Off the ramp

Jain and 31 other girls have been hired by the WIFW to assist the models during Fashion Week. Almost all girls are fashion students who come from fashion colleges across Delhi to learn the tricks of the trade — 24 of them are student from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). “This is the closest you can get to fashion and to this world,” says Jain.

Tension fills the Green Room as the smell of perfume,hair spray and cigarette smoke circles the air. It is midway between show and the model would return for a change of wardrobe. Both the helper and the model have less than a minute for the change.

Ankita Duseja,20,stands behind the models’ dressing area. She hurriedly organises the change of outfit,studies the tiara the model would wear and for a brief second,holds it above her head and looks into the mirror,“I’m here to learn but I’m often tempted to try it on,” she says. Then the model rushes in,unzipping her dress.

She sits opposite Duseja,holds her hands up for the “helper” to undress her. Duseja pulls the dress off. Neither of them speaks to the other,instead they move mechanically. The tiara has been misplaced. “I’m doing my job,you do yours,” yells Rachel,the model. The tiara is found just in time for the model to up and run. Duseja runs behind,holding the trail.

The helpers arrive at 9 in the morning and their day ends at 10.30 p.m. They gather around the model coordinators as they are briefed on the day’s shows. They were instructed on the importance of being punctual and polite. “They are the backbone,” says Pujan Sharma,the model coordinator. But often tempers flare.

“They have to be quick,need common sense and bit of a passion for clothes. What else can be asked of them?” says Tinu Verghese,one of India’s top models. Models get assigned helpers according to seniority and for Verghese,Himani,22,stands guard. But Himani had aspirations that go beyond Rs 700 daily salary for helping in five days of Fashion Week. “If by my fifth year I do not have an expression of my own I will not be happy,” said Himani. But for now she had to cater to demands.

The Russian models come running in. “No,no,no,” Donna Masih yells. “How many times have I told you keep everything ready,” she shouts. Arshia Ahuja,an up and coming model,defends the models’ behaviour. “If we’re not ready in time,we miss our turn,” she says,slipping into a pre-draped sari. The fussier the outfit,it appears,the greater the stress.

As the show ends,the models undress in the Green Room. Rachel Bayros is running late during her show. “A helper must be somebody efficient who uses her own sensibility instead of ours. She mustn’t be scared,” she barks. Her helper stands with her,looking terrified.

Supervising the helpers is their mother hen Janu. To make up for the slow catwalk,Janu runs between model to model,from helper to helper. “Janu I need you,” yells Tinu and Janu is there before the sentence finishes. She’s been a helper and is an assistant now. The trick of trade she explains is,“to exist not for you but for the demands of the ethereal creatures,for the industry.”

This despite no applause for the helpers at the end of their show.