No consolidation in Indian fashion scene

Fashion and Design Promotion Council (FDPC) announced the debut of its India Fashion and Design Week (IFDW).

New Delhi: Hopes of consolidation in the country`s style space have all but vanished with the newly-promoted Fashion and Design Promotion Council (FDPC) Wednesday announcing the debut of its India Fashion and Design Week (IFDW) here in October. On its part, the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), which has staged 13 editions of what has till now been the country`s premier business-business fashion event, reacted rather helplessly, saying: "Let`s see what happens now."

What is clear from the announcement about the Oct 23-27 spring/summer edition of IFDW is that fragmentation within the industry is still very evident and all the discussions between the FDCI and the FDPC seem to be heading nowhere. Claiming to be "the unified fashion consortium of the Indian designer wear segment", the FDPC said its event will also put under the spotlight India Design Vision 2015 - "a roadmap to building the ?India Fashion Brand` into a viable component of the premium and luxury market - both in India and abroad". The FDPC event will feature big-ticket designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Manish Arora, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Ashima-Leena, Anamika Khanna, Raghvendra Rathore and Malini Ramani - all of whom had earlier featured at the FDCI fashion weeks. Elaborating on FDPC`s plans, its secretary general and CEO Vijay Singh said: "It is critical to keep showcasing fashion and design. However, the role of industry federations does not end with creating big events and FDPC has more to deliver to its existing members and emerging talent. He also noted that his organisation was in an advanced stage of discussions with FDCI "for a unified fashion platform represented by one fashion week. We both are confident about a positive outcome". However, FDCI president Sunil Sethi has been insistent that its event would be staged as the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. He reinforced this Wednesday when he told IANS: "I don`t know what to say, we were talking about one fashion week and unification but they have gone ahead and announced dates and that too which we had finalised earlier." "They have gone ahead with this, let`s see what happens now," Sethi maintained, adding: "We didn`t announce dates earlier because we thought when there are talks of one fashion week, we should wait for a unanimous decision." On his part, Vijay Singh tossed the ball firmly in FDCI`s court. "We are still hopeful of having one fashion week and we welcome FDCI to be a part of this initiative that aims at unifying the industry and aims at creating opportunities for fashion designers. "Now it`s up to FDCI to decide whether they want to unite with us and support one fashion week to strengthen the industry. If they merge with us then we will have more people which would create more opportunities for younger designers," Singh contended. But, as Sethi pointed out, FDCI "cannot just shut shop". "We have been in existence for 10 years. We are a legal entity. We have a brand image. We have certain legal and other commitments. We have to fulfil these," Sethi added. Designer Leena Singh of the Ashima-Leena duo, said: "I have always supported FDCI and I will continue to do so but while my name is mentioned in the (IFDW) designers list, it is because we are still hopeful that everything will come down to one fashion week. "I want to maintain one thing that I will always support FDCI," she added. IANS