Tarun Tahiliani sTrikes gold

Stop press
FASHION DESIGN COUNCIL OF INDIA’S OFFICIAL MAGAZINE
DAY 1
An ensemble from Shantanu & Nikhil’s
collection
DAILIES
26TH-30TH MARCH ‘14
HALL NO. 18, PRAGATI MAIDAN // NEW DELHI
Master Couturiers such as
Tarun Tahiliani, Rina Dhaka,
Shantanu & Nikhil and Kiran
Uttam Ghosh kickstart the
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion
Week, 2014, Autumn-Winter
season...
>Page 08
Mishra at WIFW last season
Rahul Mishra has made us
proud. He became the first
Indian fashion designer
to win the International
Woolmark Prize . FDCI gives
him a standing ovation.
Tarun
Tahiliani
strikes
gold
>Page 05
Designer Raakesh Agarvwal’s fitting session
The curtain has gone up on
the glittering venue and the
show has begun. But it took
months of meticulous planning
and weeks of harried fitting
sessions for today to arrive.
Get a glimpse.
>Page 14
Social media loves
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pinterest.com/thefdci
Sheer
pleasures
by Rina
Dhaka
Debut
tales
designers
to watch
out for
Social Media
Top Tweets
The buzz
FDCI Dailies
Published by:
MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd.
Publisher & COO: Vikas Johari
CEO & Managing Director: Prakash Johari
CFO: Kuldip Singh
Editor: Jayita Bandyopadhyay
Advisor-at-large: Asmita Aggarwal
Rights:
FDCI Dailies magazine is printed and published by Vikas
Johari on behalf of MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd.
(MMGIPL) for FDCI and published at MMGIPL, Unit No. F2B,
Second Floor, MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar
Nagar, Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110 065, India.
All rights reserved. All writings, artwork and/or photography
contained herein maynot be used or reproduced without the
written permission of MMGIPL and FDCI. No responsibility can
be taken for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs
or artwork. The views and opinions expressed or implied in the
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Fittings,
last-minute
panic and finally,
the curtain goes
up. Glimpses from
behind the
show...
Fitting sessions by designers Rishta by Arjun Saluja and Raakesh Agwarvwal
Contacts:
Head Office: Unit No. F2B, Second Floor,
MIRA Corporate Suites, Plot No. 1&2, Ishwar Nagar,
Mathura Road, New Delhi - 110 065
Tel: +91.11.43011111, Fax: +91.11.43011199
Day 1, Wednesday – March 26, 2014
3:30 PM
Opening Show by Tarun Tahiliani
MSA 2
5:45 PM
Anupamaa by Anupama Dayal
MSA 1
West | Mumbai | Time Square Building,
Third floor, Western Express Highway,
Andheri (E),Mumbai - 400 069
Tel: +91.22.61991111, Fax: +91.22.61991115
Ahmedabad | 4, Megabyte Business Centre,
Navrang Building, Opp, Samsung Show room,
Swastik Char Rasta, C.G. Road,
Ahmedabad - 380009
Tel: +91.79.40193627
Indore | 7/1, 409, Fourth Floor, Ratan Mani
Complex, Opposite Inter Star Showroom,
New Palasia, Indore - 452 001. Tel: +91.731.4248881
East | Kolkata | DPS Corporate Club,
First Floor, 9A Sebak Baidya Street,
Kolkata - 700029. Tel: +91.33.40680111
Raipur | Magnetto Offizo, Office No.546,
Fifth Floor, Magnetto The Mall, GE Road,
Labhandi, Raipur. Tel: +91.771.4264571
South | Bengaluru | 1010 A Wing,
Tenth Floor, Mittal Towers, MG Road,
Bengaluru - 560 001. Tel: +91.80.40921037-38
Fax: +91.80.41510657
Hyderabad | 1-11-222/2 Ground Floor,
Street No. 4, Gurumurthy Lane, Begumpet,
Hyderabad - 500 016. Tel: +91.40.40021545
Chennai | FL 9, Alsa Mall, First Floor,
149 Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 008
Tel: +91.44.42015685, Fax: +91.44.42015684
Vineet Bahl
7:00 PM
Kiran Uttam Ghosh
MSA 2
Raakesh Agarvwal
8:15 PM
Shantanu & Nikhil
MSA 1
9:30 PM
Nokia presents Rina Dhaka
MSA 2
* For the complete schedule, turn to page 14
On the cover, actress Lisa Haydon showcases an ensemble
from designer Tarun Tahiliani’s Autumn-Winter, 2014
collection. Catch it on the ramp today
Editorial & Photography support : Students of Pearl Academy, Fashion
Media Communication and Professional Photography
3
Let the sparkle of a
bejewelled winter light up
the Fashion Week
Tarun Tahiliani may have
gone to business school
in Wharton, but that did
not take away his love for
the aesthetic drapes that
define Indian heritage.
