Men’s World

Considering the dismal state of fashion retail,this might not be the perfect time to introduce a brand new event in an extremely niche segment like men’s fashion,however,the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is determined not to let anything like a global slowdown change their plans. “Menswear is growing rapidly in India and we just don’t manage to tap buyers during regular fashion weeks,because they’re too preoccupied with women’s wear,” explains designer JJ Valaya. “This is a focused event on Indian buyers for men’s clothing.”

At a press conference held at The Grand,Vasant Kunj,several fashion professionals showed up for the unveiling of the logo for the Van Heusen India Men’s Fashion Week 2009. While lots remains unclear about India’s various fashion weeks in general,FDCI’s Sunil Sethi did his best to provide clarity. “It’s been 11 years since India’s first fashion week. Whether it’s New York,Milan or Paris,they all have fashion weeks dedicated to menswear,” he says. To be held between September 11 and 13 at The Grand,the FDCI has planned 15 shows,with 20 designers,and 40 stalls for buyers to examine the ware. The grand finale will showcase a collection by two designers (undecided as yet) who will retail at sponsor Van Heusen stores across India at Rs 2,000 upwards.

“The participation cost of the designers is around Rs 3 lakh while the stall rates are around Rs 1 lakh,” says Vinod Kaul,director of FDCI. The organisers promise a formidable list of domestic buyers that they say is still under preparation.

The designers present at the press conferance included Rohit Bal,Nikhil and Shantanu Mehra,Nitin Bal Chauhan and Manoviraj Khosla,sporting a bright yellow jacket. Anjana Bhargav and newbie Zubair Kirmani are also expected to make

the cut at the men’s fashion week. And while other designers remained cagey about their collections,Chauhan signaled a departure from comfortable men’s clothing promising tees with gothic overtones and jackets with geometric designs. Meanwhile,Bal in a black T-shirt spiritedly dismissed the question of his upcoming plans and dwelled on the challenges in Indian menswear. For the rest,look foward to September 11.