To celebrate its deep connection with music since 1960’s, the British auto brand MINI launches an apparel and accessories collection for him and her —Sound of MINI. The design of the items is heavily inspired by the British culture and distinguish features of local pop music. The new collection, which is running the gamut from ‘loud’ (bold, eye-catching prints) to ‘soft’ (minimalist styles and understated looks),” is set to be available from the MINI Online Shop and selected MINI dealerships starting September 2012.

IKEA makes textiles one of the core components of its collections and focuses on fabrics in its campaigns. Recently, the furniture retailer launched two promotions at a time—in Australia and Hong Kong—dedicated to the creative use of textiles, DIY and home comfort revolving around applying different prints and colours. Both campaigns include an interactive component, encouraging consumers to experiment with textile and find new affordable ways to express their personalities through vibrant patterned fabrics and bring new life to their homes.

One of the best ways to make an ad viewed and talked about by larger number of people is to make it controversial. The Dr Pepper brand has posted a new visual to its Facebook page—actually, quite a conventional one,—which ignited a lot of buzz in the comments. The ad titled “Evolution of Flavour” actually depicts an evolution of a man, featuring three stages of a human’s development: Pre-Pepper (an ape), Pepper Discovery (a cave man), and Post-Pepper (a man as he is now). This approach has been used numerous times in all kinds of visuals, but this time it turned to bee really offensive for some fans of the Dr Pepper page.

Pepsi has one again tapped one of the biggest Bollywood stars, Priyanka Chopra, as its ambassadress. The brand already collaborated with the Indian A-lister four years ago (the deal was closed because of some endorsement fee issues), and now welcomes the celebrity again. Chopra joins a roster of well-recognized Indian faces including MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina as well as Ranbir Kapoor, who co-star with Priyanka in the latest Bollywood comedy Barfi!.

Coca-Cola is committed to spreading happiness across the globe using all methods and approach possible. Philologists note than when people are heaving their meal, they are more and their sub-consciousness is more perceptive and the information they gets into their mind easily. That’s why it’s important to eat and drink with people you love and in the positive atmosphere. Coca-Cola can provide that. The iconic brand, which launched the Happiness Truck and the Happiness Machine, introduced its Happiness Table to people in Naples, Italy.

New York has been inspiring creative minds for decades, being the center of art, music and fashion scene of the country. The High Line is the city’s iconic location, which has influenced creative work of a number of artists and brands, needs some support from people who want to preserve the authenticity of the place. Recently, Friends of the High Line, which “works to build and maintain an extraordinary public park on the High Line… by transforming an essential piece of New York’s industrial past,” launched a merchandise program, which was joined by Diane von Furstenberg. The fashion designer created a special-edition collection to contribute the non-profit organization, which “provides over 90 percent of the High Line’s annual operating budget.”

Green is an everlasting trend influencing the performance of virtually any brand and company, which want to develop a positive image around the globe. Traditionally, leading an eco-oriented life implies a number of activities, such as recycling or skipping to water (energy, air)-saving technologies or just encouraging people to switch off the light when they leave the room, etc., and in fact there’re no new territories to explore here.

Converse, which celebrates creative independence and is committed to helping emerging musical talents to speak (or, sing and play) out, is bringing its unique experience, Converse Rubber Tracks, to a new land. The Brooklyn-based studio of the brand, where aspiring musicians can record their tracks free of charge, is arriving in Montreal, Canada next week, September 17-22. The “Converse Rubber Tracks in Montreal” pop-up studio will be opened as part of the POP Montreal International Music Festival.

Starbucks wants to make coffee available everywhere, at any spot and any time a consumer wants it. Following the launch of home coffee-making machines in spring 2012, the brand is about to introduce its vending machines in the UK to enable passers-by to buy their favourite coffee right in the street, while walking to work, being in the office or filling up a car at the gas station.