Professional Men's Fashion Week 09

After all conflicts and confusions between FDCI and FDPC, the former has finally announced its first annual Van Heusen India Men's Week and unveiled the logo of the forthcoming event at a press conference in the capital recently. With this, the FDCI has managed to position India on the global platform and has been ranked as the fourth fashion capital of the World to host an independent Men's Week. The event which will be a three day fashion gala from September 11-13 will be held at The Grand in the capital which will witness the presence of veteran and upcoming fashion designers and industry connoisseurs under one roof. The fashion week will showcase the best of Indian talent and will feature 15 shows and encompass over 40 exhibitors. The designers will focus on the various range of men's fashion starting from men's clothing to accessories.

Highlighting the requirement of an independent platform for men's fashion, Sunil Sethi, President FDCI said, "Men are active participants and contributors to the growth of fashion today. Menswear dominates a larger per cent of branded apparel sales in the country and the Week aims to give menswear designers a structured momentum and a much needed platform to tap this potential segment of fashion." Ask him the reason for the logo in all black and white and he says, (in a humorous way), "At least I can assure you that there is no grey in it." Members present at the occasion include JJ Valaya, Nikhil and Shantanu, Rohit Bal, Varun Bahl, Manoviraj Khosla, Renyu Taandon, Rina Dhaka and Vijay Arora. Among the participating designers, Rina Dhaka is the only women! The first edition of this fashion extravaganza will also provide a unique prospect to promising talent through the 'Van Heusen Emerging Designer of the Year Contest 2009' which will be organized in association with FDCI.

The winner will not only be felicitated, but will garner an opportunity to present designs at the Fashion Week itself. This contest, commencing on August 5 will offer an open platform for students and professional fashion designers with an experience of three years or less. The contestants will be judged by a panel of independent jury. Among all, three finalists will be requested to create the line based on the submitted sketches and model measurements provided to them. The final three will exhibit their line at the fashion event. On the basis of the final presentation, the jury will select the winner and will be awarded the Van Heusen Emerging Designer of the Year trophy and an appropriate reward at an award ceremony.

Your future projects I will be in Paris for 'Whosnext' early Sept. Mid September is Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. Early October, I will be participating in Tranoi, Paris. End Oct, there's Wills India fashion Week. I recently started a kid’s wear line to be launched at the MUSE Mumbai. Side by side I am also working on regular collections of home furnishing for Portico New York. Pearls of wisdom for upcoming designers be it any designer, they really need to believe themselves that they always should come up with something unique and incompatible. Certainly training help them a lot to enhance their skill.