Brands
Converse and Golf Wang slip into style with nature-inspired collection
MUMBAI: When fashion and skate culture collide, the result is anything but flat-footed. Converse and Golf Wang have dropped a fresh spin on their long-running collaboration with the debut of the one star CC slip pro, a slip-on skate silhouette that’s as textured as it is stylish.
It’s a first for the partnership, drawing on Converse’s 1960s Deck Star Gore and Sea Star Gore designs, while also nodding to the brand’s 1970s One Star heritage. Tyler, The Creator, known for raiding Converse’s archives, gives the One Star formula a Golf Wang twist turning history into something boldly irreverent and unmistakably current.
The collection is served up in three earthy iterations, each named and shaded after natural landscapes:
● Forget Me Not (Concrete), a muted blue suede recalling soft, cloudy skies.
● Forest Elf (Grass), lush green suede that feels like walking on a forest floor.
● Black Beauty (Dirt), rich, dark suede mirroring fertile soil.
Every pair features a two-tone hairy suede upper, egret foxing tape with a varnished finish, and a co-branded sock liner stamped with landscape-inspired artwork. Underfoot, skaters get practical perks: ConS traction rubber for grip and board feel, and CX foam cushioning for comfort that lasts from tricks to hangouts.
Priced at Rs 6,999, the Converse x Golf Wang one star CC slip pro is available now on converse.in and select retail partners. For sneakerheads and skaters alike, it’s a design that proves slipping on can still mean standing out.
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.
