With more designers,retro trends,Fashion Week looks to tap international buyers

While the venue has moved back to Pragati Maidan after Hotel Intercontinental last season,among the 110 designers participating at the event – the highest turnout so far at the WIFW — only 68 have ramp shows. It includes some of the top names in Indian fashion,besides the likes of Ritu Beri,Wendell Rodricks,Suneet Varma and several others who have been missing in action from the ramps of Delhi for a while. Even though buying has been lacklustre over the last couple of seasons,buyers’ presence this year is touted to be around 175. About 75 international representatives have apparently registered with the FDCI so far.

The legendary Didier Grumbach of the French fashion federation,credited with the discovery of talents such as YSL,was seen attending the opening show of Wendell Rodricks and Narendra Kumar.

“We have seen some great Indian talent at an international level in the recent past,but I am actually hoping that it’s not an entirely western affair this time. I would love to see some good indigenous Indian designs,” Grumbach said. There is also a representative from the prestigious Begdorf Goodman of New York.

The biggest trend on the runway this year is a throwback to the eighties,with power-shoulders,boyfriend jackets,and bright colours,but most designers are pragmatic enough to cater to a cross-section of clientele.