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The Indian cricket team kickstarted their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign this weekend with a big win over Pakistan, and we all celebrated! 🙂 As noteworthy as Virat Kohli and the team’s great performance on the field were the distinctive team uniforms.

Team India’s kit is high-tech, lightweight, comfortable, and much much more. So here are some wondrous facts about the Indian team kits and why they are totally awesome. Read on and boast these facts at the next match you watch with friends (February 22 against South Africa at MCG, Melbourne).

Fact #1: The kit is custom-made

The kits are designed by Nike, official apparel sponsor of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Nike has been designing team jerseys for years now, but this kit was especially developed for Team India.

Fact #2: Each kit is sustainable

Each Team India kit (jersey and pants) is made of approximately 33 recycled plastic bottles. Sustainable = Fantabulous.

Fact #3: The design is insight-based

The Nike team designed the jersey with the help of inputs from several cricketers including ODI captain MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.

Fact #4: Different strokes for different folks

There are separate shoes for batsmen and bowlers. The batsmen’s shoes are called LunarDominate. The shoes have an enhanced grip, ultralight soft and responsive cushioning, a toe “bumper” and plush sock-like fit.

Fact #5: Special shoes for bowlers

The bowlers are wearing LunarAccelerate, whose main feature is the midfoot strap that locks down the ankle and prevents forward foot slide. That strap is the unmissable “pink stripe” you see on bowlers’ shoes.

Fact #6: High-tech kits for optimum performance

The Team India jersey is truly innovative. It’s got Dri-Fit Prime Lite lightweight fabric with laser ventilation holes and breathable engineered knit to keep players dry and comfortable during the match. (Dri-FIT is a microfiber, polyester fabric that moves their perspiration to the fabric surface, where it evaporates. (And hence, we have “cooler” players on the field.)

Fact #7: The kits are loved all over!

Tennis ace Roger Federer owns a jersey! As do other famous fans. Take a look:

Deepika Padukone (actor)

Vikas Khanna (chef)

Subbalaxmi (cricket player)

Go Team India!

Team India kits are available at select Nike India retail stores and on nike.com.

In Fashion, News

Chic News: It’s almost official, H&M is coming to India (Bonus: Fun facts about the brand)

Speaking ChicMay 1, 2013April 30, 2013Leave a comment

Ladies, in the midst of the rising summer temperatures and terrifying “market conditions”, there is a ray of hope in the form of good old-fashioned shopping news. H&M is on its way to India!

(From H&M’s Spring Summer 2013 campaign)

This time the company means business, with Fredrik Olsson (head of expansion) at Hennes & Mauritz stating that they are looking to open 50 stores in India. That’s right– FIFTY!

Olsson also said the had already approached the Indian government for the initial investment of $130 million. Given how super quickly our bureaucracy works (ahem!), the first store could take a while. But hey, who’s complaining as long as H&M is really coming! I’m hoping the prices and styles are as great as they are globally, especially in Asia.

While the news sinks in, here are some facts you need to know about H&M:

H&M is a fast fashion brand (like Zara), with focus on trends, quality and great prices (of course!). They sell to both men and women.
H&M has over 2800 stores worldwide across 49 countries. (They recently opened their first store in Chile.)
H&M often collaborates with style icons for limited edition lines and collections. They’ve worked with everyone from David Beckham to Beyonce to Versace to Karl Lagerfeld.
Helen Hunt wore an H&M gown to the Oscars this year, shocking fashionistas, bloggers, critics and everyone else.
And oh, H&M debuted at Paris Fashion Week in February. Yet another shock as a fast fashion brand presented their collection in the company of luxury houses.

In 2012, Fashion, News

Chic 2012: Fashion news makers we talked about

Speaking ChicJanuary 4, 2013January 3, 2013Leave a comment

Masaba Gupta
The designer, known for her quirky prints and a page 3 darling, landed the big job as Fashion Director at Satya Paul. Masaba has been hired to revitalize the brand and to attract the younger crowds who seem to like Masaba’s fashion. Clever move, win-win for everyone!

Masaba Gupta at LFW S/R 2012

Manish Arora
Designer Manish Arora went in and out of Paco Rabanne before anyone could say “Paris Fashion Week”. The design house claims that hiring Manish was a short-term move anyways, but the real reason for his quick exit will probably never be known by us mere mortals. Meanwhile, Manish is back to his usual space-age OTT creations.

