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Rina Dhaka, one of the pioneers of Indian fashion, says it
doesn't matter if she is designing for an international market or
an Indian one as long as her clothes are in business. "For me,
designing for Naomi Campbell or any of my Indian customers gives me
equal pleasure and satisfaction," Dhaka, who has made a mark in
women's wear with her bold lines, told IANS in an interview
here.
"How does it matter whether I am designing for an international or
a national market? It is just a delivery for us, nothing more than
that," she said when asked about the declining number of
international buyers at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion
Week (WIFW) here.
"What is most important is business. In fact I want to work and
sell here in India, rather than abroad. Believe me, it is easiest
working in your homeland. Moreover all the overseas brands are
desperate to sell here."
"I don't suffer from any inferiority complex! We don't lag behind
in anything. Not even in make-up or hairstyling. I have even been
to Miami Fashion Week - and it is nothing in front of us. We are
huge."
Asked whether designers should be allowed to pick models of their
choice to showcase their collections instead of working with those
chosen by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), which
organises the WIFW, Dhaka said, "It is organised and is working
absolutely fine. There is no havoc and I don't think we need a
change".
Dhaka, the original oomph goddess of Indian fashion, is quite happy
with the way the country's fashion industry is evolving.
"The new designer category is doing very well. A lot of designers
are selling abroad. Wherever we are now we must scale it up to
triple in the next three years," said Dhaka.
However, she said promotion and marketing play a vital role while
selling in the global market.
"The market wants branded stuff. The marketing and promotion of a
label is extremely important. I remember, if we send our
consignment without labels, the buyers send it back to us," she
said.
So after 15 years in the fashion industry, is Dhaka planning a book
on herself?
"Won't it be interesting if I write about myself based on my life?
But I want to sell clothes, not myself."
By Shweta Thakur
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