Brands
Ginza Industries launches Hektor to stitch up men’s fashion game
MUMBAI: If Achilles had a wardrobe malfunction, Hektor would’ve walked in wearing wrinkle-free armour and saved the day. Ginza Industries has just dropped its slick new menswear brand, Hektor—a sartorial powerhouse aimed at modern men who want to look like legends without feeling like they’re wearing one.
Launched this week, Hektor is Ginza’s homage to boldness and brains, borrowing its name (and serious gravitas) from the battle-hardened hero of Greek mythology. But forget togas. This brand is armed with something far more tactical: bonded stitch technology. Goodbye bulky seams, hello sleek sophistication. This futuristic sewing sorcery promises a second-skin fit, durability that can take a beating, and breathability that would make linen jealous.
“Hektor is not just about clothing; it’s about a mindset. It’s crafted for the men who push boundaries, lead with confidence, and embrace life’s challenges head-on. With Hektor, we are redefining men’s fashion by merging heritage with cutting-edge technology,” said Hektor founder Rohit Sethia. “With our innovative bonded stitch technology and high-performance fabrics, Hektor is setting new benchmarks in style and functionality. Whether it’s the high-flying executive, the urban adventurer, or the trendsetter making waves, Hektor’s collection is designed to complement their relentless drive and ambition.”
The collection features modern essentials including statement polos, tailored shirts and premium innerwear—all designed for style, strength and stretch. Expect no less than fabric wizardry: odour resistance that snubs sweat, UPF protection for sun-fighting power, cool-to-touch textures, moisture-wicking magic, and enough wrinkle resistance to survive suitcase torture.
From high-flyers to heavy lifters, Hektor’s threads promise to back up ambition with engineering. And yes, you can now shop the future at www.hektor.in. The collection will soon grace digital shelves on Nykaa, Amazon, Ajio and Myntra.
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.
