Brands
Dettol campaign for 26k villages to be ‘open defecation-free’ by ’18
MUMBAI: RB (formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser) in collaboration with Jagran Pehel, in its endeavour to strengthen the prime minister’s ‘Swachh Bharat Mission,’ marked the success of their 1st phase of activation in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, reaching out to 200 villages and 85,205 households. The 2nd Phase would target 26,032 villages and 14,712,453 households across seven Indian states of UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh covering 25 districts and three cities.
The BSI Campaign in the second phase will focus on mentoring Swachh Bharat Fellows who will provide support to districts in smooth implementing and monitoring of the mission They would work closely with faith based leaders, mothers, care givers, municipal cleaners on behavioural Change Communication and also initiate citizen movement for human to human connect. The Campaign which was launched in 2015, has been successful in reaching out to 100% of its target and has successfully mobilised around 13000 change leaders in communities.
The announcement was made in Lucknow at the completion of 1st phase of “’Changing Behaviour, Creating Sanitation Change Leaders programme”in association with Jagran Pehel. The event brought together leaders and policy makers from Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, WHO, UNICEF, World Toilet Organisation and other organisations associated with Dettol Banega Swachh India to share best practices and grassroots solutions that can be implemented to achieve ‘Open Defecation-Free’ status.
Chief Guest Surya Pratap Shahi, Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, Agriculture Education and Agricultural Research launched the Impact Assessment Report that embodies behaviour change strategies adopted, activities undertaken, success stories and impact created through public-private participation during the first year of the project.
Brands
Malaika Arora launches accessories brand Maejoy
The Bollywood star’s lifestyle brand, built with Myntra and Exceed Entertainment, promises aspirational fashion without the high price tag
MUMBAI: Malaika Arora is not the first Bollywood star to put her name on a brand, and she will not be the last. But Maejoy, the accessories label she has launched in partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL) and talent outfit Exceed Entertainment, at least has a sharper pitch than most. The brand drops with 250-plus styles spanning handbags and lab-grown diamond jewellery, two categories that sit squarely in the sweet spot between aspiration and affordability, and lands on Myntra’s platform from day one, putting it in front of millions of shoppers without breaking a sweat.
The handbag range covers the full gamut: crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, workwear classics, backpacks and clutches, rendered in synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestone and metallic finishes. The jewellery line runs to rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets in silver, gold and rose-gold tones, set in 925 sterling silver with IGI and GCI certified lab-grown diamonds. The brand’s guiding philosophy, “The Joy of Being Me,” stakes its claim on individuality and self-expression; its three brand pillars, Authentic, Empowering, Accessible, are the usual suspects, though the lab-grown diamond bet is savvier than it sounds. Lab-grown stones now sell at a fraction of the price of mined ones, and the category is growing fast in India as younger buyers wise up to the arbitrage.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business, or through my personal style, I’ve championed the idea that fashion should be empowering yet effortless. The brand aims to democratise global fashion trends while offering women something that extends the feeling of luxury every day, be it a lab-grown diamond or a perfectly crafted handbag,” said Malaika Arora, founder of Maejoy
MJIPL, the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra, is putting its design and brand-building muscle behind the venture. Suman Saha, chief experience officer and head of house of brands at MJIPL, was bullish on the tie-up.
“Maejoy brings together Malaika Arora’s distinctive style perspective with a strong proposition in the accessible yet elevated accessories space. We believe the brand’s fashion-forward designs and thoughtful positioning will connect strongly with discerning consumers.”
Suman Saha, chief experience officer, head of house of brands, MJIPL
Afsar Zaidi, chief executive of Exceed Entertainment, the talent management firm that helped broker the deal, has worked with MJIPL before and was characteristically direct about what makes Arora an unusually bankable partner.
“Building celebrity-led brands requires a delicate balance of authenticity and market viability. Malaika is a rare talent who commands equal respect as a fashion icon and a savvy businesswoman. We are proud to facilitate this partnership that brings together her creative clout and Myntra’s brand-building excellence,” said Zaidi
Celebrity fashion brands live or die on one question: does the star actually wear it, or is the cheque the only thing they signed? Arora, who has spent three decades as one of Bollywood’s most-watched style references, has at least built a plausible case. Maejoy is live now on www.myntra.com and the Myntra app. The real test, whether shoppers buy the handbag or just the hype, starts today.
