Latest news with #Indies
Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Indie dogs have been around since…
They're everywhere — lounging in the sun, following schoolchildren, tailing street vendors, or curled up by a tea stall. The Indian street dog, affectionately known as the Indie, is one of the most overlooked animals, yet a much intricate part of our history than any Western breeds, having been found in Mohenjo-daro, too. But recently, a unique initiative set out to change that. The Rotary Club of Bombay launched a two-minute awareness film on the plight of Indies, with actor Pooja Bhatt lending her voice to the project. Produced by Nabeel Abbas, Founder and CEO of Epigram, and scripted by Anushree Kandalkar, the short film was a heartfelt appeal to acknowledge the Indie as more than just a street survivor. Ramesh Narayan, who conceived the project, shares: 'Looking around, you will see the Indie on every street. They are as hardy and caring as any breed dog, but they face the daily challenges of scrounging for food and facing extreme heat and the monsoons. It is heart-rending. So I thought we must begin building the Indie brand. More so at a time when everything Indian is now being looked up to. Let's take pride in our homegrown breed… Indies are old, have been around since Mohenjo-daro.' Indeed, a pariah-type dog skull was found at the ancient site of Mohenjo-daro, and similar canines appear in Bhimbetka's prehistoric rock art. The Indie dog was also featured in National Geographic's Search for the First Dog, standing proudly alongside ancient breeds like Israel's Canaan Dog and Australia's Dingo. Don't shop! Adopt an Indie. — Ramesh Narayan (@rameshnarayan) June 4, 2025 Dr Milind Hatekar, Veterinary Surgeon at Pet Aid Pune and Founder of the Asian Foundation of Veterinary Orthopedics and Neurology (AFVON), explained that 'it's a myth that Indie dogs are better than other breeds.' He says: 'In real sense, they have problems of allergies due to a lot of inbreeding. And they may have temperament issues since these dogs like to move and run around freely — and once restricted in flats and confined places, they will have temperament issues.' This doesn't mean Indies shouldn't be adopted — just that they require the same level of care, love and understanding as any other breed. 'They need equal care as compared to non-hairy breeds of dogs. Since they have a genetic pool supporting the weather in India, they do well in summers,' adds Dr Hatekar.
Business of Fashion
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
How Niche Perfumers Pay to Win
While the greater beauty slowdown may be bringing about the end of the Lipstick Index, perhaps it's led to the emergence of a different product as an economic indicator: Fragrance. Sales in the category rose 4 percent in the prestige channel and 8 percent in the mass market in the first quarter of 2025, according to intelligence firm Circana. And while body mists and designer scents are driving the mass category, it's niche fragrances that are keeping prestige sales afloat. A recent NielsenIQ report saw indie brands claim 23 percent of overall fragrance sales, with its 34 percent year-over-year growth outpacing the overall category, driven by demand for esoteric and expensive new perfumes popularized on social media, especially TikTok. Its perception as an affordable luxury buy, and one that helps buyers express their individuality, has contributed to their rise. The indies have been growing 'exponentially,' said Linda Levy, president of the Fragrance Foundation. 'They're often on a level playing field with big brands in direct-to-consumer storytelling and engagement.' That success has brought more competition from perfumery's traditional players — and their deeper pockets. Indies have to walk a tightrope to survive: they must follow Big Perfumery's business blueprint, but are also expected to provide elevated quality with surprising compositions and precious ingredients. Benoît Verdier, co-founder of perfume house Ex Nihilo, previously told The Business of Beauty that their competition was 'the big guys', referring to conglomerates like Estée Lauder, LVMH and Puig. 'If we want to compete against them, we need power.' ADVERTISEMENT To stay ahead, and to ensure their offerings remain singular, they're investing heavily in various corners of their businesses — in their perfumers, in their retail spaces and in their juices themselves. Omani fragrance house Amouage, recently backed by L'Oréal, lavishes both time and money on its perfumes, with long maturation times and potent ingredient concentrations. (Amouage) For perfume houses like Marc-Antoine Barrois, Kriger and Amouage, these investments are crucial to justifying their lofty prices, starting at around $160 per ounce. And their pay-to-win strategies are working. In 2024, the Oman-based Amouage recorded 30 percent growth, and annual retail sales now exceed $260 million, a figure that's more than doubled in the last three years. Marc-Antoine Barrois, headquartered in France, did nearly $70 million in retail sales in 2024, and is projected to grow to $100 million in 2025, its eponymous founder and artistic director told The Business of Beauty. Many indies have been scooped up by private equity firms: In 2024, D.S. & Durga was acquired by private equity firm Manzanita Capital, and L'Oréal purchased a stake in Amouage the same