Examining what it’s like to live, work, and play in India, our experts guide you through the nuances that define its culture.

Lingerie brand Clovia hits the sweet spot for Indian women with its trendy but comfortable and affordable designs. With Indian women seeking good quality, fashion-forward designs in their lingerie, and driving demand for swimwear, brands like Clovia are helping women embrace their body shape and curves.

How Clovia reshapes Indian women’s views on their bodies

India's gig economy is booming, with the number of gig workers nationwide set to reach 23.5 million by 2030. However, due to the uncertainty of this income stream, most people remain cautious of their finances. How can brands harness tech and education to bolster a sense of financial security?

How Indians are managing money amid the rise of AI

Due to traffic congestion, rising petrol prices, and pollution, people want sustainable and efficient modes of transportation. In India, Yulu is leading the change with tech-based EVs that reduce pollution and make it easy for people to travel short distances between public transport hubs.

Why Yulu forwards green biking habits to urban Indians

Freshleaf, an Indian start-up, is redefining tea by transforming regular consumption into a wellness-focused "personal delightful moment of joy" for urban Indians. Young consumers' preference for premium tea is driven by a health-conscious lifestyle and an inclination towards niche categories.

How Freshleaf elevates the joy of tea for young Indians

Indians are increasingly buying luxury products while travelling abroad, according to spending data from Visa. In response, some brands are creating personalised shopping experiences overseas, aligning with the industry-wide shift towards immersive and curated experiences.

Luxury brands court Indian tourists with VIP shopping

Jaypore is collaborating with traditional artisans like the Ghadwa community to bring India’s cultural heritage to a global audience through the art of Dokra metalwork. The partnership supports the preservation of the craft while creating sustainable income opportunities for the community.

Jaypore deeps artisanal craft ties with Dokra line

Bumble and Puma India have partnered to create a bespoke running event for single Gen Zers and Yers, combining fitness and dating. The event comes at a time when young people around the world are looking for unique experiences that blend wellbeing, community, and even romance.

Puma and Bumble partner for singles-only running event

Indian beauty brand Sugar Cosmetics has launched a campaign that showcases beauty rituals as a form of empowerment. It’s going one step further than the ‘girlboss’ narrative in Indian advertising, highlighting how women’s identities are fluid and can exist outside of the family-work dichotomy.

Sugar Cosmetics embraces femininity as power in India

Tanishq has perfected the dance between tradition and modernity with its jewellery. From Diwali-exclusive collections to evolving its appeal, India’s favourite jeweller remains a festival staple – even as gold prices rise and tastes change. How does Tanishq keep its Diwali shine?

How Tanishq makes gold traditions glitter during Diwali

Widespread labour shortages and ageing populations in Europe have resulted in an urgent need for skilled migrants to boost economic growth. To tackle this challenge, Germany has approved new measures, including a new digital visa, to facilitate the migration of skilled workers from India.

Germany approves measures to attract Indian workers

To celebrate the Indian Festival of Lights, Mattel has introduced its first-ever Barbie Diwali doll. The brand continues to fulfil an essential role in enhancing playtime for children by blending creative play with real-world education and cultural representation in each new toy release.

Diwali Barbie shows need for diverse representation

In tandem with the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, Qua has launched its pre-fall collection with a campaign starring the Indian women’s national team. It’s breaking barriers in a male-dominated cricket culture and aligning with people’s growing support for women’s representation in the sport.

Qua campaign pays homage to India’s women cricket icons

Nescafé Sunrise has launched a new campaign to celebrate and champion the hard work of coffee farmers in Karnataka. As people seek products that reflect their values and heritage, brands can cultivate trust by emphasising local food tales that bridge the gap between community and culture.

Nescafé Sunrise pledges support for local coffee farmers

Luxury has long defined Indian weddings, but young people are amping up the exotic factor by opting for destination weddings at home and abroad. Cost remains a concern for many, and people are looking for brands to democratise the offering without compromising on world-class experiences.

