Brands
Casio strengthens India strategy with local manufacturing of select watches
MUMBAI: Casio India, a subsidiary of Japan-based Casio Computer Co. Ltd., today announced the sale for its locally manufactured watch models, marking a strategic step in deepening Casio’s local footprint and long-term vision for India. This milestone aligns with Casio’s efforts to enhance product availability, support national manufacturing goals, and respond more intuitively to Indian consumer preferences.
Since entering the Indian market in 1996, Casio has steadily built a reputation for innovation, reliability, and stylish design. The decision to “Make in India” is both a strategic and symbolic step that enables the brand to become more agile and responsive in a market that continues to evolve rapidly in terms of fashion, function, and consumer expectation. As part of this development, Casio is manufacturing 28 specially curated watch models in India, integrating its globally trusted Japanese technology with the strengths of India’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Commenting on the initiative, Casio India managing director Takuto Kimura said, “India has always been a priority market for Casio, and we continue to see immense potential for growth here. By manufacturing locally, we are better equipped to design and deliver products that truly resonate with the Indian mindset and lifestyle. This move allows us to be more agile in responding to consumer needs, while also ensuring that the watches we offer are more aligned with local tastes and expectations. Local manufacturing is not just a strategic step—it’s a consumer-first approach that reflects our deep commitment to the Indian market.
Brands
Godrej clarifies ‘GI’ identifier after logo similarity debate
Says GI is not a logo, will not replace Godrej signature across products.
MUMBAI: In a branding storm where shapes did the talking, Godrej is now spelling things out. Godrej Industries Group (GIG) has issued a clarification on its newly introduced ‘GI’ identifier, addressing questions around its purpose and design following a wave of online criticism. At the centre of the debate were two concerns: whether the new mark replaces the long-standing Godrej logo, and whether its geometric design mirrors other corporate identities.
The company has drawn a clear line. The Godrej signature logo, it said, remains unchanged and continues to be the sole logo across all consumer-facing products and services. The ‘GI’ mark, by contrast, is not a logo but a corporate group identifier intended for use alongside the Godrej signature or company name, and aimed at stakeholders such as investors, media and talent rather than consumers.
The need for such a distinction stems from the 2024 restructuring of the broader Godrej Group into two separate business entities. With both continuing to operate under the same Godrej name and signature, the identifier is positioned as a way to differentiate the Godrej Industries Group at a corporate level.
The rollout, however, triggered a broader conversation on design originality. Critics pointed to similarities between the GI mark’s geometric composition and logos used by companies globally, raising questions about distinctiveness.
Responding to this, GIG said its intellectual property and legal review found that such overlaps are common in minimalist, geometry-led design systems. Basic forms such as circles and rectangles appear across dozens of brand identities worldwide, the company noted.
It added that the identifier emerged from an extensive design process and was chosen for its simplicity, allowing it to sit alongside the Godrej signature without competing visually. While acknowledging that elemental shapes may appear less distinctive in isolation, the group emphasised that the mark is part of a broader identity system that includes a custom typeface, sonic branding and other proprietary elements.
Following legal and ethical assessments, the company said it found no impediment to using the identifier, reiterating that the GI mark is a corporate tool not a consumer-facing symbol.
In short, the logo isn’t changing but the conversation around it certainly has.
