FarahKhanAli

Wills Lifestyle, ITC’s premium fashion brand, announced that renowned jewellery designer and one of the most active celebrity on Twitter Farah Khan Ali is the ‘Wills Twitter Face’ at the forthcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, India’s foremost fashion and trade event on March 15, 2010.

Wills Lifestyle has initiated this association with @FarahKhanAli to explore the platform of new age media to engage with the patrons of WIFW in an interesting fashion.  It is an effort taken towards striking an instant connect with its patrons and followers of the fashion week. Recognizing the growing popularity of Twitter in India and especially of @FarahKhanAli on this platform, Wills Lifestyle decided to take on board @FarahKhanAli as the ‘Wills Twitter Face’ to cover the event for this medium.

In the last edition of WIFW, for the very first time in the world, celebrity – @GulPanag had tweeted directly from the event venue on the on-goings of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. She attended all the fashion shows and tweeted pictures of the ramp show and her at the fashion week which created a lot of buzz on Twitter.

@FarahKhanAli will be present at the venue on all five action-packed days to review the shows and tweet on the daily dose of fashion week news. She will connect with her followers (which are more than 13000) and share her views on the ramp shows, upload pictures of the event and respond to tweets. All Tweeple can now follow @FarahKhanAli and get live updates from the event itself! They also stand to win invites to the event by following her updates.

Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive – ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Division, said, “This season we are delighted to associate with Farah Khan Ali to be the ‘Wills Twitter face’ of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Farah Khan Ali is a regular on twitter and enjoys a lot of support and fan following on the website. Through this association we will be able to reach out to a large fan following on Twitter and create excitement around WIFW.”

Speaking on this association, Designer Farah Khan Ali said “I am excited to be associated with Wills Lifestyle in this unique way. I promise to bring to my followers regular updates from the venue and to give them a glimpse of the fashion’s grandest celebration, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Watch-out for my tweets as you stand to win a chance to get invited to the event. We will surely have a lot of fun on Twitter!”

Rajesh Pratap Singh, Sunil Sethi and Atul Chand with models

Wills Lifestyle, ITC’s premium fashion brand, announced that Rajesh Pratap Singh will be the designer for Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale at the forthcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Asia’s biggest and India’s premiere fashion & trade event on March 05,2010 at ITC Maurya.

Wills Lifestyle further strengthens its association with the internationally applauded designer as this is the second time that Rajesh Pratap Singh is the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale Designer. This season the two pioneers in style and innovation once again come together to set new benchmarks in creativity and fashion.

Atul Chand, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Sunil Sethi(From left)

Announcing this at ITC Maurya, Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive – ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Divison, said, “Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale has always set new benchmarks in creativity and has been a great mix of fashion and entertainment. This season one of India’s most distinguished and celebrated fashion designers, Rajesh Pratap Singh, will be taking the same tradition forward and will create magic on the ramp in his signature style.

He further added, “At Wills Lifestyle, we have embarked on a unique initiative – of a corporate partnership with India’s leading designers to retail their exclusive collections at our stores and making designer-wear accessible to our customers and thus furthering the agenda of promoting the business of fashion. This coming season, Rajesh will be designing an exclusive collection for Wills Lifestyle stores across the country.”

Models representing Rajesh Pratap Singh

The grand finale collection called ‘Bespoke Tales’ is inspired by the evolution of making of clothes and will showcase new experiments with textiles, shapes and colours. Most importantly, it is an honest look at the art and craft of the trade. Rajesh Pratap Singh will also create an exclusive collection for Wills Lifestyle inspired by the grand finale theme that will be retailed from Wills Lifestyle stores across the country in September 2010.

Mr. Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, “We are delighted to have Rajesh Pratap Singh once again as the Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale designer at the upcoming edition of the WIFW. He is one of the most respected designers of the Indian fashion fraternity and we are very proud of his achievements. This accolade further emphasizes our belief in his ability to design garments that epitomizes perfection and simplicity.  His approach towards strong aesthetics has helped Indian fashion reach a global appeal. We are convinced that he will put forward an exciting collection that is dynamic and meaningful for the forthcoming 15th edition of WIFW.”

