Neha Mehrotra
18-Apr-2026
From luxury menswear to summer releases, a lot has happened this week and here’s a lowdown of everything!
1. Blancpain Unveils the Villeret “Golden Hour” Collection in India
Blancpain launches its latest Villeret “Golden Hour” collection in partnership with Kamal Watch Co. in Hyderabad. The collection, presented across 16 new references, captures the warmth and transience of autumnal light through golden-brown and opaline dials, paired with subtle yet sophisticated design evolutions. At its core, the collection features an automatic three-hand model with date (40 mm), a complete calendar with moon phase (40 mm) and a moon phase calendar (33.2 mm), including diamond-set variations and each timepiece is available in stainless steel or 18 ct red gold. Mechanically, the collection is powered by Blancpain’s in-house automatic manufacture movements, equipped with silicon hairsprings and finished in accordance with Haute Horlogerie traditions, including Côtes de Genève and meticulous bevelling. Select models feature patented under-lug correctors, enabling seamless calendar adjustments while preserving the integrity of the movement. All timepieces are backed by a five-year warranty.
2. Raymond Unveils India’s First Homegrown Luxury Menswear Destination
India has a new luxury destination — the Chairman’s Collection Store in Mumbai. The two-level flagship store marks a meaningful evolution for the brand, bringing together the finest menswear fashion. The Chairman’s Collection is divided among three distinct worlds that include everything from elevated casualwear, power dressing suits and indo-western silhouettes to renaissance-inspired prints with traditional Indian techniques such as zardozi and hand embroidery. The collection also extends to fine jewellery and a curated edit of the world’s most coveted fragrance and watch brands. The store operates on an appointment-led model and is further elevated by museum-worthy displays of rare collectibles, Formula 1-inspired models, and several Art-deco pieces.
3. Italian Luxury Menswear, Vercelli Arrives in India
Vercelli, the Italian luxury menswear house, enters the Indian retail landscape with the launch of its first flagship store in Juhu, Mumbai. This strategic expansion is backed by Rishab World, the 95-year-old textile enterprise that holds Vercelli’s India licence. Spanning across two levels, the flagship underscores its potential as a one-stop shop for luxury. The ground floor showcases the Ready-to-Wear collection comprising Italian fabric-led shirts, tailored jackets, structured trousers, premium knits, and accessories, while the upper level houses the bespoke studio, featuring curated Italian fabric libraries and private fitting chambers.
4. Davidoff Parfums Onboards Ahaan Pandey as its First-Ever Brand Ambassador For India
Davidoff parfums announces actor Ahaan Panday as its First Brand Ambassador for India. The brand has long held cult status across urban India and through this partnership, it aims to strengthen its cultural presence in India and build ties with a new generation of fragrance enthusiasts. The appointment coincides with the introduction of Davidoff parfums latest global fragrance launch, Cool Elixir: The New Oud Treasure. Featuring a noble oud accord layered with lavandin absolute and rose oxide, Cool Elixir reflects Davidoff’s evolution towards more sensorial, elevated expressions of modern masculinity.
5. Rolex and the FIA World Endurance Championship Mark a Decade Together
??In 2026, Rolex marks a decade as Official Timepiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship, a partnership that has helped elevate the series into a golden era of endurance racing. Since 2016, milestones such as the introduction of the Hypercar class and cross-championship regulations with IMSA have intensified competition and attracted leading manufacturers. Iconic moments at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—from record-setting laps by Mark Webber to Jenson Button’s NASCAR Garage 56 entry—underscore the sport’s precision-driven nature. With an expanded grid and rising talents like Nyck de Vries, the 2026 season reflects Rolex’s enduring commitment to performance, timing and excellence in global motor sport.
6. The Leela Mumbai Unveils “Summer Melon Brunch” at Citrus
The Leela Mumbai invites guests to indulge in the season’s most refreshing ingredient, the melon, at Citrus, the hotel’s award-winning all-day dining destination. The “Summer Melon Brunch" includes melon-inspired chilled soups and salads, followed by appetisers including grilled prawns with melon salsa, cottage cheese and melon skewers, and parmesan and melon canapés. The mains include melon barley risotto, pan-seared fish with melon caponata, braised pork ribs with melon compote, and grilled melon steak, alongside various lighter preparations. The brunch also serves a curated selection of melon-inspired desserts, including melon and coconut entremets, almond-melon tarts, and melon-chocolate old-fashioned cake.
