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MANISH ARORA, SWATCH

JOINING HANDS FOR TIMELESS DESIGNS

Bring up this designer’s name and the first thing that comes to your mind is colour, lots of it along with terms like ‘kitsch’, ‘pop-art’ and of course flamboyance. All of it put together is also Manish Arora’s USP. Apart from putting together collections for fashion weeks across the world, the designer has in the past collaborated with brands for special ‘Manish Arora’ editions.

And this time around, he’s timed a trend well. Combining high-contrast colours and intriguing shapes with Bollywood sparkle, pop culture, humour and sheer joie de vivre, the designer has created a vibrant collection of fashionable accessories for the wrist (read watches) for Swatch. The signature international collection includes six watches for both men and women.

“There is high synergy between Swatch and Manish Arora - both are known for their peculiar styles that reflect positive provocation and the joy of life. The watches are a mix of Indian ethnicity and global flavours. As an Indian too I am very proud of the new global collection of Swatch, designed by him,” tells Jyoti Das, brand manager for Swatch (India).

Dittos the designer who admits he could relate to the “youth, colour, energy and cutting edge design that Swatch stands for.” “The spirit of both the brands is same and that’s what got me to create the designs,” remarked Arora.

A look through the line-up and Manish’s love for colour seems omnipresent as does his weakness for hearts! Noticeable is a watch called ‘Over Charm’ that brings in a pretty over-the-top skin and works like a semi-bangle bracelet formed of hearts-within-hearts in stainless steel. Then there’s his colourful tribute to the art of dance in a watch called ‘Dancing Hands’ which features close-up shots of bejewelled and painted hands in motion.

The vibrant colour scheme from the strap is repeated with variations across the dial and as the hands revolve through a twelve-hour cycle, each disc rotates and the coloured hands combine to perform a dance with their companions! Also a part of the signature line-up are ‘Timespective’, ‘Huge in all’, ‘From within’ and ‘Giant Shimmer’. The latter has Arora’s sense of humour shining right through as he presents giant shiny hearts and a huge silver dollar sign on the dial.

TOYWATCH UNVEILS

NEW GOLD HEAVY METAL COLLECTION

Toywatch has launched its Gold Heavy Metal collection, which exemplifies the continued evolution of the Toywatch style. The sleek collection comprises the Gun Metal, Rose Gold and Solid Gold. The classic acrylic straps are infused with a metal lining and each watch features a chronograph. For the first time, steel is combined with the lightweight of polycarbonate resulting in a perfect mix playing on contrasts. It is available in 3 colours: Gold, Black and Pink Gold – in the chronograph version for him; and in the solo tempo mignon version for her. The steel details are few but unique – the graduated bezel and the heart on the strap. The metal combines with polycarbonate. The watch has quartz movements and the sunray effect dial shines on its own creating a luminous fascinating effect. Mara Poletti, President, Toywatch, said that Heavy Metal is a real homage to lightness and luminosity. “It is a surprisingly iconic collection proposing accessories different in terms of materials used, objects in which the brightness of steel and the simplicity of polycarbonate coexist in harmony,” he said. Nayantara Thacker, Head of Operations, Toywatch India said that the brand is synonymous with glamour and luxury.

MAXIMA ORGANISED DEALER MEET AT PUNE

Maxima organised a dealer meet at Pune to launch its Ssteele brand. The well attended event also saw lucky draw prizes given away to Shyam Chandwani of Regal Watch Co., Camp, who won the 1st - TVS Star Sports bike. Kishore of Ankur Times, Hadapsar won the 2nd - refrigerator by Manish Jain, VP-Maxima, and Vindesh Pandit, National Sales Manager, Maxima.


