News and views about fashion and lifestyle in India

Weekly news updates on lifestyle trends in India

Indian fashion and home accessories companies are increasingly making their presence in global markets. There is focus on product design and quality to meet the user requirements and benchmarks of the global markets. Meanwhile, efforts are on to make Khadi a stylish and global brand. The most recent one is the initiative by Rajasthan Chief Minister to get the branding and designs right for the youth by involving the country’s top designers, packaging technologists and brand managers.

- Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Ritu Kumar on fashion, designing and art

In an interview, Ritu Kumar, India’s queen of fashion informed that she is currently working on a new bridal line and also finishing a collection to be sent to Paris.

She believes “Indian designers are still doing a better job compared to foreigners’ and draws inspiration from the works of M F Hussain and Anjolie Ela Menon.

May 26, 2007
MSN India

Funky footwear

Tie up sandals, stilettos with Swarovski crystals, metallic colours, high-heeled shoes that are designed with zari, aari work and sequins, well-crafted kohlapuris and fashionable sport shoes are the seasons footwear for women.

May26, 2007
The Hindu

Muhurtam for moolah

Indian weddings are big business for professionals, including designers, choreographers, beauticians, bangle sellers, mehandi artists & others. For those who have the pocket, outsourcing the nitty gritty is the best way to enjoy the occasion.

May26, 2007
The Hindu

Costumes as skin

“Indian Costumes” by Anamika Pathak, published by Roli Books, is a history of India’s rich textile tradition.

The book demonstrates how costumes establish cultural identities. The book chronicles the development of Indian costumes from the Indus Civilisation (2600 – 1400 B.C.) to the post-Mughal period (18th -19th centuries). The clothing cultures of northern, eastern and north-eastern, western and central and southern India have been discussed.

Flipping through the book, today’s fashion can be seen in 200-year-old clothes

May 26, 2007
The Hindu

Steel by design

Magpie’s stainless steel goods have become an important lifestyle home accessories brand. Magpie plans to diversify into modular kitchens and open a design studio in Copenhagen and also develop office furniture products.

The company is planning to open exclusive stores; the first one in Mumbai. Magpie is currently present in 2,000 stores across the US, Europe and Asia, including the Museums of Modern Art in Chicago and New York, and Harrods in London and has major earnings through export.

May 25, 2007
Business Standard

Raje spins strategy to make khadi global brand

Rajasthan Khadi and Village Industries Board (RKVIB) will hire top professionals to promote Khadi as a global youth brand. The state plans to involve fashion designers like Ritu Kumar, Raghavendra Rathore, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal and Satya Paul to launch a range of Khadi designer wear under brand name ‘Rajasthan Khadi’ with a logo based on the traditional theme of ‘Mandana’

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Ahmedabad is designing the cotton and woolen collection and Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai is to work on the quality and trendy packaging of 11 product lines of village industries (VI) including honey, papad, soap, food products, mehandi, ayurvedic products and oil.

May 25, 2007
Economic Times

India : Health of handicraft & craftsmen concerned

Under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, artisans were distributed Health Cards and Artisan Identity cards. This scheme is known as the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Samaj Bima Yojna.

The scheme includes total 20000 artisans and craftsmen, who will be provided with insurance policy of Rs1 lakh each. Every artisan will have to pay premium of Rs100/- (for tribal artisan) and Rs200/- (for non-tribal artisan). The equal amount of premium will be given by Government. The amount will be given through NGOs active in the uplift of this community

May25,2007
Fibre2fashion

Fashion show campaigns for 'cool' cotton

Cotton Council International (CCI) organized the ‘Cool with Cotton’ campaign at Kolkata.

Top Kolkata designers Mona-Pali and Kiran Uttam Ghosh and lead models Tapur and Tupur Chatterjee participated in the event.

May 23, 2007
MSN India

Men of high fashion

Dunhill has tied up with S Kumars and plans to launch its range for mens products.

The market for luxury products in India is pegged at around Rs 2,500 crore and growing at a fast clip. Dunhill plans to target the luxury brand market.

May 22,2007
Business Standard

Gitanjali Gems sets up lifestyle arm

Gitanjali Lifestyles Ltd (GLL) is the newly incorporated arm of Gitanjali Gems making a foray into lifestyle space. The company has plans to function as manufacturers and or dealers in multiple areas, including accessories like jewelleries, watches, clocks, leather products, eye wares, perfume, cosmetics or similar products,

The lifestyle company has already partnered with Australia's leading salon chain 'Just Cuts' and would open 250 outlets in the next four years. It has earlier announced plans to tie-up with global brands in the lifestyle space, including spas, fashion stores, fine-dine restaurants, jewellery brands and apparel.

May 21, 2007
Economic Times

Modi-Revlon to start fragrances production

Modi-Revlon, a joint venture between the Modi group and international cosmetics firm Revlon, will start its production unit for perfumes in India by June.

The company would manufacture body sprays, Eau de Toilette (EDT), colognes and aftershave lotions in its new facility at Modinagar. The fragrances product portfolio currently consists of Charlie Cologne, Fire and Ice cologne, Jean Nate after bath splash, Ciara Cologne, Enjoli Spray and Jontue cologne.

May 20, 2007
PTI via Economic Times