year. But even after a cash infusion, niche perfumers have to work to maintain their credibility. D.S. & Durga Co-founder Kavi Moltz told BoF that, post-acquisition, 'we're now spending more time on the creations and our community.' A Fine Balance It can be challenging to decide to divert precious resources to a superior — and eye-poppingly expensive — quality of jasmine, when more pressing areas like escalating supply chain costs, inflated MOQs and viable distribution channels need cash infusions. But for many niche perfumers, passion supersedes profit. One universal touchpoint is destination retail spaces that manifest slower, immersive and meaningful storytelling experiences. Chief executive Marco Parsiegla said that Amouage's boutiques are 'both commercially impactful and creatively essential' and have turned a profit more quickly than anticipated. Standalone retail spaces can be costly, but they have more profit potential than wholesale, allowing for greater consumer engagement, explains Paul Austin, founder of fragrance and branding agency Austin Advisory Group, and co-creator of LilaNur Parfums. Many niche perfumers have a mix of both: Amouage is stocked at over 1,000 department stores and fragrance boutiques worldwide, in addition to its 12 standalone boutiques. Same for Barrois, whose relatively modest offering of seven perfume SKUs sustains three standalone boutiques. 'I wanted my stores to be a place where people can escape their reality,' Marc-Antoine Barrois said. Krigler keeps supply rarified, setting up jewel-box-like spaces in the most exclusive hotels and never exceeding one door per city. Its Parisian outpost opened in December last year at The Peninsula Paris, at a cost of $2 million, counting the value of archival trunks and Baccarat crystal decanters on display. The rent for the 320 square foot space is almost in the six figures in euros, said a source with knowledge of the brand's business. ADVERTISEMENT That level of spend is worth it to fifth-generation owner Ben Krigler because it allows them to connect with high-spending clients. On opening day, a Qatari royal cleaned out their inventory, buying limited edition flaçons and every bottle of an exclusive collection including the testers, each worth $1,700. Her shopping spree brought in €100,000 ($114,000). 'A big portion of the store was empty,' said Krigler, who had to fly in employees from other stores with suitcases full of perfume the next day. Then it comes down to the juice itself. Fragrance houses spend lavishly on marquee name perfumers, who then go on to spend lavishly on ingredients. Barrois uses Quentin Bisch, a Givaudan perfumer known for Good Girl by Carolina Herrera and Parfums de Marly's Delina series. 'We have no limits on Quentin's time or on the ingredients we put in,' Barrois said. 'I don't know what it costs exactly and don't want to.' Bisch's scents, Ganymede and Tilia, are hits for the brand, together accounting for over 60 percent of sales. Perfumer and couturier Marc-Antoine Barrois, foreground, with his perfumer of choice, Quentin Bisch. 'We have no limits on Quentin's time or on the ingredients we put in,' Barrois said. 'I don't know what it costs exactly and don't want to.' (Jérôme Emeriau) Cash is not the only currency spent on niche fragrances, which often need time to mature. Amouage's approach to the aging process makes liberal use of both, which chief creative officer Renaud Salmon said is a non-negotiable part of their process: 'It unlocks the full potential of the perfume… bringing out complexity that would be impossible otherwise.' Each formula is evaluated to define the right maturation time. Since this step ties up working capital by requiring storage space, and results in inventory remaining unsold for months, it pushes up the cost of the perfume, as does Amouage's propensity to offer higher concentrations of fragrance concentrate than most houses, with some going up to 30 percent or more. 'From my experience creating for other luxury brands, this number is at least ten times higher than what is typically allowed,' Salmon said. Krigler's fragrances, too, start at 25 percent concentration, and can go up to 45 percent. Maturation time is a minimum of 18 months. Back to Basics These might seem like insurmountable costs to bootstrapped brands, which niche perfumeries often are. While Amouage is backed by L'Oréal, both Krigler and Marc Antoine Barrois remain family-owned. ADVERTISEMENT Barrois started in 2016 with a few thousand euros and invested everything he earned into the business. Early on, he rented out his apartment on Airbnb and funneled that into the company, too. But his first scent, B683, was so well-received that inventory he thought would last ten years sold in less than two months. That hustle and high comes with indie territory. And like Barrois, if nothing else, brands can leverage niche perfumery's founding principle: focus on product above all else. Veronique Gabai, founder and CEO of her eponymous brand, and former global president of the fragrance division of the Estée Lauder Companies, explains that indie perfumery's very origin was in disruption. 'Niche perfumes were born out of a reaction to the overtly marketed product that the fragrance industry was 20 or 25 years ago,' she said, citing the example of Frederic Malle. 'The purpose… was to go back to the quality of the juice, time spent on craftsmanship, and collaboration with perfumers.' Gabai welcomes brands renewed focus on what's always been at the heart of the niche perfumery ethos: The juice itself. Investment in the fragrance product is not just investment, but 'the very core of the strategy,' Gabai said. 'Niche isn't about marketing, imagery, or a big name and face. It's about creating a product that enchants, surprises and evokes important emotional reactions from people.' Sign up toThe Business of Beauty newsletter, your complimentary, must-read source for the day's most important beauty and wellness news and analysis.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Puppy adoption drive gets a creative twist in Kolkata