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AJANTA ANNOUNCES SCHEME FOR DIGITAL CLOCKS

Ajanta has announced an attractive scheme for dealers and depots, who buy digital clock products worth Rs. 5,000 MRP. The qualifiers get 1 coupon free for each such buy. For the north and west zones, those who collect 50 coupons win a free 3 nights and 4 days trip to Thailand. On collection of 40 coupons, they can pay Rs. 4,000 and win the same trip. On collection of 30 coupons, they can pay Rs. 8,000 and win the same trip. For the East zone, the trip is free on collection of 40 coupons; Rs. 4,000 as payment for 30 coupons; and Rs. 8,000 on collection of 20 coupons. For the south zone, the trip is free on collection of 45 coupons; Rs. 4,000 on collection of 35 coupons; and Rs. 8,000 on collection of 25 coupons. The scheme is available till December 31, 2009.

RIVOLI EYES INDIA, SAUDI EXPANSION

Dubai’s Rivoli Group is looking to enter India and Saudi Arabia this year to help mitigate a drop in luxury sales, but will maintain a “prudent” expansion plan amid the financial crisis, its managing partner said.

Rivoli, in which Swatch Group owns a stake, has about 300 stores in the lower Gulf area and is most likely to enter India first where it is easier to set up retail operations than in Saudi Arabia, said Ramesh Prabhakar.

Finding the right people to operate the business is trickier in Saudi Arabia, Prabhakar said at the Reuters Global Luxury Summit in Dubai.

Established in 1988, Rivoli Group is one of the largest importers, distributors and retailers of luxury brands in the Middle East with product categories ranging from watches and writing instruments to menswear and accessories.

“We are being very prudent on expansions in 2009 and going forward,” he said, adding that he did not see any signs of a pick up in the retail market, especially in the United Arab Emirates, the group’s largest market.

“No signs of recovery. It is flat. I am hoping in the last quarter” the market would pick up, he said.

The group saw a drop of between 15-35 percent in its luxury products section between November last year and May this year, compared with the same period a year ago, as buyers have become more cautious with their money, he said.

The group, which sells watch brands such as Omega, Tag Heuer Tissot and Boss, said its top watch brands were down 10-12 percent this year, compared to last year.

Prabhakar said there were no plans to sell any stakes in the company at present.

Investment firm Dubai International Capital, owned by the ruler of the emirate, bought a stake in the firm in 2007. In July last year, Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group acquired a stake in Rivoli, announcing it will “support Rivoli’s regional expansion strategy including its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India.”

BHOPAL’S CHOICE CORNER TO RETAIL TITAN WATCHES

Ravi Madhvani’s Choice Corner is located in the heart of Bhopal city at Rang Mahal Square in the New Market area. It retails Titan watches since 1987. Since 1982, it has been retailing HMT and Allwyn watches. It grew phenomenally and became an exclusive Titan store in 1992. Today, it also retails Sonata and Fastrack labels too. It spreads over an area of 650 sq. ft. It expects to cross a turnover of Rs. 2 crore.

NEETU CHANDRA INAUGURATES D'DAMAS STORE

Actress Neetu Chandra was spotted at the launch of the new store of D’Damas store in Bandra, Mumbai inaugurating it.

Commenting on the launch of the showroom, R. K. Menon, Chief Operating Officer - D’damas said, “We are very happy that our customers in Mumbai now have a unique place to experience the entire brandoffering. They will also be able to definitely buy and own something unique and relevant from the sheer choice that D’damas offers to its customers.”

D’damas is a mega jewellery brand that has reached out to almost every part of the country with a great impact. D’Damas is a house-hold name today and caters to clientele with various age groups and countless occasions.

SWISS TIME HOUSE INAUGURATES FIRST EXCLUSIVE RADO BOUTIQUE AT KOCHI

The Swiss Time House Retail (P) Ltd., a group company of Swiss Time House, opened their first exclusive Rado boutique at Kochi. Roland Streule, President, Rado, was present along with Lisa Ray, brand ambassadress. Mohammed of Oberon Mall said that he was fascinated with Rado Diastar. The company commenced operations in Kerala in 1946 after having been started by PA Sulaiman. PS Salahudin is the CMD of the company. Nizarudheen handles Sulaiman’s Watch Co. Salahuddin is assisted by Hafiz, Abdul and Vasif.