Brands
Converse and Isabel Marant honor Chuck Taylor and sneaker wedge
Mumbai: Converse and Isabel Marant have partnered for the first time to launch a capsule collection combining new and classic Converse styles with Isabel Marant’s Parisian aesthetic.
Marant, known for blending high and low fashion with spontaneity, independence, and natural elegance, aligns with Converse’s values. The collection will feature the new Chuck 70 Wedge and an updated Chuck 70, reflecting a mix of nostalgia and “Effortless Luxury.”
The Chuck 70 Wedge, with its hidden 2.5-inch heel, builds on Marant’s pioneering work with sneaker wedges from the 2010s. The collection also includes the Chuck 70 High Top and Chuck 70 Ox Low Top, showcasing Marant’s design elements with key Chuck details. Features include a frayed Jacquard upper, Marant’s logo on raw edge canvas, multi-colored pinstripes, and a translucent outsole. Colorways include Vanilla White and Raven for the Chuck 70 Wedge, Raven for the Chuck 70, and Vanilla White for the Chuck 70 Ox.
The Converse x Isabel Marant collection will be available on Converse.in from 12 September 2024 and on partner platforms VegNonVeg and Limited Edt from 13 September 2024. Pricing is Rs 11,499 for the Chuck 70 Ox, Rs 12,299 for the Chuck 70, and Rs 15,499 for the Chuck 70 Wedge.
The collaboration also introduces a new Chuck Taylor All Star Wedge, featuring a 2.5-inch hidden heel, available in black and white from 12th October 2024 on Converse.in and partner platforms. An inline Chuck 70 Wedge will also be released in the coming months.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