Now, 25 years into honing
his skills as a designer,
his aim remains to give
Indian women an identity
of their own
By Asmita Aggarwal
B
orn to a Gandhian father, Admiral RH
Tahiliani, Tarun Tahiliani was taught to
look down upon fashion and “excessive
consumption”. But serendipity played its
card and Tahiliani grew up to be one of
the world’s finest designers. When his mother died
when he was 17, it was his father who took on the
mantle, shaping his adult life with his ethics. “I’ve
had existential dilemmas of whether I’m in the right
profession, but I always knew I was an artist - I love
the Kumbh, Banaras, spirituality and the search for
the esoteric. Maybe because my dad, who, though, is
the most selfless man I have come across, is totally
against this whole burgeoning designer culture. He
always stuck to his own path. But he also always told us
that it was easy to jump on the bandwagon - it was
far more difficult to do your own thing, he said.
Maybe that is where my sister Tina and I got
our inspiration,” Tahiliani confirms.
A Wharton graduate, he agrees that
business school did teach him the basics
of finance, management and retail, along
with work ethics. “But it depends on how
well you apply it in your business,” he adds.
“A lot of people don’t get to go to expensive
business schools, but do exceedingly well in
their business.”
A lover of the ancient art of draping, Tahiliani
feels that Indian women have forgotten how elegant
a drape can look. “Structured drape is what I love
doing, so skirts look like dhotis. But my drapes are
more fluid, so that aesthetic is not lost. Sal, my wife,
tells me she likes the whole process of drapes, tucks
and pleats - it is very feminine and has a natural ease.
Modern women have sadly lost the good taste of the
earlier generations. They all look like clones of each
other in their tight dresses and Westernised, socalled cool looks. But urban India needs to find its own
handwriting, which can be neither overtly Indian nor
Western, but somewhere in the middle,” he says.
Whether it is a kurti with a pyjama and jootis, a
pre-stitched, zipper sari, or a flowing dress, Tahiliani
feels every woman must develop her own style. “They
are not Bollywood actresses that they have to play a
character - they must find their individuality and their
choice of clothes should reflect that,” he emphasises.
With no set commercial formula for his designs,
Tahiliani says he always works on a hunch, goes by
With no set
commercial
formula for his
designs, Tahiliani
says he always
works on a hunch,
goes by instinct
4
(Above left and left) Designs from Tarun Tahiliani’s spring-summer’14 collection. (Above) A design
from Tahiliani’s latest collection. His autumn-winter story will be black with jewel tones
instinct and sees what did well in the last season. But
the biggest challenge remains to balance his classic
taste with the preferences of a younger audience.
“Young people are always in a hurry, and that’s why
their choices are dominated by what’s in vogue rather
than what they actually want. I hate keeping up with
fast fashion.” But there are things he needs to work on
as a designer, he admits. “When I started my business
from the confines of a single room, it was easy to keep
people committed, but now as the company has grown,
it is hard to find that kind of dedication. I must learn to
be involved in all aspects of the business and not leave
all of it to my staff. I must admit that as an essentially
bridalwear designer when I did prêt, it was too dressy I must work on that,” he smiles.
Subtle and sophisticated is what defines Tahiliani’s
style. But, as he says, his wife keeps reminding him
to make his designs chat-pata [spicy] for the Indian
buyer. Not a big fan of using Bollywood actresses
as showstoppers, Tahiliani feels his clothes should
be enough to send the message across. “I don’t
understand this whole showstopper business,” he says.
“Yes, Bollywood is powerful, but your clothes must be
able to stand without crutches.”
Whether it is Bidri work, layers or deliciously crafted
textiles, Tahiliani believes in heritage and the power it
still wields in our culture. “India is known for its crafts,
its handwork. If anyone wants polyester pants, they
Subtle and sophisticated define
Tahiliani’s style. But, as he says,
his wife keeps reminding him
to make his designs chat-pata
[spicy] for the Indian buyer
can get it made from China at one-twentieth the cost
and finish. What we offer in terms of embroideries is
unsurpassed even in the West,” he says.
Tahiliani’s autumn-winter story will be black
with jewel tones, things from old refined with his
first love - draping. “Chikankari will see a new
interpretation and tussar saris will be accompanied
by tweed jackets to feed the desire to wear something
Indian in winters,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Beautiful cashmere drapes coupled with brocades
and heavy jersey is what will make winter warmer
and far more interesting.”
Asmita Aggarwal has been writing on fashion for more than 20
years. She has worked with leading publications like The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and India Today.
