian fashion scene. 

    The accounts were awarded to Scarecrow without any pitch process. All three brands have entered India through a joint venture with Reliance Brands, a source from Reliance brands confirmed.  

    Scarecrow Communications founder director Manish Bhatt is thrilled to add some glam quotient to the agency’s clientele. “What makes this triple acquisition really exciting is the fact that while all three brands are iconic, each has a unique tone of voice. They all have done some really brave, clutter-breaking work, globally. It’s indeed a privilege to work on brands with such great legacy.”

    Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole marketing head Kavita Khiara added “Increasingly fashion consumers expect from the brands that they adorn the same tonality that is the signature to its clothing and accessories ; bringing in a freshness and yet carrying forward the soul of the brand is a communication challenge that we see the team at Scarecrow well adept at handling.”

     

     Scarecrow Communication senior creative director Sarvesh Raikar said, “Fashion advertising has really evolved, globally. We have seen apparel catalogues sold as music albums! Not just ATL and digital, but even retail and promo-led communication offers huge scope for innovations today. Our young, tech-savvy and highly talented team makes us believe these brands are right up our alley!”

     

     The agency has won numerous awards and recognitions in a short span. The latest being named as the Agency of the Year at Mirchi Kaan Awards, that was held on 17 April, 2014, where many of the country’s big agencies were also contenders.