Fashion designer Umair Zafar appointed Creative Head for Urban Xchange Fashions and Apparels

Celebrity stylist, fashion designer, image consultant and versatile entrepreneur in the fashion business, Umair Zafar believes that fashion trends and designs should translate at an affordable price. His vision is to make stylish garments comfortable and affordable. The designer is known for consulting with various brand building projects and customized outfits. He has also signed a Hollywood film project. Close on the heels follows the news that he has been appointed as Creative Head for an upcoming fashion house.

Urban Xchange Fashions and Apparels Pvt Ltd – a Mumbai-based company set to launch multi-brand lifestyle and fashion stores in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India - has appointed Mumbai-based fashion designer Umair Zafar as its Creative Head. Umair Zafar will design a premium range of ethnic collection for men and women which will be sold under the Urban Fashion umbrella of multi-brand stores in India.

Umair Zafar says, “I am really privileged to be associated with the multi-city, pan-India company Urban Xchange and will be part of its launch strategy all over India.  Urban Xchange plans to bring different fabrics with designs, embroideries, embellishments and printing and manufacturing techniques under one roof to plan a seasonal collection of garments both for men and women and suitable for the exquisite taste and preferences of the classes, yet make it affordable for the masses. The brand will target consumers in smaller towns and cities who would like to purchase branded clothing at reasonable prices. Urban Xchange - the parent company will launch its first in-house brand in the name of Urban Fashion along with its first store very soon.”

Umair asserts, “my endeavor will always be to promote Indian culture and heritage. There will be some unique, trend-setting fashion trends which have never been experimented with. The vision of our company is to get India on the world map as far as fashion is concerned without compromising on our rich cultural heritage and quality of the fabrics we use.”

About Urban Xchange:

Urban Xchange Fashions and Apparels Pvt Ltd is a Mumbai-based company, which aims to target the fashion and lifestyle segment in India, as well as provide alternatives for Indians abroad.  India has a very broad spectrum and range of textiles and well as embroideries and various hand printing techniques, besides a huge craftsman base.

Urban Xchange plans to bring different fabrics with designs, embroideries, embellishments and printing and manufacturing techniques under one roof to plan a seasonal collection suitable for the exquisite taste and preferences of the classes and yet make it affordable for the masses in smaller towns and cities who would like to purchase branded clothing at reasonable prices.

Urban Xchange - the parent company will launch its first in-house brand in the name of Urban Fashion.

Urban Xchange in the next one year is poised to be India’s fastest growing branded apparel company and a premium lifestyle and fashion player in the retail sector in B and C type cities in India. It is gearing up to introduce premier Indian branded designer wear labels, enabling Indian consumers in smaller cities and towns to buy prestigious fashion wear  and designer wear and accessories right next door - in their own home town or city.

The company’s brand portfolio will include product lines that range from the very affordable and mass-market for the discerning Indian buyer to the top-of-the-line, extravagant and luxurious, high-end fashion and style for the well-heeled and cater to every age group, from children and youth to men and women. 

India's leading holistic health and fitness guru's mail about Mulshi Natural Spring Water

India's leading holistic health and fitness guru recently circulated a very interesting mail about Mulshi Natural Spring Water. 

Dear Friends,

I would like to share a wonderful experience I had with drinking a bottle of water. I recently drank a bottle of Mulshi water, which by far the most pristine water to have ever touched my lips. I continue to drink this pure water and find it to be a truly refreshing and delightful experience to my health. 

I do not have any association with Mulshi, however in the interest of wellness I would recommend Mulshi water to you, my loved ones and friends. As you know, your health and wellbeing is my priority and I wish to share this piece of news with you based on the merits and quality of this water with no business angle whatsoever attached.

For some time now, I have been investigating effects of drinking water on our health, and am happy to tell you about a spring water that I have been introduced to. For those of you that are already careful about choosing the right lifestyle products, you probably know it already (Thank you to one such person for bringing it to my attention!) The bottled water is a relatively new brand called Mulshi Natural Spring Water.  It's the only natural spring water bottled in India. Spring waters are, as the name suggests, harvested directly from springs rich in precious minerals. This is very different from bottled or mineral waters, which are bottled or enhanced in bottling plants. In my opinion, natural products are always superior and spring water is invariably superior to other natural bottled waters.

