Brands
Jurassic sole Asics and doublet let dinosaurs loose on sneakers
MUMBAI: When sneakers bite back, you know fashion has gone full Jurassic. Asics Sportstyle has teamed up with Japanese fashion label doublet to launch the Gel-Quantum 360 I AMP, a playful, high-concept sneaker that brings the “world of the Jurassic period” to the street.
The collaboration leans unapologetically into spectacle. A bold graphic of a dinosaur’s head stretches across the upper, rendered using 3D printing to create a textured, reptilian skin-like surface. Adding to the illusion, three-dimensionally placed polyurethane elements make it appear as though the dinosaur’s outline is quite literally rising out of the shoe.
While the design is theatrical, the engineering stays true to Asics’ performance-led DNA. Beneath the prehistoric visuals lies the brand’s signature moulding precision and functional sports technology, blending technical credibility with doublet’s irreverent fashion language.
The storytelling extends to the sole. Inspired by the colours of dinosaur teeth and gums, the outsole reveals its cleverest trick when both shoes are brought together. Move the toes, and the pair appears to open and shut like a chomping dinosaur jaw, turning a simple foot movement into a visual gag.
Designed to inject play into everyday wear, the Gel-Quantum 360 I AMP invites sneakerheads to animate a dinosaur with every step. It’s a reminder that even the most ordinary moments can be transformed with a bit of imagination and in this case, a roar from the past.
With this collaboration, Asics SportStyle and doublet prove that performance footwear doesn’t have to take itself too seriously, especially when the end result lets Jurassic drama stomp straight into daily life.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