Grand homecoming for rahul mishra
(Left) Designs from Rahul Mishra’s previous collections and (above) the
designer with the coveted award he won in Milan
Rahul Mishra, has made us proud. He was the surprise winner of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize this
year. Mishra topped the international talent search spanning 20 countries and went ahead of four other finalists
to scoop the coveted award at a ceremony held in Milan’s
Triennale museum. The annual prize, sponsored by the
Australian wool industry, was first awarded to Yves Saint
Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld in 1954.
This year’s jury, which included Vogue Italia editor-in-chief
Franca Sozzani and Style.com editor-at-large Tim Blanks,
applauded Mishra’s efforts to create an all-weather friendly
Merino wool fabric using Indian weaving techniques.
And today, the Fashion Design Council of India is felicitating
him. “He’s made FDCI proud,” says FDCI president Sunil Sethi.
A post-graduate from the prestigious National Institute of
Design (NID), Rahul won the Best Student Designer of the
Year award in 2005 and followed it up in 2006 by winning the
Pride of NID. After creating waves on the Indian emerging designers scene, he went on to become the first non-European
designer to win the scholarship at the Istituto Marangoni,
Milan. His collections have been lauded by the international
media, from Style.com to BBC. He was voted Pepsi MTV
Youth Icon for 2009, and the same year won the International
Designer of the Year award in the most commercial design
category at the IAF (International Apparel Federation) annual
convention held in the Netherlands.
Felicitation for Rahul Mishra
FDCI Lounge
March 26, 6.30 pm
5
Sheer truth
The sleekness and bright
colors of the phone makes
my next collection what
it is! Stay tuned! #WIFW
#LumiaFashionTrends
Rina Dhaka
Fashion
calling
The Nokia Lumia 1520 acted
as designer Rina Dhaka’s
inspiration for her latest
collection. We find out what
connects fashion and cellphone
technology. The Nokia
spokesperson speaks...
Rina Dhaka’s love affair with
lycra continues for the
autumn-winter designs of
WIFW, albeit with a tussar twist
By Asmita Aggarwal
What is the connection between fashion and mobile
phones?
Mobile phones today are not
just about functionality. It is as
much about style as it is about
convenience.
S
he started at a time when nobody saw the
potential of sheer - and, soon, the obsession with lycra had earned her the moniker
of “Queen of Oomph”. Rina Dhaka agrees it
was apt - after all, that delightful transparent
churidaar had been devised out of a desperate need to
wear something sexy for her own wedding in 1990.
“Attribute this inventiveness to the fearlessness of
youth or simply to the need to shun Indian clothes at a
time when only behenjis were associated with them.
All the cool chicks seemed to be wearing only mini
skirts and tank tops,” Dhaka says. “You remember the
time when girls wore shiny dupion silk suits with puff
sleeves? I hated them and wanted to come up with
something glamorous. So I changed a catsuit into a
churidaar, added stretch for flexibility and - voila! - I
had something that women loved!”
Showing on the first day of WIFW 2014, Dhaka has
come a long way. She will now tell you that she has the
skill to make a large woman look thinner. “But nobody
big ventures into my store - I seem to be living with the
‘sexy only’ tag,” she reiterates.
So for this autumn-winter collection, she has broken away from body-hugging couture and embraced
flowing silhouettes instead - along with Bhagalpur silks
mixed with tussars. “A lot of people criticise sexuality in
clothes, but I feel there is a fine difference between vulgarity and sensuality. You will see the chubbiest backs
wearing the most provocative cholis, with, of course,
very large anarkalis. That’s the beauty of India - its
diversity, the celebration of all female body types. I am
a great observer of people, so I pick up from how they
dress and what they wear. This includes both women on
the streets and at swish parties,” she says.
From the time she started out, Dhaka has wrestled
with all kinds of ideas to come up with compelling
motifs, but she also understands that she is no longer
the risk-taker she was - years of experience come with
a sense of responsibility for her craftsmen families.
Commerce is important to her, and WIFW is a
great platform with a deep pool of buyers. “I am
always told that I dress perfect bodies, but I know my
clothes don’t really have hanger appeal. I make individualistic pieces,” she says.
Dhaka agrees that fashion is one of the most effective mediums of communication and says that she still
6
What are the hottest phones
from Nokia on the market?
Nokia Lumia 1520, Nokia Lumia
1320 and Nokia Lumia 525.
What is the colour of the season in mobile phones?
We started the trend of colour
in the mobile phone industry.
Yellow, red, green and orange
are definitely colours to reckon
with.
‘A lot of people criticise sexuality
in clothes, but I feel there is a fine
line between vulgarity and sensuality. You will see the chubbiest backs
wearing the most provocative cholis.