Indians are eyeing destination weddings as luxury cachet

Lights, camera, action! Indian cinema is undergoing a dramatic transformation as regional films step into the limelight, outshining Bollywood. With the dynamic rise of OTT platforms and a shift towards more diverse storytelling, filmmakers are having to push the envelope – both on and off the screen. As the industry deals with gender representation and navigates political narratives, how is it reinventing itself to stay ahead?

How Indian cinema’s makeover is winning over fans

A report found that Diwali shoppers want to make sustainable choices when buying for the holidays. The findings highlight that even on special occasions, people are still looking to shop with their values first, giving brands the opportunity to balance cost and climate consciousness creatively.

Indian shoppers stay eco-conscious for Diwali

Cadbury has done more than satisfy India’s sweet tooth – it’s changed how Indians celebrate Diwali. Combining age-old tradition with modern tastes, the choco-giant has shifted the Diwali gifting culture away from conventional sweets to premium chocolates. How did Cadbury do it?

How Cadbury sweetens Indian gift-giving during Diwali

Indian Gen Zers are preparing for an uncertain economic future by changing the way they manage their money. They prioritise value, are more entrepreneurial, and have more open discussions about finances. They want to enjoy life now while securing their future, making careful spending decisions that reflect both prudence and aspiration.

How is India’s Gen Z changing the way they earn and spend money?

Gen Yers and Zers in India are building financial independence by establishing various (mostly passive) income streams like investments, content creation, and freelancing. This is their solution to economic uncertainty, but how can brands help them in their quest to gain control over their finances?

How varied income streams give Indians economic certainty

In a viral letter, the mother of a deceased EY India employee has accused the firm of driving her daughter to death by overwork. The controversy has thrust the country’s brutal workplace culture into the spotlight, and people are calling for meaningful brand actions to put employee wellbeing first. 

Indians demand accountability on EY overwork case

Italian luxury fashion house Tod’s has unveiled a collaboration with renowned Indian couturier Rahul Mishra. Luxury brands are placing greater emphasis on artisan craftsmanship in a shift to slower production and celebration of diverse cultural heritage from around the world.

Tod's collaboration celebrates Indian craftsmanship

Zoomcar has launched a partnership with Mappls MapmyIndia to integrate its cars with AI-driven map technology. As people seek ways to make their journeys smoother, brands can utilise the power of new technologies to enhance the travel planning process and make public transport accessible to all.

Zoomcar and Mappls enhance road travel in India

Sexual health company Bold Care has launched Sextember, a month-long campaign to spotlight men’s sexual wellness in India. Young people are dispelling the shame around such topics, and they’re gravitating towards more progressive brands that can help them live out fulfilling sex lives.

Bold Care helps Indian men normalise sexual wellbeing

Uber is trying everything in India – from flexible pricing and cheaper two-wheeler alternatives to switching to electric vehicles. The company achieved a goal of reaching a million drivers this year, but is this enough to keep pace and fend off competition in a robustly evolving mobility market?

How Uber keeps pace with India’s need for dynamic mobility

The Indian plant-based meat company has released an ad that stars renowned cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. The country’s burgeoning middle class is hungry for plant-based nutrition, and celebrity influence is driving the shift towards premiumisation in the space.

Blue Tribe’s celebrity appeal courts the vegan-curious

India has a ghost mall problem, but omnichannel retailing might be the answer, especially among experienced and value-seeking Tier-2 city residents. What can brands do to connect to this growing market, and what does it say about what Indians are looking for when they shop IRL?

What do Indians want when shopping IRL?

From fine to bridge jewellery, luxury brand Amrapali Jewels knows how to tap the Indian aesthetic. As the affluent demographic in India grows, the brand is widening its luxury net to cater to both the burgeoning middle class looking for light, daily wear and the traditional ultra-wealthy who spend on weddings.

How Amrapali is evolving with India’s growing affluence

Indians are becoming eco-conscious and more discerning about brands’ efforts to protect the environment. To meet their growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives, design company YLEM creates decorations, notebooks, and footwear from agricultural waste like eggshells, feathers, and palm leaves.

