Brands
Denim with a Kick Vidyut Jammwal joins Spykar for bold new ‘Chico’ fit
MUMBAI: He’s kicked villains in mid-air, scaled walls like they’re gym equipment and now, Vidyut Jammwal is doing high-flying fashion too.
In a move that spells style with swagger, homegrown denim giant Spykar has roped in action hero and fitness icon Vidyut Jammwal as the face of its latest campaign for Chico, the brand’s most desirable denim fit. Described as confident, relaxed, and engineered for comfort, the Chico fit is all about freedom of movement without compromising on sharp aesthetics qualities that make Vidyut the perfect match.
“Spykar represents a mindset, one that’s confident, original, and unapologetically expressive. Joining the Spykar community felt like a natural fit for me, and being part of the Chico campaign is an exciting way to celebrate style with purpose. Chico is not just about denim, it’s about freedom, strength, and owning your space with pride,” said Jammwal.
The Chico fit sits at the intersection of form and function crafted from premium stretch denim, tailored with a relaxed silhouette, and designed for breathability and performance. Whether you’re running errands or running parkour (à la Vidyut), these jeans are built to move with you.
Spykar CEO and co-founder Sanjay Vakharia added, “Spykar has always spoken the language of denim i.e. expressive, unapologetic, and relentlessly authentic. With Vidyut joining our community, we’re not just adding a face; we’re amplifying a mindset. Chico represents everything a denim universe requires style, performance, and purpose.”
The campaign celebrates the rise of a fashion-forward, purpose-led generation, one that chooses comfort without compromising on individuality. With its Rs 2,000 price point and mass-appeal silhouette, Chico is more than a fit, it’s a flex.
Spykar, known for being tuned into India’s evolving youth culture, positions this launch as more than a fashion drop. It’s a statement about style, power, and living unapologetically. With Vidyut’s all-action persona and Spykar’s cool credentials, it’s clear: denim just got a whole lot daring.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