Aneeth Arora and Payal Pratap Singh
As winner and runner-up of India’s first Vogue Fashion Fund, both designers are set for a promising career. Hope to see even better fashion from the two women this year onward.

Below: Aneeth Arora with her creation

Kallol Dutta
First he made news as finale designer at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012, then as the author of a scathing article in a news magazine sparing almost no one in the Indian fashion scene.

Pankaj-Nidhi
Givenchy Fall Winter 2012 and the designer duo at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2012- inspiration or imitation? You decide.

Shefalee Vasudev
The ex-editor of Marie Claire India wrote an insightful account on Indian fashion, covering both ends of the spectrum. I enjoyed every word of her book Powder Room.

Nonita Kalra
Elle editor has quit after a long tenure of 12 years. Greener pastures beckon?

Playboy India Bunny’s costume
The modified outfit, adapted to Indian sensibility, made for fascinating news and hilarious tweets.

In 2012, Fashion, News

Chic Launches: British fashion invasion with Lipsy, Dune, Hackett London

Speaking ChicSeptember 13, 2012September 12, 2012Leave a comment

This week there have been three big announcements in Indian fashion retail. Three new brands are joining the great Indian retail bandwagon with local partners, and all three are British.

Here’s the dope on all three brands:

Lipsy

Lipsy, a London-based brand for fun-loving young women and part of the Next Group, will enter the country with Brand Marketing India.

In three words: Affordable, eclectic, glamourous.

Save up for: The “VIP” range (for red carpet looks), trendy dresses and cute blouses.

How much: Dresses start from GBP 35 (approximately Rs 3100) and can go up to GBP 175 for VIP dresses (approximately Rs 15,500).

First store expected: By early to mid-2013

Dune

Dune is the flagship brand of the Dune Group, and offers distinctive fashion footwear and accessories for women and men. Dune has joined hands with Reliance Brands for their India foray.

In three words: High on design.

Save up for: Comfy heel sizes (for women), cool brogues (for men) and awesome boots (for both).

How much: Rs 4500 to Rs 12, 000 for a pair of shoes.

First store expected: Spring/ Summer 2013 (February or March 2013)

Hackett London

Hackett London is a true-blue British formal brand for men. In India, Hackett London has entered into a joint venture agreement with Aditya Birla Group’s Madura Fashion & Lifestyle.

In three words: Sophisticated British luxury.

Save up for: Sharp and stylish formal shirts, jackets and suits.

How much: Rs 8,000 for a formal shirt, Rs 50,000 upward for a suit.

First store expected: This month at Emporio Mall, New Delhi and UB City, Bengaluru.

In Advertising, Fashion, News

Chic OMG Ad: Wendell Rodricks designs ‘hole new fashion’ for Nestle’s Polo

Speaking ChicAugust 2, 20115 Comments

Here’s a fashion collaboration update I never thought I’d hear: ace designer designs mint flavours! Yup, Goa-based designer Wendell Rodricks has designed a signature series for Nestle’s Polo (the famous mint with the hole).

Bizarre as it sounds, it seems the collaboration is for real. And while this may be highly unusual, the new Polo Wendell Rodricks flavours might just give those bored with mints a new sweet to munch on.

In the just-released TV ad, Wendell Rodricks is seen sketching dresses as models play around with fabrics with holes in them. The models then sashay down a ramp in a playful mood, and you see all the dresses have a Polo-inspired hole in them, such as on the shoulder straps and near the stomach.

Turns out Wendell Rodricks has created a signature series of Polo mints, creating some playful (and yum-sounding) flavours—Lime Mojito, Cocoa Mocha, Peach Schnapps and Watermelon Sorbet. We’re not sure to what extent Wendell Rodricks had a say in the taste of the new Polo range, but we want to try it.

Here’s the Polo ad, starring Wendell Rodricks himself:

What do you think of the ad? Have you tried Wendell Rodricks’ Polo signature flavours yet?

Showing all posts tagged news

7 awesome facts about Team India’s Cricket World Cup jersey

Chic News: It’s almost official, H&M is coming to India (Bonus: Fun facts about the brand)

Chic 2012: Fashion news makers we talked about

Chic Launches: British fashion invasion with Lipsy, Dune, Hackett London

Chic OMG Ad: Wendell Rodricks designs ‘hole new fashion’ for Nestle’s Polo