It was all things masculine when a group of male models,some dressed only in boxer shorts and vests,stomped down a makeshift runway...
Written by RICHA BHATIA
3 min read
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It was all things masculine when a group of male models,some dressed only in boxer shorts and vests,stomped down a makeshift runway,for the first menswear fashion week auditions held at The Grand hotel in Vasant Kunj. Over all,184 aspiring models queued up for registration for their shot in the limelight. The only criterion was a minimum height requirement of 5 feet 11 inches. So far,18 models have been shortlisted.
I believe it is a great opportunity for male models since the regular fashion weeks focus on womens wear, said Kabir Singh,a striking 20-something model who has already walked the ramp for designers Narendra Kumar,Rocky S and Samant Chauhan. Singh,who goes through a party boy phase during his off season,looked dapper in yellow check pants and walked the runway with élan. The 6-ft lad has also been selected for the Lakme Fashion Week this season. Sunny Kamble,23,based in Mumbai,flew in especially for the auditions. He says,in the modelling world,its as competitive for men as it is for women. Mumbai is flooded with models from Delhi who want a pie of TV and print commercials, shares Kamble,a lanky six footer as well. Meanwhile,Bharat Kundra,23,was propelled into the heady fashion industry when he won the Grasim Mr India contest in 2007. Surprisingly,Kundra is also a software engineer from DU whos entered the contest in his final year on a whim. Of late,he has moved base to Mumbai to try his hand in TV. Initially my parents were sceptical of my choice but Im keen to give it a shot, he smiles.
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The jury that comprised model Sonalika Sahay,designers Rohit Gandhi and Rohit Bal amongst others,did not go all soft on the boys walking to pulsating electro-pop music. While one bashful male model got pulled up for his slouchy gait,others were critiqued for their wooden expressions. We found some lovely fresh faces but a lot needs to be done on the walk, said Gandhi. Bal,the least exacting jury member of all,cheered loudly for one Sikh male model aspirant,walking in a body- hugging shirt and denims.
The three-day show between 11 and 13 September will have 32 models showcasing lines of top designers like Rajesh Pratap Singh,JJ Valaya and Bal. While the figures are not officially available yet,male models for fashion weeks are usually paid Rs 6,000 per show.