How YLEM uses eco-creativity to combat waste in India

Indians are increasingly drawn to exclusivity, customisation, and status when it comes to their gadgets, opening doors for high-end phones and specialised services. Leading this shift in the country are brands like Apple and Samsung, which are considered luxury products.

How are phones transforming into personal assets for Indians?

India faces a severe water crisis, with many people lacking clean drinking water. Water utility company Uravu offers a sustainable solution through water-from-air technology. The brand’s installed modular systems and water bottles urge Indians to reduce reliance on erratic groundwater sources.

Why Uravu designs a futuristic water system for Indians

Axis Bank has joined hands with Visa to launch Primus, a premier credit card for India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs). As luxury appetites mature, affluent Indians will expect brands to offer insider, bespoke products and services that centre on one-of-a-kind experiences.

Axis Bank unlocks VIP experiences for India’s UHNWIs

The blockchain is changing gaming through non-fungible tokens, play-to-earn models, and decentralised development. As this new paradigm shifts control from developers to players, what’s behind the rise of blockchain gaming? And what opportunities lie in integrating games and Web3 transactions?

What's behind the rise of blockchain gaming?

The Indian government proposed and quickly withdrew a bill targeting influencers, raising concerns about digital freedoms. With social media enabling decentralised and more open forms of news reporting, new tensions are likely to arise between state-sponsored media and creator culture.

Broadcasting bill raises transparency concerns in India

Naukri, India's leading job platform, uses AI to enhance user search experiences. It offers tools for upskilling, identifying skill gaps, and recommending courses to boost employability. The nation's young population can benefit economically with the right education and employment.

How Naukri alleviates AI anxiety among Indian job seekers

Due to changes in price and fashion trends, younger generations in India are changing how they look at gold jewellery. They prefer minimal, stylish, low-carat designs over traditional heavy pieces meant for investment. What can brands learn from this shift, and where is this change headed?

Why do Indian Gen Y and Z want minimalist gold jewellery?

India is in the thick of the monsoon season, and Amazon has released an ad that speaks to the importance of rekindling community during this time. In a market where local resonance is key to winning with shoppers, global brands are zeroing in on specific cultural codes to strike relevance.

Amazon humanises Indian e-commerce with local stories

HSBC has launched a campaign starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas that showcases food as an antidote for homesickness. With India cementing itself as a global hub for luxury spending, there’s an opportunity for brands to zero in on the lifestyle needs and desires of HNW Indians living abroad.

HSBC taps star power to court wealthy Indian expats

Indian Edtech juggernaut Vedantu offers services such as preparation for competitive exams and traditional academic disciplines. Bridging the gap associated with rural India’s internet infrastructure, the brand is implementing hybrid learning approaches that blend online and offline education.

How Vedantu rethinks hybrid learning for Indian students

Increasing awareness, economic independence for women, and a celebrity maternity culture are making pregnancy ‘cool’ in India, leading to tremendous growth in the maternity products and services market. What does this mean for brands looking to break into the country’s health and wellness sector?

How maternity products are changing India’s pregnancy landscape

Bangalore’s annual Gender Bender festival is back for its tenth year. A celebration of identities across the gender spectrum, the festival acts as a platform for India’s gender non-conforming creatives and provides a safe space of solidarity and empowerment for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Gender Bender fest celebrates gender diversity in India

Indian families are dipping into their savings and taking loans to maintain their lifestyle while the youth are finding it tough to get jobs. What do these economic changes mean for the festival where spending traditionally peaks, and how will they reshape the experience of Diwali celebrations?

Economic challenges are changing India’s Diwali festival

People from Northeastern India have faced prejudice toward their local cuisine. However, as interest in hyperlocal stories grows, YouTubers tackling negative stereotypes are finding global audiences and driving attitudinal shifts by spotlighting the local culture and ecology behind the dishes.

Hyperlocal food content is shifting global prejudices

Indian fintech startup Jupiter is refashioning banking in India at breakneck speed. With its live expense tracking, easy investment channels and smart saving tools, Jupiter takes on the role of a financial partner to Indian Gen Y and Z. But how did it make its name in the sacred space of banking?

