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Converse India launches Chuck Taylor Throwback with Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor
90s inspired design with archival cues, now available in India.
MUMBAI: Old-school cool just laced up again and this time, it’s proudly imperfect. Converse India has unveiled the Chuck Taylor All Star Throwback, a reworked take on its iconic sneaker, with Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor fronting the launch. The campaign leans heavily into 90s nostalgia, blending archival design cues with a distinctly modern attitude.
The Throwback edition reimagines the classic Chuck Taylor silhouette with a twist literally. From an off-centre Chuck patch to uneven foxing tape, a stretched toe bumper and oversized eyelets, the design embraces deliberate imperfections. The idea is less about polish and more about personality, tapping into a broader cultural shift towards individuality and self-expression.
Kapoor, known for his affinity for vintage fashion, anchors the campaign’s visual narrative, which juxtaposes retro aesthetics with contemporary styling. The result is a sneaker that feels both rooted in Converse’s legacy and tuned into current streetwear sensibilities.
Beyond aesthetics, the update also brings functional tweaks. A wider fit and thicker sole aim to improve everyday comfort, while the sneaker is available in both high-top and low-top variants across multiple colourways.
The launch signals Converse’s continued push to position the Chuck not just as footwear, but as a canvas for personal style, one that evolves with every generation without losing its edge.
The Chuck Taylor Throwback is now available via Converse’s official website and retail stores across India.
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AI becomes key tool for Indian travellers, Agoda report finds
68 per cent plan to use AI for trips as 33 per cent already rely on it.
MUMBAI: Holiday planning is getting a software upgrade less “Where should we go?” and more “What does the algorithm say?” Indian travellers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to map their journeys, with new data from Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report suggesting that AI is fast becoming central to how trips are imagined, planned and booked.
While 33 per cent of respondents said they already use AI tools for travel planning, a far larger 68 per cent indicated they are likely to rely on it for their next trip pointing to a sharp acceleration in adoption in a market already comfortable with digital-first travel.
What travellers want from AI, however, goes well beyond basic search. The report shows 38 per cent are looking for recommendations on local attractions and activities, while 37 per cent expect personalised itineraries. Destination discovery remains a key use case at 29 per cent, with dining suggestions (23 per cent) and budget management (22 per cent) also emerging as practical applications.
The shift reflects a broader change in expectations AI is no longer a novelty but a planning companion expected to work across every stage of the journey, from inspiration to execution.
Trust levels appear to be keeping pace. Nearly 88 per cent of respondents said they either trust or feel neutral about AI-generated recommendations, including 53 per cent who expressed clear confidence. This builds on earlier trends, with Agoda’s 2025 survey showing nine in ten Indian travellers already using apps to book travel suggesting AI adoption is more evolution than disruption.
The company has been testing this appetite through initiatives such as its 2025 AI-powered Vacation Planner campaign, which generated customised itineraries and visuals based on user inputs, delivered with a layer of celebrity-led engagement.
For platforms like Agoda, which aggregates more than 6 million properties, over 130,000 flight routes and 300,000 travel activities, AI offers a way to navigate scale without overwhelming users turning abundance into relevance.
As AI continues to embed itself into everyday decision-making, India is emerging as a market where travel planning is not just going digital, but decisively intelligent.