If you're interested in understanding some of the details, bear with me as I share some of my learning. Mulshi is the most alkaline bottled water we have in India with a pH of 7.8, which makes it nearly as alkaline as green tea. So by having Mulshi you derive the same health benefits you get from green tea and that too without the bother of preparing green tea. You can conveniently enhance your well being by having Mulshi even when you are on the move.

Another critical detail (and this surprised me!) is that all bottled waters in India have pesticides detected in them. This is really shocking, considering we assume them to be safe and healthy. We all know that pesticides, even in small doses can cause a range of diseases and can prove to be carcinogenic. Mulshi have taken their certification of being pesticide-free from Australian Organic which is the world's leading agency for organic certification - good news indeed. You must understand that if you consume organic food and supplement it with pesticide-free water, your body will flush out 99% of the toxins and pesticides from your system in six months. This is all important for your healthy lifestyle.

Health and digestion go hand in hand – Mulshi is India’s lightest water with TDS levels of 100 mg/l. With the rich and oily Indian cuisine we often end up indulging in, a low mineral content water like Mulshi is easier on our systems. Internal health benefits aside, Mulshi is India’s softest water with softness of 63 mg/l. I am still learning about the association between water softness and external (dermatological) health. Soft water is good for clear, glowing skin – a fact endorsed by JETRO (Japan’s official agency about food and drink assessment). In fact JETRO research reveals the secret of Japanese having clear glowing skin is due to their preference for soft waters. The Mulshi team shared one of their favoruite stories - ancient legend has it that Bajirao Mastani bathed and drank water from the same source Mulshi Natural Spring Water is bottled from and this was the secret of her exotic beauty.

To sum it up - better health is in your hand and sometimes starts with the smallest of steps. 8 glasses of water a day are not only critical, but the composition of water in each of those glasses is equally important. Even when occasionally indulging in caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, choose the best water you can get your hands on.

My team has taken it upon itself to make this product more accessible to you. You may either reply back to my mail or call at my office and we would be pleased to take orders of Mulshi Natural Spring Water from you for free home delivery.

I pray that my suggestion proves beneficial to you.

Cheers to a healthy lifestyle!

Mickey Mehta

“Mickey Virus is close to my heart”, says Manish Paul

PRESS RELEASE

Manish Paul, making his Bollywood debut in the soon to be released comic thriller ‘Mickey Virus’ was born and brought up in New Delhi, in Malviya Nagar. So, when he heard the script of the film, which was about a computer hacker living in Malviya Nagar, he knew he wanted to do this.

Not just this, Manish’s nick name in real life is Mickey, which is his name in the film. Also, parts of the film have been shot in Nehru Place, where Manish used to stand in a line for his favorite Rajma-Chawal. In fact, one day, during the shoot, Manish was thronged and lovingly pestered for autographs by the people who had seen him through his growing years.

Manish Paul said, “It’s heartening to see the people I have grown up with, being so appreciative of my work. That is my reward. On top of that, I am working in a film where my screen name is my real-life name. The guy belongs to the same place from New Delhi I grew up in. This movie is very close to my heart and will always hold a special place in my life.”

Starring Manish Paul and Elli Avram, ‘Mickey Virus’ also features Manish Choudhary, Varun Badola and Puja Gupta in pivotal roles. Presented by DAR Motion Pictures in association with Awesome Films Pvt. Ltd. and co-produced by Trilogic Digital Media Ltd., Saurabh Verma’s ‘Mickey Virus’ releases in theatres across India on 25th October 2013.

11th Worldex China Expo

PRESS RELEASE

Most Eagerly Awaited Annual Event Since 2004 - the “11th China Products Exhibition” To Boost Manufacturing And Trading Opportunities For Indian Entrepreneurs

ñ  Chinese and Hong Kong companies from more than 40 sectors to come to Mumbai with a variety of industrial and consumer products

ñ  Style Hong Kong Pavilion will be an added attraction

Being organized since 2004, the 11th edition of “China Products (Mumbai, India) Exhibition” will take place from 26th – 28th November, 2013 at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (East),Mumbai, India. The longest running China Exhibition in India and also the definitive international sourcing platform for Indian business enterprises, this unique trade expo showcases more than 40 industries and verticals. The 11th China Products Exhibition will have an added attraction in the form of a Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) pavilion where companies from Hong Kong will showcase their range of stylish and contemporary products. Providing complimentary business matching services, the Exhibition assists Indian businesses in meeting their future business partners from China and Hong Kong.

