Brands
Puma returns to IPL pitch, inks multi-year partnership with RCB
MUMBAI: After seven years, global sports brand Puma has made a comeback on the Indian Premier League pitch after signing a strategic long-term partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Under the terms of the deal, Puma will be the official kit partner of the team from the upcoming IPL 2021 season. The sportswear major already has an ongoing association with RCB team captain Virat Kohli, which makes this partnership a natural progression for the brand.
Kohli said, “A global brand with a strong sporting vision and great quality products, [Puma’s] extensive distribution network through offline and online channels will ensure fans have access to RCB merchandise across the country. Over the years, I've had a great experience working with the brand and I’m excited to see Puma extend its partnership with the team that I play for.”
The brand will have exclusive retailing rights to RCB’s take down and replica jerseys, adding pan-India merchandise reach for the franchise across retail and e-commerce channels. Elevating the partnership beyond a traditional sports sponsorship model, the collection will also include a fanwear range of polo tees, shorts, pants, flipflops and caps.
Puma India & southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly said, “The team’s growing fan base and extensive social following makes RCB our ideal partner on the cricket pitch. Over the last few months, sport has had a positive influence by bringing about a sense of cheer among our consumers. With more people playing and following their favourite game, the culture of sport will definitely strengthen and evolve further. We are committed to fuelling this passion by continuing to invest in the right products, partners and players in the sporting ecosystem.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president & head Rajesh V Menon said, “RCB’s ethos is to embody the philosophy of #PlayBold and truly embrace the challenger spirit in all that we do as a cricket team, a brand and business. We are positive that with Puma’s marketing capabilities, fans will have access to not only great merchandise but also some very interesting activations and engagements through the IPL season and beyond.”
RCB merchandise will be available at all Puma stores, on Puma.com RCB website, mobile app and the RCB Bar & Café from the first week of April.
Brands
Nykaa exclusively launches Illiyoon in India
Korean dermocosmetic brand joins Nykaa’s decade-long Amorepacific portfolio.
MUMBAI: Nykaa just dropped Korea’s gentlest glow-up on India because when your skin barrier needs backup, Illiyoon arrives like a K-drama hero with perfect timing. Nykaa has strengthened its dominance in the Korean beauty category with the exclusive India launch of Illiyoon, the trusted dermocosmetic brand from Amorepacific known for barrier-focused face and body care. The move deepens a partnership that began in 2016 with Innisfree and expanded to include Laneige, COSRX, Sulwhasoo and Aestura, making Nykaa home to India’s largest curated Korean skincare, dermocosmetics and haircare lineup.
Illiyoon arrives amid surging demand for gentle, clinically backed formulations targeting sensitive and dry skin. Hero products such as the ATO Lotion and ATO Concentrate Cream harness patented Soy-Ceramide and Ceramide Skin Complex 2.0 technologies to deliver high-performance hydration and barrier repair suitable for all age groups.
Nykaa Beauty, executive director and CEO Anchit Nayar said, “Our decade-long partnership with AmorePacific has played a defining role in shaping India’s K-beauty journey. The launch of Illiyoon marks the next chapter as Indian consumers increasingly prioritise barrier health and sensitive-skin solutions.”
Amorepacific India managing director & country head Paul Lee added, “The derma category has emerged as one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing segments in the Indian beauty market. Following the successful launch of Aestura, we are delighted to introduce Illiyoon as our second K-derma brand in collaboration with Nykaa.”
The launch reflects the rapid rise of ingredient-conscious, efficacy-driven skincare in India, where K-beauty continues to resonate with consumers seeking science-led yet gentle solutions. With Illiyoon now exclusively on Nykaa, the platform isn’t just expanding its K-beauty shelf, it’s giving Indian skin a softer, stronger chapter in the never-ending glow-up story.
