Brands
Shobitam acquires IsadoraLife
Mumbai: Shobitam has acquired IsadoraLife, a ready-to-wear saree brand. This move aims to make sarees more accessible globally and appeal to Gen Z. The partnership will address the challenges of draping sarees and broaden their appeal, positioning the saree as an essential item for wardrobes in India and internationally.
The acquisition combines Shobitam’s co-founder Aparna Thyagarajan, and IsadoraLife’s founder Neha Tandon Sharma. This collaboration will drive significant investments in the ready-to-wear saree market over the next two to three years. Shobitam will use its global network to boost demand for IsadoraLife’s products.
IsadoraLife’s workforce is entirely women, including over 45 artisans in Raipur, India, reflecting their commitment to diversity. The partnership aims to expand into new markets, enhance customer satisfaction by leveraging this expertise, and introduce easy-to-drape saree designs for Gen Z consumers.
Shobitam co-founder & chief product officer Aparna Thyagarajan said, “It’s gratifying to see sarees pickup momentum but we often hear about the challenge of draping. And, while it may seem trivial, this simple concern was making women back out from possessing this beautiful piece of attire. Our acquisition of IsadoraLife is aimed at bridging this gap and seeing more and more women globally embrace the elegant saree, showcase our timeless culture effortlessly and take pride in being part of the Saree Revolution. Together, Shobitam and IsadoraLife are poised to further strengthen ethnic fashion globally and pave the way for an upward growth trajectory in the fashion startup ecosystem in India.”
IsadoraLife founder & CEO Neha Tandon Sharma said, “I am excited about this new partnership with Shobitam and looking forward to seeing the growth and acceptance of Sarees like never before, both in the Indian market as well as the Global diaspora. Our partnership with Shobitam has come at the most opportune time when Indian fashion is going through an interesting transition phase with Sarees being seen as both traditional and contemporary wear. It is the epitome of clothing for Indian women and as seen at the Paris Olympics too by the Indian women contingent. Exciting times indeed!”
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.
