Shashank Chouhan

New Delhi, Oct 07: The Fashion Design Council of India on Tuesday announced the fashion designers and partners of the annual India Fashion Week here in Delhi. Presenting the gamut of participants in the event, FDCI President, Sunil Sethi said, “WIFW is India’s leading business of fashion event.

With each passing edition, the confidence and trust of our partners have grown as we moved forward towards our primary agenda of promoting business.”

The week long event at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan will see 36 shows, 10 commercial partners and 79 designers showcasing prêt wear for Spring/Summer 2009 under the categories: Contemporary, Synthesis/Heritage and Creator.

Supported by Wills, Audi, HP, Fiama Di Wills, the fashion week comes a month after FDCI organized India’s first ever Couture Week. Held in Mumbai, the Week had top couturiers like JJ Valaya, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal, Manish Malhotra taking the stage with their elaborate dresses. On being quizzed about its success, Sethi told Spicezee, “In terms of business, even our regular prêt buyers asked us why they were not invited.”

The highlight of this fashion week is the participation of international designer Vivienne Tam, who is known for her stunning designs that appeal to women from all walks of life. She has dressed celebs like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, among others.

“It will be a pleasure to have Vivienne show her collection on the Indian ramp for the first time. The platform that we provide is open to everybody - only the market is for Indian designers. She will not be able to sell her stuff here,” Sethi said on apprehensions of international names taking business away from home grown designers.

Apart from established names like Abraham & Thakore, Ashima-Leena, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna, Ritu Kumar, Namrata Joshipura, JJ Valaya, the Week is also providing platform to 18 debutant designers.

Atul Chand, the ITC Divisional Chief Executive, said that Wills was engaged in bringing new talent to the fore. “We want to build capabilities & capacities. There will be established designers and new people-emerging designers and students. We want to be able to touch all spectrums.”

But this is not the only fashion week happening. The Sumeet Nair group - that separated from FDCI and meant the splitting of Indian fashion in two camps - is holding a parallel fashion week in Delhi. “Sometimes situations come up in your life that you don’t want to face, but have no other choice. We believe there should be only one fashion body as there aren’t that many designers, and other specialists like choreographers, stylists, decorators etc. available to us. Thus there is cost escalation. The problem of timing is the biggest to buyers, media persons and ofcourse designers and models,” Sethi told Spicezee.

Coming to buyers, Sethi said that he was hopeful of getting increased number of international clients. “Last time Anthropology, the US chain, came to WIFW. They bought over Rs 7 cr of merchandise from our designers. This time Liberty- the exclusive UK label- is going to be there with 3 buyers. FDCI has dedicated clientele and we are expanding fast. Our list is still getting updated, we will get to know all the designers once the shows begin.”

We can’t wait.