A city-based creative collective is taking the adoption awareness drive out of shelters into an art-filled Sunday afternoon. On April 27, Pawcasso & Paints , a unique event near Science City, is set to merge animal welfare with community art. The initiative aims to spotlight the adoption of rescued puppies—most of them Indies—by creating a relaxed, interactive space where participants can paint while spending time with vaccinated, friendly pups up for adoption. Organisers say over 30 people have already registered for the session, which will run from 4 PM to 6 PM. 'This isn't just an art workshop—it's a soft campaign for compassion,' said a member of the organising team, adding, 'We want people to see that adoption can be joyful and fulfilling, not just a duty.' The event also marks a shift in how adoption drives are being conducted in the city—blending creativity with cause-driven messaging to appeal to a younger, socially aware audience. Each participant will receive a curated goodie bag as a thank-you for supporting the cause. With Kolkata's growing interest in experiential events and animal welfare, this may just paint the way for a new kind of civic engagement—one where advocacy meets art. Stay updated with the latest Best Hindi Movies , Best Tamil Movies , Best Telugu Movies , Best english Movies , Best Malayalam Movies
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Superstar Breaks Silence On Departure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Earlier this year, a wave of talent releases swept through WWE, impacting several well-known performers, including Giovanni Vinci, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Isla Dawn, Cedric Alexander, the formidable tag team AOP (Akam and Rezar,) along with their manager Paul Ellering, and the promising Blair Davenport. For Davenport, this news came after a relatively brief but noteworthy stint with the company. Recently, Davenport addressed her departure from WWE during a candid livestream, offering her perspective on the situation with a mature and positive outlook. Bea Priestly (Blair Davenport) briefly speaks on her release from WWE and praises Lyra, Cora, Roxanne, Tiffany, and Giulia — FemmesWrestle⚠️ (@FemmesWrestle) April 22, 2025 When asked about the reasons behind her release, Davenport offered a straightforward explanation, stating, "Because I was part of a big release. I think it was just budget cuts to make up for their contracts. I don't have any negative feelings or anything like that. It's just the job and the business. That's the way it goes, really." Looking ahead, Davenport expressed an optimistic view of her future endeavors. "I'm excited for what's coming in the future, I'm excited to kind of get back to my roots a little bit, and do my own thing again. I did love doing stuff in Japan and the UK. I'm excited to do the Indies in America because I've never actually done the indies here at all. So yes, I'm excited for the future." Davenport concluded her remarks by reassuring her fans and expressing goodwill towards her former colleagues, stating, "Don't be upset for me, it's fine. It's the job, it's the way it goes. I'm happy for all my friends who are still there." The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as... The WWE logo is seen on the front of the WWE wrestling world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and its board of directors following allegations of sexual assault made public in a lawsuit in Connecticut. A former employee Janel Grant accused McMahon, 78, of sexual assault and sexually trafficking her. MoreMore news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Davenport initially captured the attention of the WWE Universe during her time in NXT UK, showcasing a compelling blend of intensity and in-ring prowess. Her talent led to a transition to the main NXT brand in America, where she achieved the milestone by winning the Women's Iron Survivor Challenge in 2023. This victory positioned her for a bright future within WWE. The following year, in the 2024 draft, Davenport was called up to the main roster, making her debut on SmackDown in June. However, despite this promising start and the anticipation surrounding her arrival on the blue brand, Davenport's main roster run proved to be disappointingly short and characterized by limited opportunities. She made only a handful of television appearances, with her most notable involvement being in the tournament to crown the inaugural Women's United States Champion. Unfortunately, her journey in this tournament was cut short with a first-round elimination. Her final match under the WWE banner took place in November 2024. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
