Break Point

The couple will be showcasing their spring-summer 2010 collection on September 30 at the Milan Fashion Week (Milano Moda Donna),with another Delhiite,Atsu Sekhose. “We are still ideating on concepts for the show but you can be sure it will be something special to make them take note of us,” she grins. Their only other international exposure so far has been at the last Miami Fashion Week. This year,the Milan Fashion Week is scheduled to begin on September 23.

“I met Giulia Pirovano,the director general of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (organisers of the Milan Fashion Week) in November last year and we had discussions on collaborations between Indian and Italian designers,” says Sumeet Nair,managing director of Prodigy Fashion. Nair sent the organisers profiles of over a dozen designers doing western wear from India,who had participated in the Delhi Fashion Week organised by him. In May,the partnership was galvanised,allowing Indian designers to showcase their collections at the Milan Fashion Week,and Italian designers to come to India with their creations.

So far,veteran designer Tarun Tahiliani has bridged the distance to Milan when he was a part of the India showcase exhibition held alongside the Milan Fashion Week in 2003. But the Chauhans and Sekhose have managed a coveted ramp slot. Even as the euphoria sinks in,Sekhose is already at work. He is putting together a pret collection with oblique south Asian references that blends casual with chic. “There are no direct references to India,but I am working on the detailing that has been influenced by India and countries like Afghanistan and Istanbul,” says the 31-year-old.

Incidentally,what makes the tie-up especially interesting is the fact that the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana will bear all the show expenses of the two designers,which include fees for models and choreographers,besides ramp expenses. “The designers will only have to organise funds for their travel and accommodation,and look for a publicist,” says Nair. Incidentally,on an average,the cost of an international show is well over Rs 85 lakh.

In the meantime,the Chauhans are counting days for departure. “We plan to reach there a couple of days before the Week starts to get a hang of things and soak in the atmosphere,” says Alpana. Buongiorno,Milano!