It’s a hectic time in the fashion world. In Delhi, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is presenting Autumn-Winter 2013, the 21st edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. For the last five days (tonight is the finale), 125 leading and young designers from across the country have been showing off dominantly India-inspired creations at Pragati Maidan. Masaba, the new creative head for Satya Paul, opened the show on Wednesday with her debut line for the biggest name in sarees and prints while the uber-talented Pankaj & Nidhi and Namrata Joshipura rounded off the day. Day 2 saw four multi-talent shows as well as biggies Tarun Tahiliani and Anju Modi putting their best foot forward. The Development Commissioner Handloom, Ministry of Textiles, had Abraham & Thakore taking a relook at Indian wedding dressing from a “modernist and somewhat minimal perspective” on Day 3 while Woolmark presented the work of Rajesh Pratap Singh. Day 4 saw young talent Rahul Mishra, Pia Pauro, Shivan & Narresh and Aneeth Arora strutting their stuff alongside established classicists like Sonam Dubal and Poonam Bhagat. Bhagat’s Taika take for A/W 2013 was a tribute to her favourite artist Van Gogh and his ‘starry nights’. Midnight blues, purples, teal and sooty black found their way into palazzo pants, quilted jackets and sheath dresses. Sunday will see 15 designers’ work on the runway and a grand finale by the always-good-for-a-spectacle, Paco Rabanne-returned Manish Arora.
Mumbai’s fashion fiesta runs from March 22 to 26. Having done their trendcasting for A/W, some of the Delhi designers like Tahiliani, Joshipura, Pauro and Shivan & Narresh are showing in the Lakmé Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2013 too. In fact, Tahiliani is opening the party with an off-site ‘India Modern’ show for Tigre Blanc at Tote on the Turf, Mahalaxmi, on March 21. The ‘India Modern’ separates, comprising both easy and occasion wear, “take a fresh look at the needs of the contemporary woman for comfort and luxury,” says the designer. Textured handlooms juxtaposed with silks and jacquards are the fabrics of choice for the 30-plus shifts, quirky kurtas and concept saris in the collection. Joshipura is the Lakmé Grand Finale designer. You could call it quite a coup as this is Joshipura’s first-ever showing at Lakmé. Altogether 87 designers are participating in Summer/Resort 2013. Of these, international designer Naeem Khan will be presenting his work in India for the first time.