News Broadcasting
Squarekey launches in Mumbai
MUMBAI: After its successful launch in Delhi last week online shopping destination SquareKey.com is all set to create a buzz in Mumbai.
Amidst much glitz and glamour, launch party of Squarekey.com was hosted at Le Pain Quotidien (BKC) in Mumbai by Nishka Lulla and SquareKey founder Avantika Daing on Monday. The guest list included the who’s who of the fashion industry and lifestyle magazines with Mugdha Godse, Krishika Lulla, Aditya Thackrey among many others.
SquareKey.com has been creating quite the frenzy amongst Bollywood celebrities, stylists, and the fashion elite since it’s a virtual store for brands unavailable in India till date.
An online retail destination for premium western contemporary fashion and lifestyle brands for men, women, and kids, and touted as “India’s Net-A-Porter,” SquareKey offers unprecedented access to current in-season styles from leading western designers including BCBG, Nicole Miller, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Rowley, Members Only, DL1961, Milly, Hanky Panky, and more.
SquareKey’s partnerships allow access to these labels which do not have brick and mortar presence in India at parity price (for the same price as retail in US/Europe) with free shipping.
Now you must be thinking, where do I sign up, right? Key in at: http://www.squarekey.com.
SquareKey’s vision is to create a level playing field between international brands and Indian consumers in their access to each other by providing current season items at parity price along with pre-order exclusivity. Sitting on a unique content platform, it keeps consumers engaged in real time trends.
Recently launched SquareTUBE is their own YouTube-driven digital approach to content around fashion and lifestyle. SquareKey also provides a personal shopper service where consumers can shop New York City whilst sitting in India.
Founder Avantika Daing says, “there is a large gap in a growing market. We want to unlock the world with SquareKey, by bringing the retail experience as it happens in real time in New York and London to the Indian consumers so they are not an afterthought; as is the case with branded retail in India. We partner with our brands strategically so as to not dilute them like e-retail tends to do in India. We are about an experience and so content, information and customer needs are of high priority to us. To enhance the customer experience, we now offer pre-order – providing exclusive access to items weeks before they are available in retail, even in New York!”
Editor-in-Chief Kanika Chadda Gupta explains, “SquareKey’s goal is to make shopping an experience rather than a chore. Our aim is two-fold. Firstly, we are living in a digital world and Indian shoppers have become a lot more tech savvy. We want to encourage online shopping since it’s easy and hassle-free, especially with our incentives of cost on delivery, parity price (same prices those in the US/UK), and free shipping. Secondly, we have positioned ourselves to be “content meets commerce,” which means the site navigates like an interactive magazine. On SquareTUBE, we have exclusive videos including “Street Style Around the World” and “Behind the Seams,” where consumers get a chance to hear from the designers themselves. On other e-commerce portals, the clothes get all the limelight. We want to give you the backstory. And with editorial features like “Shop the story” and “Pick of the week,” one can spend hours on SquareKey reading fiction narratives and getting tips on how to stay on trend while staying true to one’s own originality.”
SquareKey’s advisory board consists of founders, designers and editors of Fine Wines & More, Soho House, Le Pain Quotidien, Harper’s Bazaar, FreeCultr, IMG Worldwide and Estee Lauder.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
