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India is a long way off from being recognised as a fashion power
although its designers are showcasing their lines at top global
ramp shows, says the head of the Fashion Design Council of India
(FDCI). Over the years, India has witnessed a slow but steady surge
in the number of designers who have taken their clothes to the
high-end fashion streets of London, Milan, Paris, Milan and
Rome.
This year Manish Arora's "Fish Fry" will swish down the Paris
catwalks and Neeta Lulla and Pria Kataria Puri will flaunt their
Autumn/Winter line at the Rome Fashion Week. India's flamboyant
outfits have also dazzled the ramps in the Middle East and South
Africa in recent years.
"The Indian fashion fraternity is definitely making headway in
placing Indian designs on global runways," FDCI director general
Rathi Vijay Jha said, adding: "But India still needs to go a long
way to be recognised as a fashion power in the international
arena."
With FDCI focusing on serving as a platform for boosting the
business of fashion rather than the pomp and glamour element, Jha
said, there was a need to provide designers with technical skills
and know-how about global market trends.
"There is a need to build capacity to support designers in terms of
constant upgrades of technical skills, and global and specific
market trends. While a few designers have large established
businesses to ensure consistency and larger scales of production
that the market requires, we need to support the younger
professionals to make their mark," she maintained.
Indian prints, needle and patchwork and traditional embellishments
on skirts, jackets and other Western outfits have a huge demand
globally.
Designers like Rohit Bal, Ranna Gill, Ritu Kumar and J.J. Valaya
now have dedicated spaces in international fashion stores like Saks
Fifth Avenue Dubai, if not at Bond Street or Sloane Square.
The industry has matured over the years to produce outfits
incorporating the Indian spirit. Innovations with cuts and
silhouettes have also crept in slowly as the trendsetters have
stopped copying Western elements and aspire to take their clothes
to the top fashion shows.
Jha felt participation of the designers in international fashion
shows had helped them make a mark for themselves globally and
establish a wider clientele base.
"Indian designers are making a foray at the international fashion
weeks and are taking India beyond its borders," she said.
"Showcasing their collections overseas helps Indian fashion, style
and skills cross over to the global market place.
"Although the demand of fashion wear is very high amongst domestic
buyers, yet participation at international shows plays an important
role in widening the clientele base," she added.
By Prithwish Ganguly
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