When: 19th and 26th April 2026,
Where: The Leela Mumbai.
7. Shanti Banaras Opens New Store at Ambawatta One
Shanti Banaras opens a new store at Ambawatta One, Mehrauli, a space that redefines how Banarasi textiles are presented and experienced. The store is built almost like a maze and each section reveals itself gradually, showcasing the brand’s most defined pieces – Banarasi metallic lehengas, real zari weaves, and hand-embroidered saris developed with high levels of detail and finish. Every element within the store carries a reference to the process. The chandeliers are constructed from loom punch cards, small Shanti insignias appear within details across the space and the furniture is built to support the textile.
8. H&M Unveils the Stella McCartney H&M Collection
H&M unveils the upcoming Stella McCartney collaboration, a collection that celebrates 25 years of the designer’s signature, rule-breaking aesthetic. Blending past and present, the edit revisits iconic codes—from oversized shirting and sharp tailoring to archival bejewelled prints and slogan tees—while introducing fresh interpretations. Highlights include rib-knit dresses with Falabella chain detailing, a dramatic cape-sleeve white gown, and bold cherry-print mesh pieces. Partywear, denim, and statement accessories—ranging from chain-strap bags to mixed-metal jewellery—add to the appeal. Staying true to McCartney’s ethos, the collection prioritises recycled and responsibly sourced materials. It launches in India at select H&M stores in Delhi and Mumbai and online from May 7, 2026.
9. Oceana Signature unveils its first Signature Atelier at Jio World Plaza
Designed as an intimate, dreamy, and elegantly crafted high-end kiosk, the Atelier blends refined design, craftsmanship, and storytelling to offer an elevated retail experience. At the heart of the launch was “50 Shades of Slay – The Signature Edit”, a curated fashion showcase conceptualised as a head-to-toe luxury experience. Alongside Oceana’s specialised collection, the edit featured six external designers: AraiyabyAza, Jewels by Shivani & Nupur, Babita Malkani, HYUE, Taangerine Tiger, and Mister Pearl and spotlighted statement pieces. The launch also signals the beginning of Oceana’s 2026 expansion, with upcoming entries into London and New York.
10. Bata Launches Everyday Essentials for the Summer Season
Bata introduces Everyday Essentials re-invented for a fresh summer campaign fronted by actress Taapsee Pannu. The thoughtfully curated open footwear edit is designed to move effortlessly through the rhythm of everyday life. Think flat and low-heeled sandals, adjustable buckles, woven straps, peep-toe details, and clean, wearable shapes designed for long summer days. The campaign showcases a neutral, wearable colour palette including ivory, beige, browns, and classic black.
11. Staqx Brings Retro Diner Culture to Bandra, Mumbai
Staqx, the new diner concept from Chef Beena Noronha by Saltae Hospitality, brings the energetic spirit of 1980s diner culture to Bandra. The 14-seater intimate diner is built around indulgence with generous portions, satisfying combinations, and food that is meant to be enjoyed without restraint. The menu spans sandwiches, milkshakes, sundaes, coffee, and more. It feels like a neighbourhood diner, with lively music, neon signage, tiled surfaces, chrome accents, and a confident colour palette.
12. Hush Puppies Brings Bounce Technology to Its New Sneaker Collection
Hush Puppies’s new Office sneaker collection, with bounce technology, is a boon for all working people. The Bounce Technology offers an enhanced two-layer cushioning system that delivers superior responsiveness, shock absorption, and all-day comfort. Available in lace-up and slip-on styles for men and women, the collection is designed for professionals navigating fast-paced, hybrid workdays and keeping pace with modern work lives.
13. Chef Natasha Gandhi Joins P •TAL as Chief Culinary Partner
P• TAL appoints Natasha Gandhi as Chief Culinary Partner, formalising a relationship that began organically in her kitchen. Drawn to the brand’s authenticity, she integrated its cookware into her daily practice, even inspiring the cult “Natasha wali handi". In her new role, she will lead product innovation and storytelling, bringing real-world culinary insight to refine design, performance and the brand’s evolving narrative.
Cover Credits: Pexels