The current edition is covering an extensive range of products across a wide section of industries like consumer electronics & durables, home appliances, fashion jewellery & accessories, machinery, machine tools, mechanical & electrical equipment & parts, power tillers, hydraulic equipment, grinding products, UPVC doors, wallpaper, medical equipment, traditional Chinese medicine, ceramic products, food & beverages, toys, LED products, silk, leather, fibres & yarns.

Powering Indian entrepreneurs to succeed for the 11th consecutive year, the Exhibition will help Indian enterprises source machinery and components from China – providing quality products at lower rates and logistics costs - thus bringing down manufacturing costs.  Additionally, Indian traders, importers and distributors can source an extensive range of consumer products at more affordable prices for the burgeoning retail industry.

Despite the global and local scenario, the Indian economy is growing due to strong domestic consumption. With a rising middle class population expected to reach 267 million by 2015-16, as well as the world's youngest population, the consumption pattern is expected to shift from food items to discretionary spending. The show offers an excellent opportunity for brands and companies to develop businesses in the areas of services and manufacturing along with the growing consumer market. India is also home to 48.8 million SMEs and 5 thousand large enterprises. This in itself is a huge potential market for companies to service the SME market owing to increasing need for efficiency and collaboration.

The trade show is being organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Sub-councils of Commercial Industry, Guangdong, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Sichuan, Wuhan, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation of Guangdong Province and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute. The Exhibition is supported by the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), the India-China Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCCI), the Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) and managed by Worldex India.

Triple Treat of Music and Entertainment from Art And Artistes this weekend

PRESS RELEASE

If daily soaps and saas-bahu sagas are not your thing and you have been yearning to witness something mesmerizing, then Art and Artistes, the pioneering music and entertainment programming company has something just for you. The company has geared up for a Triple Treat this weekend, with back to back events on October 24^th, 25^th and 26^th 2013.

‘Golden Voice Golden Years’ at the felicitation of Pandit Jasraj receiving the Pt Bhimsen Joshi Award from the Govt. of Maharashtra, Bhajan Karaoke Album Launch in association with INT – Aditya Birla Group and Saregama, and Indian Music Academy (IMA) – Marathi Music Awards to be telecast on Star Pravah, the leading Marathi GEC.

‘Golden Voice Golden Years’ conceived by Durga Jasraj, is a unique Concept - the first ever self narrated Musical Journey of a living Legend in the world. It will leave the audiences with a lifelong impression with its audio-visual and live interaction elements, woven together seamlessly. A truly honest narration by one of India’s National treasures – Pandit Jasraj, is inspirational and motivating simply presented through carefully selected anecdotes and learnings. 

Venue: Shanmukhananda Hall, Sion, Mumbai

Thursday, the 24^th of October, 2013

Music lovers, especially those of the Spiritual music genre will be enthralled with the second offering from Art And Artistes – the first ever Bhajan Karaoke album – ‘Divya Jyoti’, conceived by Smt. Rajashree Birla and produced by Art And Artistes.

The Album offers a variety of Bhajans, Mantras and Shlokas, presented in an interactive form, using the contemporary entertainment form of Karaoke. A grand Bhajan Karaoke Competition amongst selected contestants will see them competing for cash prizes, and the opportunity of being judged by the Bhajan Samrat, Anup Jalota. Chief Guest, Sonu Nigam will also be present to witness this momentous occassion and launch the Album. With a stupendous response across 6 cities to this during the recently concluded Ganesh Chathurti, Durga Puja and Navratri festivals, the innovative idea of Smt Birla has indeed been effectively translated into reality. Divya Jyoti is a set of 4 DVDs priced at Rs.400/- and comprises 50 tracks, with music rendered by many artistes.

Venue: Sophia College Auditorium, Breach Candy, Mumbai

Friday, the 25^th of October, 2013

Hold on to your seats for Art And Artistes’ final offering this weekend in partnership with GSEAMS – the Indian Music Academy (IMA) - Marathi Music Awards. The most credible Music Industry body, IMA (which is a CSR initiative of Art And Artistes), is going regional for the first time with these Awards for Marathi Music, to celebrate and recognize deserving talent. The richness of Marathi Music deserves special recognition and this endeavors to bring attention to the variety of Marathi Music talent. It will be broadcast on Star Pravah, the leading Marathi GEC.

Durga Jasraj, Founder and Director, Art And Artistes said, “Handling these kinds of diverse projects over three days across various mediums like Live, Television, Digital, DVD, etc. is a unique challenge. It is a matter of pride for us to be reaching out to diverse audiences united by a common characteristic of being music lovers. Our programming is in line with our promise of keeping our cultural heritage alive along with entertainment with an assortment of shows, handpicked to ensure relevance and meeting the predilection of viewers and esteemed partners.” 

