United We Stand

“The fashion bodies know only too well that the benefit lies in holding one fashion week. The same goes for the designers. It is the business of fashion that has to be kept in mind,” says Vijay K Singh,CEO of FDPC.

Sumeet Nair,who had earlier served as the executive director of FDCI had resigned in June 2008,amidst reported charges of favouritism.

Subsequently,Nair floated a parallel body and announced another fashion week (Delhi Fashion Week) whose dates clashed with the FDCI-mandated Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week held in October and March. The split inevitably created two camps with top designers such as Ashish Soni,Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal lending support to the newly minted FFI.

However,two seasons later,the picture is not as rosy although Nair denies that steep logistics and shortage of funds was the reason for the merger of FFI and FDCI.

“We had been in conversations with the FDPC for a long time. High logistics was definitely not the reason. We had around 177 buyers in the Autumn/Winter season and a good response,” says Nair.

Nair has been brought under the fold as the Managing Director of Prodigy Fashion events organiser who would present the fashion week. Meanwhile,talks are on to create a new designation for Sunil Sethi as a senior member of FDPC. Sethi was unavailable for comment.

“While Nair is a very good executive and would deliver an excellent fashion week,Sethi will play an important role as a senior member. He would lend his expertise in strengthening the buyer presence,” shares Singh. Over the past four months,Singh held several meetings with Sethi and Nair,bridging the gap between the two and personally met around 50 designers,coercing Bal and Tahiliani in coming under one umbrella.

“Besides the economic downturn,lack of sponsors,small contingent of buyers and wastage of resources also led to the merger,” says Singh,toying with the idea of holding the fashion week in two venues to accommodate all designers,the number pegged at 90.

Also,an independent jury comprising non-designers will look into the selection of designers,slots and stall allocation. Participation costs for young designers are expected to be reduced keeping in mind the philosophy of FDPC to promote young talent. “The fashion week will be longer than the usual five-day event and Wills will be the official sponsor,” says Singh.

Up next,Singh plans to launch regional chapters in Mumbai,Chennai,Bengaluru,giving an economic stimulus to the floundering industries in the region. He will also enter into talks with Lakme India Fashion week held in Mumbai for a possible merger.