Project Paris

While he was prepping the models and giving last-minute tucks for his comeback show at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week last month...

Written by Paromita Chakrabarti

November 13, 2008 12:00 AM IST

3 min read

As the Tranoi Fair celebrates India in its Autumn-Winter edition, designer Abhishek Dutta gets a surprise invite

While he was prepping the models and giving last-minute tucks for his comeback show at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week last month, designer Abhishek Dutta had little inkling that someone in the audience already had big plans for him. 8220;I saw Michael Hadida, the owner of the prestigious Tranoi Fair, in the front row and was happy, particularly because he had earlier come to my stall and browsed through the clothes. But I was so busy ensuring everything went off without a hitch that I didn8217;t think anything beyond that,8221; says Dutta.

It was his return to the Delhi Fashion Week, after four consecutive showings at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. Now, Dutta can book another ticket 8211; to Paris and its prestigious Tranoi Fair.

Dutta8217;s collection8212;a series of quirky outfits that included zippered cargos, khadi jackets, shorts and capris and dresses with appliqueacute;s, all in linen and cotton 8211; subtly played up the Indian theme on overtly western silhouettes, and won him accolades from fashionistas. Much later, the designer from Kolkata came to know that Hadida had included him and newbie designer duo Nidhi and Pankaj for the Autumn-Winter edition of the fair, scheduled to take off in Paris between March 2 and 5.

Incidentally, Tranoi is celebrating India as its theme at this year8217;s fair, with an India Pavilion showcasing the works of over 15 of India8217;s top designers. 8220;I first heard the news from the media, but it was only when there was a correspondence from Hadida8217;s office that I was convinced that I was actually going,8221; laughs 29-year-old Dutta, who launched his precirc;t-a-porter label, Adnormal, in 2004, and now supplies to over 20 stores across the country, including Kimaya and Aza. While the designer is busy working on the orders that he has received after the fashion week, his blueprint for Tranoi is also ready. 8220;I am not into bling bling since it8217;s only suited to the Indian context. I8217;m working towards developing new fabrics and reviving old weaving techniques, so that my Indian sensibilities come across even on a western silhouette,8221; says Dutta, who counts actors Vidya Balan, Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Raima and Riya Sen among his clients.

Paromita Chakrabarti

Paromita Chakrabarti is Senior Associate Editor at the The Indian Express. She is a key member of the National Editorial and Opinion desk and writes on books and literature, gender discourse, workplace policies and contemporary socio-cultural trends. Professional Profile With a career spanning over 20 years, her work is characterized by a "deep culture" approach—examining how literature, gender, and social policy intersect with contemporary life. Specialization: Books and publishing, gender discourse (specifically workplace dynamics), and modern socio-cultural trends. Editorial Role: She curates the literary coverage for the paper, overseeing reviews, author profiles, and long-form features on global literary awards. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent writing highlights a blend of literary expertise and sharp social commentary: 1. Literary Coverage & Nobel/Booker Awards "2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Hungarian master of apocalypse" (Oct 10, 2025): An in-depth analysis of László Krasznahorkai’s win, exploring his themes of despair and grace. "Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025" (Nov 10, 2025): A comprehensive guide to the history and top contenders of the year. "Katie Kitamura's Audition turns life into a stage" (Nov 8, 2025): A review of the novel’s exploration of self-recognition and performance. 2. Gender & Workplace Policy "Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy: The problem isn’t periods. It’s that workplaces are built for men" (Oct 13, 2025): A viral opinion piece arguing that modern workplace patterns are calibrated to male biology, making women's rights feel like "concessions." "Best of Both Sides: For women’s cricket, it’s 1978, not 1983" (Nov 7, 2025): A piece on how the yardstick of men's cricket cannot accurately measure the revolution in the women's game. 3. Social Trends & Childhood Crisis "The kids are not alright: An unprecedented crisis is brewing in schools and homes" (Nov 23, 2025): Writing as the Opinions Editor, she analyzed how rising competition and digital overload are overwhelming children. 4. Author Interviews & Profiles "Fame is another kind of loneliness: Kiran Desai on her Booker-shortlisted novel" (Sept 23, 2025): An interview regarding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. "Once you’ve had a rocky and unsafe childhood, you can’t trust safety: Arundhati Roy" (Aug 30, 2025): A profile on Roy’s recent reflections on personal and political violence. Signature Beats Gender Lens: She frequently critiques the "borrowed terms" on which women navigate pregnancy, menstruation, and caregiving in the corporate world. Book Reviews: Her reviews often draw parallels between literature and other media, such as comparing Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune to the series Only Murders in the Building (Oct 25, 2025). ... Read More

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