Pepe Jeans India Limited has announced the appointment of Rajesh Kumar as Director – Design, strengthening its senior leadership team as the brand sharpens its creative and commercial focus in the Indian market.
Kumar, an alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT Kolkata), brings more than 24 years of experience in the fashion and lifestyle sector. He is widely recognised for building and scaling established brands while aligning design innovation with business growth.
Over the course of his career, Kumar has led the launch and expansion of U.S. POLO ASSN. in India, transforming it into one of the country’s most successful multi-category fashion labels across apparel, denim, children’s wear, innerwear and footwear. He has also overseen the strategic repositioning of global brands such as Dockers and Lee in partnership with Ace Turtle, adapting them to evolving Indian consumer preferences.
In addition, Kumar led the “Design to Delivery” (D2D) model at ZETWERK, where he integrated modern design frameworks with consumer-led insights and brand storytelling to drive scale, consistency and long-term value creation. He is regarded for building high-performing creative teams capable of delivering sustained commercial impact.
In his new role at Pepe Jeans India Limited, Kumar will be responsible for leading the brand’s overall design vision and execution in the country. The company stated that his appointment is expected to reinforce a culture of creativity and excellence, supporting its next phase of growth in a competitive and rapidly evolving apparel market.