How Jupiter simplifies money management for Gen Y Indians

According to new research, high-income holidaymakers in the APAC region are increasingly planning their vacations around culinary destinations, pointing to a shift in priorities for HNWIs. As travelers grow to demand unique experiences, culinary tourism is becoming a major driver for luxury travel.

Culinary tourism is growing in APAC

The nutraceutical start-up Wellbeing Nutrition has launched a campaign that uses humour to promote its dissolvable oral nutrient strips. As more Indians adopt a ritualised approach to health and wellness, brands can be assistive by showing how customers can build new routines around their products.

Wellbeing Nutrition makes health rituals fun for Indians

The international denim company Levi's appeals to young, fashion-conscious Indian shoppers by emphasising individualism, self-expression, and freedom. It combines digital and physical retail, catering to Gen Z's preferences with personalised in-store experiences and smart influencer partnerships.

Why Levi’s customises denim for Indian self-expression

A study has found that ‘travel now, pay later’ (TNPL) arrangements are garnering traction among young Indians. As growing disposable incomes make travel a more affordable reality for the country’s middle class, brands are dialling up the flexibility around trip planning to entice holidaymakers.

Indian vacationers are keen on ‘travel now, pay later’

The Sleep Company, India’s first SmartGRID-based mattress maker, disrupts the comfort sector by championing the transformative power of a good night’s sleep. Amid rising stress and hustle culture, how is this brand leading with innovation and catering to Indians’ newly formed wellness priorities?

How The Sleep Company cradles Indians and their need for rest

Indian jewellery retail chain Senco Gold has launched its Pride campaign in collaboration with LGBTQ+ actor Sushant Divgikar. With brands shying away from open displays of support for Pride, those that continue to pledge their support may appeal to audiences who value consistent brand action.

Senco Gold celebrates queer Indians with Pride anthem

Online meat marketplace Licious is making Indians ‘born to eat meat’ – to some extent. The brand attempts to organise a heavily unorganised meat sector, eat up the premium meat market, and fight social stigma. Already on the IPO route, how did Licious become a success in a not-so-vegetarian society?

How Licious repackages India’s meat-loving culture

India's PM Narendra Modi won a third term, but his party lost an outright majority. Luxury spending rises, but the class divide grows. Tech innovations loom but also spread misinformation. Why? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats to explore behavioural norms shared by people in India in 2024.

A Cultural Snapshot of India: 2024

Motorbike rentals are surging in popularity across the globe thanks to favourable cost-efficiency and convenience in the context of both regular commuting and leisurely road trip transport. Changing spending habits are resulting in changing relationships with transport and automotive ownership.

Cost-savvy commuters are turning to motorbike rentals

With gamified experiences, celebrity collaborations, and a strong omnichannel presence, Bombay Closet Cleanse is transforming the thrifting scene in India. See how their approach fuels the perception of circular fashion as cool and accessible to India's young, fashion-conscious population.

Why Bombay Closet Cleanse makes thrifting exclusive

What began as revenge spending post-pandemic has now become par for the course, with Indians splurging on sprawling residences, lavish holidays, fashion, tech, and more. Simultaneously, however, India’s income inequality and unemployment numbers are soaring through the roof.

How luxury spending in India thrives amid a turbulent economy

India's streetwear scene is heating up, with homegrown champions fighting hard for space alongside established cult legends from the West. Additionally, post-pandemic comfort clothing is now blending with Gen Z’s fondness for the, if you know, you know (IYKYK) culture to make a potent fashion mix.

What’s driving Gen Z Indians towards streetwear culture?

Citizens of India’s affluent class are hungry for real estate, and this demand is driving up the need for homeware brands to satisfy new local tastes. While international brands like Pottery Barn have been quick to snap up the opportunity to move East, it’s local designers who rule this market.

Why HNW Indians choose local homeware for their affluent homes

India’s newfound love for speciality coffee is brewing a new era of beverage preferences among local caffeine lovers, driving market trends and redefining cafe enthusiasts’ tastes. This shift presents new opportunities for brands looking to innovate in a rapidly growing market.

What’s fuelling Indians’ newfound obsession with coffee?

