Debut Season

“The purpose of hosting an international fashion week in India is business-oriented,and intended to give a fillip to Indian exporters. The cost goes down automatically if international designers get their garments stitched in India . So,even without affecting their profit margins,Indian exporters stand to gain tremendously,” says Sanjay Kapur,MD,Riya Communications Inc,and the man behind this fashion week.

Designers will converge from Australia,the US,Peru,Israel,Norway,Tanzania,Dubai,Pakistan and China among others. Some of the better-known names include Dorian Ho from China,Chen Cohen of Israel,and Nedret Taciroglu from Turkey. The only Indian label is Mona-Pali from Kolkata. “I had introduced them at the Toronto Fashion Week in 2002. They are my favourite Indian designers so they were the obvious choice,” remarks Kapur,who has been part of the organization committee of the couture week in New York and an advisor to the North Virginia Fashion Week.

The event will also see other international talents,including choreographer Andres Aquino (who organises the New York couture week) and Federico Calce and Mahealani Diego,hairstylist and make-up artist respectively to Hollywood stars like Catherine Zeta Jones and Angelina Jolie. “We are even flying in all the models from Italy and New York ,” adds Kapur.

While the designers are free to show either prêt or couture,Kapur says the focus is undoubtedly on couture. “We have left it to the designers to decide what their personal thrust is but,as an event,we are focusing on the luxury segment,and so,on couture,” he says.

Will this week be in conflict with the other existing fashion weeks in the country? Kapur doesn’t think so. “There’s no comparison between what they are doing and what we are trying to do. There is space for all in the industry,” he states.

Sunil Sethi,president,Fashion Design Council of India,which organised the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW),too doesn’t sound worried. “This fashion week was initially scheduled around the WIFW,but,for some reason,it did not take off then. While I have no official intimation of this week,I am aware that something of this sort is scheduled. It remains to be seen how the event shapes up.”

Incidentally,soon after the India International Fashion Week ends,it will be time for yet another week,the maiden Chennai Fashion Week which will be held from December 14-20. Different organizers,different designers and different models but the same buzzword—Style.

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