Venue: Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai

Saturday, the 26^th of October, 2013              

About Art And Artistes (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Durga Jasraj founded Art And Artistes’ in 1999. Since the last 5 years, along with Neeraj Jaitly, the company has expanded its operational scope. It uses contemporary entertainment formats across diverse Mediums to produce world class IP. Notable IPs created by the company include - , and others.

Over 300 Concerts across 30 countries, more than 70 CD/DVDs, 30 Television productions across 165 countries, a million mobile VAS content, In-Flight programming across 15 International Airlines, FM Radio programming, and a vibrant Social Media platform on Facebook and YouTube growing exponentially – all combined reached more than 500 million audiences... and growing…

Goa: Entrepreneurs Notepad

PRESS NOTE

GCCI’s SPED is the state’s premiere entrepreneurs development mentoring and strategy incubation group led by CA Gautam Verlekar and a select team of hand picked entrepreneurs between the age group 25-50 clearly are focused in this direction.

As a part of their various support initiatives their annual event Entrepreneurs Notepad is one of the Goa’s most sort after conclaves for entrepreneurs. This year the Entrepreneurs Notepad brings to you a focus on the Franchise led retail revolution of India. Mr. Anjan Chatterjee founder of India’s most successful restaurant chain “Mainland China” and Dr Apoorva Shah of “RICHFEEL-Hair care” India’s fastest growing Hair care transplant/care brand will address the Entrepreneurs Notepad. The Entrepreneurs Notepad will bring together some of the Goa’s most successful businessmen, top industrialists, investors, students and Academicians. It is a huge opportunity for Goa’s young and old to understand and deliberate on how India’s billion dollar retail revolution shall influence businesses and lives. The event is scheduled on 26^th October, 2013 at 4.30pm at the Taj Vivanta at nominal entry charge.

CANAPE, Goa’s own gourmet restaurant Giant is the proud brand partner at this event.

CANAPE GOA also aspires to be an international and pan India chain and thus is the brand partner of this unique think fest.

GCCI’s SPED has thus continuously worked to make Goan brands break through national and International waters.

GAUTAM VERLEKAR

Chairman, SPED Committee, GCCI

Gujaratis under debt for the next seven generations?

PRESS RELEASE

Open the newspaper, and there will be some news every other day with Mr. Narendra Modi tom-tomming about how great a state Gujarat is. The truth is something else, entirely. Gujarat is in debt. And who is expected to pay the debt? Gujaratis. Gujarat is touted to be the most progressive state in India, but what really is the fact? Is Gujarat really on its way to development, or is it just an eyewash, and the state’s overactive PR machinery in action? Every act of Mr. Modi seems like a Publicity stunt. One fails to understand why would one worship modern weapons in Shastra Puja (in news recently), when it is an age old tradition for ancient weapons. And then, he never misses to tweet about every ‘good’ act of his.

Two years back, there was an article in a reputed newspaper which stated how Gujarat’s debt had tripled in the decade gone by. With a massive portion of the state’s revenues going towards clearing the debt, wonder what is the state spending on development and progress. Recently, it became public knowledge that the Narendra Modi government spent Rs 45 crore of the tax-payers' money to block his appointment as Lokayukta. The government not only funded its own legal expenses, but expenses of NGOs who became co-petitioners in Supreme Court. When there is so much debt to pay off, ideally the government should use those fund to get rid of the debt, and not indulge in frivolous expenditure.

If Gujarat claims to have a lot of money in its kitty, the money should be spent on the areas where the state lags far behind, socially, such as education, health, development of Schedule caste and scheduled tribe. There is a huge gap between the money allocated and the money actually used, under many heads – constructing offices, computer education and special courts. The government has showed mismanagement of funds at various steps, such as lesser returns on investments made compared to the interest paid by the state government and also, a larger loan taken to adjust the value of monetary deficit. Not just this, Gujarat has not even submitted a certificate for the utilization of funds to the tune of over 9000 crores.

With the massive debt that the state is in, the people are getting increasingly worried if they will be burdened with tax to make up for the government’s mismanagement. They pray that the farce will come to an end, and someone will take Gujaratis out of the doldrums. Till that happens, hope is all there is. And after the Gujarat Riots, the hope is bleak.