Duolingo India ventures into fashion by partnering with Digitas India on a creative campaign. Known as a leading language learning app, Duolingo aimed to reach a broader audience through collaboration, which showcases that language learning can be as trendy and exciting as the latest fashion styles.

How Duolingo debuts true localisation on the Indian runway

India's booming youth demographic is propelling a surge in demand for homegrown beauty products, emphasising transparency and a fusion of age-old rituals with modern science. This marks a significant departure from the previous generation’s reliance on home remedies and global brands.

Why are young Indians leaning into homegrown beauty?

Parle-G is a quintessential icon of nostalgia in India’s FMCG industry. Evolving from its colonial roots to become the world’s best-selling biscuit, it confidently rides the wave of change and virality by appealing to traditional and lasting Indian values and the unwavering love for snacking.

Why Parle-G’s biscuits grow alongside decades of Indian values

Digital streaming in India is experiencing explosive growth, offering brands a golden ticket to navigating the country's ever-evolving landscape. Listeners are tuning in not only from cities but also from rural and semi-urban areas, and this broadening base is bringing autonomy to music consumption.

What you need to know about India’s music streaming boom

Meesho, a leading social commerce platform in India, has secured $275 million from investors in the initial stages of a larger funding round. With a focus on value-conscious users and a commitment to exceptional UX, the company aims to compete directly with giants like Amazon.

Meesho caters to value-conscious Indian shoppers

Nestle has launched Espresso in India in an effort to meet a growing demand for premium coffee in the country. This launch aims to elevate the brand’s coffee experience with a sustainable twist and appeal to value-driven consumers who are seeking local-driven luxury products.

Nestle launches premium sustainable coffee range in India

As TikTok's fate in the US hangs in the balance, India's 2020 ban could be a cautionary tale. India's bold move disrupted its thriving creator scene, forcing a migration to new platforms. Now, the US weighs its options, urging a rethink of digital landscapes amid global tensions.

India banned TikTok. Can US TikTokers use this as a blueprint?

Political parties leveraged digital technology, social media influencers, and artificial intelligence (AI) to attract hundreds of millions of Indian voters in the 2024 general election like never before, raising concerns about the misuse of AI and exposure to misinformation and one-sided opinions.

How AI and deepfakes are changing how Indians vote

Generative AI (GenAI) has swept across all industries, including the Indian film world. However, GenAI usage must pass the test of transparency, ethics, and privacy. As people in India share that they trust all that comes with AI, the burden of authenticity lies heavy on the shoulders of creators.

How AI is rewriting Indian cinema

Political parties in India have enlisted the help of regional influencers to share political messaging. With contentious elections looming, this strategy highlights how politicians are turning to relatable figureheads to address younger generations’ declining trust in institutions.

Influencers tasked with election campaigning in India

India’s discerning high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are increasingly reviving traditions and connecting past and present in their fashion. Many now place high value on timelessness, especially among well-heeled urban globetrotters. What can others learn from this shift back to roots?

Why India's HNWIs are bringing back traditional designs

High-net-worth Indians are bearing witness to a unique convergence of spirituality and luxury, as affluent individuals prioritise spiritual fulfilment over materialistic pursuits. This reflects a changing priority among the affluent class seeking a deeper connection to personal growth and wellbeing.

How is spirituality influencing luxury travel among high-net-worth Indians?

Body grooming brand Bombae has launched a campaign that aims to dispel taboos around body hair. As body positivity discourse enters the mainstream in India, people are gravitating towards brands that champion body acceptance in ways that recognise cultural nuances around beauty standards.

Bombae empowers Indian women to normalise body hair

Digital wardrobe app LehLah has enlisted Athiya Shetty to give its users insider access to the Bollywood actress’ personal closet. The campaign is speaking to Indian fashionistas who are looking for more peer-influenced-curation when it comes to product discovery and recommendations.

LehLah brings community intimacy to style discovery

Internet blackouts are being used to disrupt farmers' protests in India as they demand fair prices for crops. Ahead of the 2024 elections, this type of digital authoritarianism is an alarming signal of human rights infringements and the need to protect access to online spaces.

