Brands
Shubman Gill gets specs appeal as Oakley’s new poster boy
MUMBAI: India’s newly-appointed test series captain Shubman Gill has added designer shades to his flashy cricket gear, becoming Oakley’s latest brand ambassador in a partnership that promises to give Indian sport a serious style upgrade. The young batting sensation, known for his elegant stroke play and unflappable temperament, is now the face of Oakley’s Artifacts from the future campaign—his first foray into the eyewear game.
At 25, Gill has already established himself as one of cricket’s most promising talents, captivating fans with his consistency and composure under pressure. Now he’s set to captivate them with his choice of sunglasses too, joining an elite roster that includes football’s Kylian Mbappe, basketball’s Damian Lillard, and American football’s Patrick Mahomes II.
“I’m very excited to join Oakley, a brand that stands for performance, progression and passion – values that resonate strongly with mine.,” said Gill. “Oakley has been an integral part of my cricketing journey every time I took to the field. The innovative lens and frames technologies in every Oakley help enhance performance, and I love how unapologetically stylish they are!”
Oakley senior brand business manager Sahil Jandial was equally effusive about the partnership. “Oakley is firmly rooted in sports, and is one with the culture and community of athletes pushing the boundaries of performance. Shubman, with his relentless pursuit for perfection and progression, is a great embodiment of the Oakley spirit. I am confident this partnership will inspire millions to stay the course till they become the best version of themselves…. And onwards from there!”
The timing is spot-on for Oakley, which is marking its 50th anniversary with the launch of its futuristic “Artifacts from the future” collection. The range includes the Plantaris, described as “a high-wrap piece of future-facing art,” alongside the heritage-inspired Lateralis and the minimalist Masseter—names that sound more like Roman gladiators than sunglasses.
Oakley’s pitch is that these designs are “created for 2075 and delivered to 2025,” which is either brilliantly forward-thinking or the sort of marketing hyperbole that would make Don Draper blush. Either way, the California-based company, now owned by Luxottica, has built its reputation on innovation, holding more than 900 patents and establishing itself as the go-to brand for athletes who need to look good whilst performing exceptionally.
For Gill, the partnership represents more than just a commercial opportunity—it’s a chance to influence India’s youth beyond the cricket pitch. His journey from promising youngster to established international star and now test Captain for India mirrors Oakley’s own evolution from a small garage operation in 1975 to a global lifestyle brand.
The collaboration also reflects cricket’s growing commercial appeal, particularly in India where the sport commands massive audiences and generates enormous revenue. By aligning with one of the game’s stars, Oakley is betting that Gill’s influence extends far beyond the boundary rope.
Whether this partnership will inspire millions to “embrace their true selves and push beyond limits”—as the press release breathlessly claims—remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: in the increasingly style-conscious world of modern sport, looking the part is almost as important as playing it. And with Gill now sporting Oakley’s latest designs, cricket just got a little cooler.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
