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Gap TVC all set to make ripples with Parker, Kravitz
MUMBAI: Gap’s new fall TV campaign pairs actress and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker with the much acclaimed musician Lenny Kravitz in a pop culture event celebrating personal style. The campaign debuts with a 90-second director’s cut during the MTV Video Music Awards on 29 August.
The spots are set to an original remix by Lenny Kravitz that consists of elements from Lady, Kravitz’s latest single from his new studio album Baptism, and his Grammy-nominated song Are You Gonna Go My Way. As Lenny performs the song, Parker dances and multiplies her looks, showcasing different ways Gap jeans can be worn. At one point it appears as if there are six different versions of Parker dancing with Kravitz.
This campaign is about expressing your personal style, and no one does that with more originality and flare than Sarah Jessica Parker and Lenny Kravitz,” says Gap president Gary Muto. “The energy and excitement they bring to Gap’s new TV ads is unmatched.”
In the spots Parker and Kravitz express their individuality with customized outfits that convey their personal styles. Parker wears Gap’s new ultra low rise jeans, cropping, cuffing and rolling them to create a variety of looks, and pairing them with key pieces from Gap’s fall collection. In several shots, Parker customizes her jeans with a velvet ribbon sewn down the pant legs to create a tuxedo pant style. Another customized look features jeans cut just below the knee and enhanced with a ribbon bow at the hemline.
For a finishing touch that adds plenty of “bling,” Parker wears more than $10 million in estate and antique jewels from Fred Leighton. Lenny Kravitz’s clothes in the upcoming spots were customised by adding studs and grommet detailing to everything from jeans to denim vests. He also wears jeans embroidered with a gold braided ribbon down the pant legs.
Kravitz completes the look with his trademark accessory — a Gibson Flying V guitar — Lenny’s guitar of choice. Directed by Francis Lawrence and developed by Gap’s creative agency Laird+Partners, the “How Do You Wear It?” TV campaign consists of a series of three 30-second spots. Additionally, special 15-second teasers (in which the artists were not revealed) precluded the official launch of the spots, creating excitement and anticipation for the campaign. An extended 90-second Director’s Cut of the spot will premiere exclusively on August 29 during the MTV 2004 Video Music Awards. After the MTV launch, the ads will air in the United States on all major networks, spot markets and cable from 29 August – 2 October. They also will air on networks in Canada from 29 August – 2 October; in the United Kingdom from 5 September – 29 September; and in Japan from 13 September – 17 October.
After the ads break, customers around the world will have a chance to create their own version of the looks worn by Parker at special customisation events being held at select Gap stores. In addition to offering customisation, the tour also will give customers an opportunity to have their photo taken by a Gap photographer and go home with a professional photo that looks just like a real Gap ad.
A special website, Howdoyou.com, will follow the Show Us How You Wear It tour as it crosses the country, allowing customers to post pictures showcasing their personal style and search and vote for their favorite posted pictures. Customers can also visit the site to watch Gap’s new television spots and get styling tips for fall. For more information, visit Howdoyou.com when the site launches on 29 August.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