Further Sunil Sethi added, “He liked the simplicity of Pratap what he designed for Mr. Sunil for this occasion. Presenting Gandhi je on shirt is something depicting purity of fashion. It defines the global meaning of purity in all concerns.”

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Pratap Singh said, “It is wonderful to be back as the Wills Lifestyle grand finale designer. It is the perfect platform for me to be able to extend my aesthetic to. Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week has always played an important role in India’s creative fashion success stories and I’m delighted to close the week once again.”

The grand finale collection is inspired by the evolution of making of clothes and will showcase new experiments with textiles, shapes and colours. Most importantly, it is an honest look at the art and craft of the trade, the people who constitute the industry and dialogues within the fashion industry.

The Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale will take place on Sunday, 28 March 2010 in New Delhi at NSIC, Okhla, Phase III.

Photo by Lalan Ram

New Delhi, December, 2009: 99labels a pioneering innovative concept, brought to India for the first time, launched its services on December 3, 2009 with its first sale of Satya Paul sarees. Partnering national and international brands, Brands on sale will include luxury as well as premium brands meeting the needs of a variety of users. The site will present Indian designer wear brands in the first month followed by international brands.

99labels has developed an error-proof sizing system with a ‘how-to-measure-yourself’ guide and size charts specific to individual brands.

After the inaugural sale of Satya Paul merchandise, 99labels will have sales of Indian Designerwear brands such as Ashish Soni, Payal Jain and Rocky S and high-street brands such as Van Heusen and Louis Philippe in the coming weeks. These will be followed with a series of name brand sales that include international name watches to French kids wear brand to an Italian couture brand. Consumers are always on the look out for fashionable merchandise at the right price.

We aim is to cultivate and maintain customer loyalty by providing superior quality pressure sensitive labels, unsurpassed customer service, and a lead-time that will exceed customer expectations through integrity, flexibility, innovation, and employee dedication.

Team99 is at work to ensure that, your 99labels shopping experience is one that leaves you happy, satisfied, and ready for more! Our smorgasbord of offerings is such that “there’s sure to be something for every taste and every budget”, so step in for an impulse little buy or go for the killer designer splurge! With 99labels you’re right on the button.

In an interview with Ishita Swarup, founder member of 99Labels VM got to know about the inside story of the brand.

1) What is the concept behind formation of 99labels.com?

The concept behind 99 labels is to build an exclusive online platform which organizes private, online event based sales of well-established luxury & premium brands, for members only and membership is strictly by invitation. The concept behind the 99Labels is to create a space  or platform for brands to liquidate their previous season’s excess stock in a closed controlled web environment to their target audience without any brand identity dilution.

2)            50% OFF, 50+45% OFF,70% OFF. Do you want to hit the same iron when it is hot by putting 70 % off? As per my knowledge, this has become the industry trend of putting OFF certain % on every item during sale period. Please comment on them.

99Labels  is not a another discounting platform; the idea behind is to provide brands a space within which they can exhibit their leftover superior quality selected merchandise from previous season’s  to a closed user group and realize sales. It doesn’t work on a principle where first merchandise pricing is inflated and later the same is put on sale. Here we are talking deep discounts on great brands, which would benefit the customer.

3)  70% OFF! Sounds great. Normally the cost of each garment is 5 times in case of these brands like zara, mango and Walmart as per my knowledge. I served export industry for 8 years for many brands, which include above said brand also. Is it the same business strategy used in 99labels.com?

Your question while valid concerns the pricing strategy employed by brands which is not something we can not comment on. Our promise is that we will offer deep discounts on great merchandise across categories.

4) If I am not wrong, sometimes stock or previous season collection is showcased in sale time? Any comments please specify.

Answered in the above question

5)  Designer’s garments are still acceptable. But how come brand like Van Heusen and designer’s garments are breathing under one roof?

