Brands
The Sancy cuts a fine figure as Chandan Allen brings label home to India
MUMBAI: Fashion, when stitched with purpose, always fits better. Mumbai-born, California-based designer Chandan Allen has brought her ready-to-wear label The Sancy to India, unveiling a debut collection that reimagines accessible luxury through the lens of craftsmanship and cultural depth.
Launched as a digital-first brand, The Sancy offers a curated range of tops, tailored bottoms, dresses, and jumpsuits designed for women who crave elegance without excess. Priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 8,500, the collection positions itself firmly in the premium yet attainable bracket, balancing refinement with responsibility. Each garment is crafted in Allen’s Mumbai atelier using sustainable practices, turning everyday pieces into lasting wardrobe investments.
Among the early favourites are the Teres Shift Dress, Linearis Shift Lace Dress, Encelia Wrap Skirt, and Carissa Printed Dress. With clean silhouettes, heritage-inspired detailing, and a muted colour palette, the line promises both versatility and timeless appeal.
Allen’s own journey reads like a global design itinerary. Trained at Central Saint Martins in London, she honed her skills blending Indian handcraft with European precision. Years spent in Cape Town and California sharpened her eye for lifestyle-driven fashion, and in 2009 she set up Chandan Allen Designs Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai. The Sancy, born out of this trajectory, is her answer to fast fashion’s fleetingness: garments built to last, imbued with artistry and meaning.
“The Sancy is not just a fashion label, it’s a conversation between heritage and modernity,” Allen says. “My Indian roots anchor me in craft, while my global exposure sharpens the silhouettes. Together, it’s about creating pieces with longevity, not just seasonal appeal.”
Currently available only through thesancy.com, the label will soon expand offline with a flagship Mumbai store, the first step in a larger retail rollout across India’s metros. The strategy mirrors the evolution of Indian fashion retail itself, where consumers increasingly seek story-driven, conscious luxury.
With sustainability stitched into its seams and style woven into its fabric, The Sancy’s arrival signals that India’s fashion-forward needn’t choose between meaning and modernity, they can now wear both.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
