Mediocre advertising clings to stereotypes but good advertising breaks all stereotypes and creates a spark that goes down in history as legends. We browsed through the archives to bring forth some of the most creative ads we could find.
Zodiac Man
Zodiac was just an unknown tie brand until the happened, thanks to Ulka Advertising.
Headed by none other than the ‘The Last of the Great Advertising Nawabs’, Bal Mundkur, the campaign catapulted the brand to unprecedented repute, positioning it as a classy and fashionable brand, with quality at the heart. The campaign’s influence was such that the word ‘Zodiac Man’ became synonymous with any man with a handsome beard.
The Arrow Collar Man
The Arrow Collar man campaign dates back to the early 1900s and even predates the Marlboro Man. The Arrow Collar Man was the name given to the various male models who appeared in advertisements for shirts and detachable shirt collars manufactured by Cluett Peabody & Company of Troy, New York. Collaboratively produced by Calkins and Holden, New York, the campaign ran from 1905-1931.
Such was its impact that by 1920, the fictional character started receiving fan mails. Even now, the company continues to refer to its consumers as the ‘Arrow Man’.
Honest Shirt Peter England
The Peter England ‘Honest Shirt’ ad reinforced the fact that it is possible to sell without banking on tall claims, flamboyant marketing gimmicks or roping in celebrities to revel that the brand is his secret of success. A milestone in the history of Indian advertisement campaigns, the creative campaign was in
tune with the target segment and established the brand, that wasn’t radically different from its compeers, as one of the bestselling mid segment brands of India.
The Man in the Hathaway Shirt
David Ogilvy’s (of Ogilvy & Mather fame) 1951’s groundbreaking campaign for CF Hathaway, a small shirt-maker from Maine, went down in history as the most iconic shirts campaigns of all times. Hathaway had been making shirt for 116 years, unnoticed. The ad’s impact was immediate. Within a week, every Hathaway shirt in the city was sold.
Van Heusen Century -Anti Wrinkle
“The neatest Christmas gift of all!” said former US President Ronald Reagan of what is unarguably the most iconic shirt campaigns of all times. Designed by none other than the ingenious pop art guru Andy Warhol during his early years in commercial advertising, the advertisement, over the years, transcended from being just a medium of selling to become an integral part of American culture.
Gods and Kings – Louis Philippe
The Gods and Kings campaign set the standards for what a ‘well- dressed’ Indian male should be seen in. Targeted at the super premium consumer, the campaign successfully embossed its reputation as a line that celebrates extraordinary men of rare breeding and sophistication.