That’s the beauty of the time linked event sales concept where every brand would be off the shelf in 5-7 days and chances of any collision of business interest for any brand is negligible. Versatility across product and brand offering will really help us to establish 99Labels as a smart shopping platform from consumers across a broad spectrum.

6)            What do you think about shopping via credit card or through online banking? Would you like to comment on safety and security measures that you have taken in order to ensure the customer’s reliability?

We are using a third party reliable and certified payment gateway through which all the transaction are being facilitated. We and Payment Gateway do not capture any card information but take the user to the concerned banks server and process the transaction. In order to take care of certain reservations in buying online using credit/ debit/ online banking methods, we are also offering a COD (Cash on delivery) option to our members.

7)  What is the annual sale target for this financial year?

This is something, which we can’t disclose as of now. We would like to add that we have a very aggressive approach to sales and would like to emerge as a leader in the Event based Sale Model in India.

8)  What do you think about the sale offline (store)? How does it make difference to you while selling online?

We are not trying to replace store selling but adding to it by offering another channel which has the added advantages of being accessible by a huge audience not bound by geography as well as convenience of use from anywhere and anytime.

We have tried our best to provide a real time experience by building in many features into the site such as a  flexible return policy, extra zoom options, size charts, size measuring guides, easy payment options including ‘cash on deliver’, quick and efficient delivery systems. We have sections for Customer feedback and an unparalleled customer support system, which in the long run will help us win customer loyalty.

9)  Would you like to comment on internet selling awareness in India? How does it affect your business?

Indian online audience has evolved phenomenally over the last 5 years and as a result, people are more open & confident to swipe their cards online than ever before.  The ever increasing number of online transactions is a clear indication to the fact that ecommerce is arguably the future of business in India.

10)  You have talked about size chart in your press release. India is such a diverse country which does not have any figure size. Which tools/measures have you taken in order to combat with this diverse size in Indian perspective?

99labels has developed an error-proof sizing system with a ‘how-to-measure-yourself’ guide and size charts specific to individual brands to help people find their size in that brand. We have also provided the corresponding US / UK sizes for each brand.

11)          Off course, there would be an issue of measurement, which can be minimized only via alteration. Is there any facility of alteration for your customer? If yes, is this chargeable or free? Please specify

Currently we have no facility for alteration. In any case sizing issues would only be applicable for apparel which makes up less than 50% of the merchandise on offer. 99 labels also have a flexible & easy return policy across most products in case the customer is not satisfied with the merchandise.

12)          At last what is your USP: Unique Selling Point?

USP – 99Labels.com is a members only smarts shoppers club, where Great Brands are available at Great Prices.

Entrepreneur Madhukar Kumar with Designer Nera Nath

Entrepreneur Madhukar Kumar and Designer Nera Nath hosted a JAZZ Brunch on Jan 10,2009 at Orange Hara Restro Bar in a musical way. ‘Lyra’, a JAZZ band entertained the guest with their harmonious performance. This brunch was followed by delicious food along with the variety of cocktails.

Samant Chauhan, Charu Parashar with her husband Anupam Parashar, Sculptor Simona Bocchi plus models like Binita and Daria were seen enjoying the music.

Models Binita, Daria with Enterpreneur Madhukar

Hostess Neera Nath, who has done the interiors of the place, was seen enjoying the jazz music. Orange Hara Restro Bar has been recently revamped to the Young & Urban People especially to those with a creative bend of mind and a taste for ethnic lifestyle such as musicians, artists and designers. The menu includes varieties of kebabs, curries and rotis.

From Left  Ken Ghosh( The Director of the Movie), Shahid Kapur and Genelia D’Souza at Ramada, New Delhi on Jan 10,2010.