Internet blackouts used to disrupt protests in India

Gen Z's widespread adoption of anti-ageing solutions suggests their willingness to embrace cosmetic procedures to pursue youthful appearances that align with their fast-paced lifestyles. Are these procedures becoming as commonplace as beauty rituals, and what implications does this hold?

Why are Indian Gen Zers embracing cosmetic procedures?

Despite changes in principles, traditions are still a living part of Indian culture, especially through material memory. This is why the jewellery brand Aurus crafts artisanal pieces that appeal to family-oriented and autonomous women, preserving Indian tradition through highly visual storytelling.

Why Aurus crafts visual heirlooms for modern Indian women

Amid a sea of generic health apps that crowd smartphones, Healthify positions itself as a mix of personalised wellness and tech wizardry. The app is about more than just counting steps or leafy greens. It's understanding the beat of every user's lifestyle, making health a goal and a way of life.

Why Healthify serves AI-planned diets to busy Indians

Edtech companies, educational institutions, teachers, the government, and non-governmental organisations are betting on artificial intelligence as a solution to solve multiple challenges facing the Indian education system. But can AI truly help Indians’ learning gaps in education?

How AI is reshaping education and learning in India

In India's thriving luxury beauty sector, Bollywood biggie Deepika Padukone's skincare venture, 82°E, aims to seize attention. Despite facing pricing and communication challenges, star power and a focus on sustainability have boosted visibility, but the question remains – is it enough for success?

How 82°E associates Indian skincare with celebrity status

Despite being the largest producer of milk in the world, India has traditionally never been associated with cheese production. But things are rapidly changing, with a slew of artisanal cheese companies mushrooming around the country due to a rising economy and a desire for novelty and globalisation.

Experience-hunting audiences are driving a dairy boom in India

Survey data shows that Indian women in the tech and IT sectors distrust organisational DE&I initiatives. As people increasingly scrutinise and prioritise their companies' abilities to deliver on DE&I goals, they’ll expect equitable workplaces to be the bare minimum – not a perk.

Indian women in tech are sceptical about DE&I efforts 

Blue Tribe Foods wants to cater to Indian palates’ unique needs – pleasing cultural tastes and nutritional charts while ensuring what’s good for the planet. With meat lovers growing concerned about cruelty in food production, plant-based options are stepping up with filling yet gratifying flavours.

Why Blue Tribe Foods makes Indian meat lovers hungry for greens

Festival season is a buyer’s market for fashion-forward Indian consumers, with much of the spending on textiles, garments, and jewellry. International brands are taking notice of the growing appetite of India’s affluent classes for luxury and responding with collections to satisfy their tastes.

For affluent Indians, festival season is an excuse to spend more on luxury

82°E – a self-care brand created by Indian actress Deepika Padukone – has announced its foray into body care. As the boundaries between people’s health, wellness, and beauty routines continue to blur, the body care space offers untapped potential when it comes to courting wellness-savvy Indians.

82°E ritualises body care for wellness-minded Indians

Blending the warmth and cosiness of a home with an upscale dining experience, supper clubs give home chefs a chance to test the waters and kickstart their careers. By providing Indians a platform to forge meaningful connections, they nurture camaraderie and belonging in a heavily digitised India.

How supper clubs are birthing a new genre of cosy restaurants in India

A report by Linkedin India highlights the country’s changing career landscape – with workers looking to move jobs for higher wages and better work-life balance. However, a competitive job market means people are expanding their searches beyond their current industries and reassessing career plans.

Report reveals Indian workers' changing priorities

Ease of use and interoperability have made homegrown instant payment systems the preferred mode of transactions for payments for millions of Indians who are becoming more digitally savvy and evolving commerce locally. Now, the United Payments Interface (UPI) is trying to recreate its success abroad.

How cashless payments are restructuring the Indian economy

In India, an app lets unborn babies take care of their moms by blending Ayurveda and new-gen tech. Garbh Sanskar Guru pioneers the pre-parenting domain by serving expectant moms across India with the help of Ayurvedic doctors, yoga coaches, psychologists, and an AI baby voice that gives reminders.