Chance pe Dance, a movie by UTV motion pictures is all set for the release on Jan 15, 2010. On a promotional event held at Ramada, New Delhi on Jan 10, 2010, Ken Ghosh told, “The script of the movie was re-written to add romance in the movie.  This is the story of a struggler (upcoming actor) called Samir who is hardworking and strives for his one goal of becoming an actor. The movie emphasizes the normal struggling life where a struggler has to face problems like rent of house, petrol of car and many other hurdles.” The director Ken Ghosh has left no boulders unturned to play the sentiments of a so called struggler. The movie scene like spending night in the car is something what is common in day-to-day life where every struggler faces such situation.

Genelia at Chance pe Dance promotion

Shahid Kapur explained,” This movie has been inspired from my personal life whereas Ken always denies this fact.” When asked by a media spokesman, Shahid clarified about the kissing scene,” There is no kissing scene at all. The movie has been made for all viewers. Many of my movies are family based unlike Kamine. Kissing is just the rumor that’s what I have say.”

There was confusion in deciding the name of the movie as explained by Shahid and Ken. Initially it was the Star, secondly the name was suggested Yahoo. But due to the copyright issues with Yahoo, this name was neglected. Lastly Ken proposed the name Chance pe Dance, where Shahid gave his perusal and explained,” We have no choice as the promotion is scheduled to start after tomorrow.”

Genelia D’Souza so called most gorgeous by Shahid played a role of choreographer in this movie after the name Tina where she supported Shahid to achieve his goal. Genelia told,” I loved working with Shahid. I accept him as a good dancer. This is a good film for those viewers who would like to acknowledge day-to-day problems of a struggler.”

Giesle Monteiro unveiled Movil mobiles at New Delhi on December 22,2009.

Bling telecom, a Private Limited Company today rolled out its new brand Movil  in the market and introduced an array of designer phones in the mid and high end segment for GSM and CDMA technologies. The Occasion was flagged off with the unveiling of Mobiles by Mr.Rajiv Khanna, Chairman of Movil Mobiles and Brazilian Beauty Giselle Monteiro.

Designer phones:

Movil’s array of designer phones launched included the rough and tough water resistant MA1 with toughened body power packed with features such as: Battery life of 1000mAh, superb Camera, MP3 and Mp4, flash card slot and dual card standby. The other models launched were V1c, a low end multi-media CDMA device with MP3 player, MT1, a dual SIM phone with 3 mega pixel camera, 3D motion sensor, and MP3/MP4 player as well as MCI, a multi media device with dedicated music keys.

Brand ambassador of Movil phones, Giselle stated Mr.Khanna, “Giselle personifies our brand perfectly. She is young and stylist with universal appeal.” Talking about the features of the Movil Phones, she added, “Some of these phones are water-proof and shock-proof apart from the fact these are affordable also.”

Sunil Sethi, a personality from FDCI flashed some lights on Movil features,” For me this is a great phone with fashion colors like green with 16 hrs. of talk-time. I love this phone as I have to communicate more and more in my profession.”

The entire range of Movil mobiles comes in trendy colors for the youth in addition to 3.5 mm jack for the music lovers even for the entry level phones. The price range of Movil Mobiles starts from Rs. 2000/- to 10,000/- onwards. A direct retail model for the distribution of mobile phones will be adopted with a target of 1.5 million phones by the financial year 2010.

The company will launch a separate brand “BLING” for the growing CDMA open market.

Ms. Patel designs are unique indo-western fusion. Patel is one of the few prominent designers in India to incorporate traditional embroidery fabric printing and weaving crafts into her thoroughly contemporary creations.

Sushma Patel's Collection

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A model presented collection of Sushma Patel during Oxyleach India International Fashion Week held in Crown Plaza, Gurgaon on Dec 4,2009.

Her goal is to achieve international recognitions; a cosmopolitan designer appealing to wide spectrum of consumers. She has a loyal and growing clientele around the world including a number of eminent film stars.

On December 4, 2009, she presented her collection in Crown Plaza, Gurgaon. Her collection had different work of surface ornamentation. Although I’m little doubtful about the silhouettes what she has used in some of the garments which are little unpractical when seen at Indian kaleidoscope.  Rest the collection is one the good examples in Indo-western fusion.