Why Garbh Sanskar Guru guides moms using Ayurvedic AI

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) has dropped an ad campaign that highlights local gaming trends. No longer viewed as a siloed form of entertainment, gaming has become an integral part of Indian culture, and brands can unlock its ability to bring people together in larger-than-life ways.

BGMI spotlights gaming fandoms as a way of life in India

Young Indians are sparking a dating revolution in India, challenging traditions and embracing diverse connections. From focusing on the journey rather than the destination to opting for budget-friendly experiences, Gen Z is redefining romance in a digitally driven landscape.

Gen Z Indians are shaking up dating culture. What's next for romance?

Research has found that of the top five languages that listeners streamed in 2023, Hindi was the only one that grew. As social media allows listeners to access global talent, from K-Pop to Afrobeat, the centres of influence are expanding beyond the West as people embrace interculturalism.

Hindi music popularity signals growing interculturalism

Indians are refusing to go on holiday in the Maldives after Maldivian politicians insulted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The controversy highlights the need for brands to invest in localism and intentional, positive messaging in the face of heightened polarisation.

Indians boycott travel to the Maldives amid diplomatic spat

Safety first! Creatara’s two-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs) are winning among fast-paced Indian Gen Zers with their innovative designs, security guarantees, and customisation options. Will its efforts be able to keep up with, or even help, India’s EV push, and what does this mean for other brands?

Why Creatara accelerates EV safety for Indian Gen Zers

With its authentic relatability and era-specific costumes, Netflix’s The Archies pays homage to the iconic clothing of the 60s, reinforcing the retro trend in Indian fashion. An adaptation of the Archie comics, the film localises its independent storylines and aesthetics for modern audiences.

Why The Archies is bringing vintage to Indian Gen Zers

Growth in Electric Vehicle sales continues to outpace combustion vehicles in India despite a slowdown. Indeed, EVs are becoming a status symbol for those in India’s major cities and smaller towns; the challenge for brands will be adapting to a market typically focussed on affordability.

Electric two-wheelers are status symbols in India

The story of Indian Gen Y and Gen Z changing the face of weddings is also a story of self-awareness, finding a voice, and clarity of thought. All stakeholders of India’s multibillion-dollar wedding industry have realised that they can’t take young brides for granted and must cater to their desires.

How are Gen Z and Y Indian brides reshaping the wedding industry?

Diet Sabya is an Instagram account that has gained prominence in the Indian fashion industry. Its rise to relevance reflects a broader cultural shift among younger Indians, tapping into the zeitgeist that seeks transparency, calls out imitations, and appreciates genuine creativity.

How Diet Sabya builds a Gen Z fashion democracy in India

Indian attitudes towards mental health and wellbeing have been gradually shifting, and research shows that people want more positive portrayals around the subject in media. As attitudes evolve, brands can turn to influential figures to provide positive representations and destigmatise the topic.

Indians look to cinema and TV to normalise mental health

India’s culinary landscape is evolving from traditional dining to immersive experiences that engage all the senses, fueled by urbanisation and the spending power of experience-hungry youth. Diners there crave regional delicacies, micro-cuisine journeys, and interactive environments.

Why are Indians looking for immersive dining experiences?

Indian-based Ayurveda brands have been transcending beyond their traditional medical sphere and venturing into beauty and personal care. With a growing appetite for Ayurvedic beauty, Kama Ayurveda has been positioning itself as the luxury brand to go to both inside and outside India.

How Kama Ayurveda makes luxury beauty from Indian roots

Indian streetwear label Huemn has tapped seventh-generation perfumer Ola Originals to launch its debut fragrance, Pheromones. It’s speaking to people’s shifting attitudes toward sexual expression in a largely conservative culture by marrying sex positivity with an homage to Indian perfumery.

Huemn reinterprets Indian heritage through sexual liberation

Indian audiences are becoming appreciative of progressive themes in films, and actors like Ayushmann Khuranna are a part of this change. Sometimes problematic but with underlying social messages, his films shine in an industry dominated by larger-than-life heroes in formulaic cinema.

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