But that’s the beauty of India - the
celebration of all female body types’
struggles to sometimes find the balance between defying norms
and sticking to a lucrative commercial line. But she does one
line every year that is not governed by the dynamics of what will
sell. In this drive to keep her creative ethos alive, you can’t help
but notice her indefatigable spirit. “Like all things in life, fashion
comes with its challenges. You have to get a line ready on time,
have a great showing and, despite circumstantial upheavals, find
closure. And just when you do, you have to get ready for another
line. This is the circle of life.”
Asmita Aggarwal has been writing on fashion for more than 20 years. She
has worked with leading publications like The Hindustan Times, The Asian
Age and India Today.
What does the colour of one’s
cellphone say about him or her?
Consumers have embraced
colourful phones in both the
Asha and the Lumia ranges, and
we have seen great response
across the board. People are
increasingly wanting their stuff
to “stand out”. Colours such as
bright green and red are
intended to be both attractive
and aspirational, and project a
self-assured character. It is
distinctly Nokia.
day
one
previews
The seven
designers who
showcase their
collections today
3.30 PM / MSA2
Tarun
Tahiliani
B
Anupamaa by
Anupama Dayal
H
lurring the lines between adorning and dressing, between
a product of style and a piece of art, Tarun Tahiliani’s Autumn/Winter Collection 2014 does away with the distinction between clothes and jewellery. Inspired by ornaments found
all over the world, this season they dig deep in the trenches of
the heritage of the world and strike gold. The Satlada-inspired
series include statement pieces with necklines so ornamental
they render a jeweller useless.
er collection Kama is inspired by Vatsayana’s Kamasutra
written in about 400 BC. Contrary to popular perception,
it is not a sex manual but a celebration of pleasure-filled
living. The designs are rooted in tradition and befitting the demure Indian bride. Kamasutra stresses on adornment, and thus
adorned she will use her beauty to make her man feel like the
only man in the world. In this game of seduction, her clothes will
be transformed into tantalising veils in this ancient art form.
Tarun’s style lies in infusing Indian
craftsmanship and textile heritage
with European tailored silhouette
Anupama has been setting new
milestones in unique printing and
needlework techniques since 2004
7 pm / msa 2
Raakesh
AgarVwal
T
he latest collection is Raakesh Agarvwal’s most glamorous presentation ever and is an amalgamation of the past
five years of experience and technique. It is inspired, he
says, by S&M, POP STARS, with a Studio 54 era thrown in. A lot
of corsettery has fone into the ensembles, which are epitomes of
glamour and red-carpet edginess. Materials include corc leather,
sheep napa, fur, silk tulle and chain mail, and silhouettes include
corsetted peplum jackets, cigarette pants and boleros.
His glamorous and intricately
constructed clothes focus on
diffusion and couture categories
8
5.45 pm / msa 1
5.45 pm / msa 1
Vineet
Bahl
An attire from a recent collection
H
e is known for quirky combinations of fluid silhouettes
and innovative textures in his ethnic collections. And
this season too, Bahl lives up to his trademark, combining tussar silk and georgette. His autumn-winter moodboard is
all about luxurious fabrics and Indian inspirations. More than
fashion, his label celebrates an evolved sense of style and, more
importantly, a frame of mind free of strictures and conformities
of any kind.
7 pm / msa 2
Kiran Uttam
ghosh
T
he look being showcased is that of layered colours,
textures,embroideries and patterns. It will include calflength skirts and sheer wide net trousers in antique and
rose golds, pale salmon pink, ivory, deep teal, forest green and
black with accents of deep bright turquoise, rich red and deep
purples. Her label goes beyond a pragmatic pret while her couture line embodies a classic appeal, whether it is the sari that she
has given new dimensions to or her outfits.
He is known for his unconventional embroideries and mélange
of prints and vivid colours
“come one,
come all”
Kiran has defied categorisation,
refusing to be bracketed within
Eastern or Western norms
FDCI President Sunil Sethi
8.15 pm / msa 1
Shantanu &
Nikhil
T
he masters have gone back to vintage Kolkata, with
its Raj-era havelis and magnificent lifestyles, to draw
inspiration for their autumn-winter 2014 collection. The
narrator is a young girl who lives in the modern-day metropolis
but dreams of a life in the bygone times. The garments, true to
Shantanu & Nikhil’s signature style, are an elegant combination
of fitted tops and flared bottoms.
Marrying the essence of Indian culture with a Western sensibility, they
have a deeper take on exotic fusion
9.30 pm / msa 2
Nokia Presents
Rina Dhaka
H
er collection focusses on black and white, creating a
canvas for colours to pop out. Tiles of threads randomly
placed as patchwork along with cherry blossom and
hand-sewn appliques give an overall tangible texture. The look
is an inspiration of modern classic and contemporary silhouettes
amalgamated with traditional techniques, which brings out the
strength of traditional materials such as tussar, wool, weaves
and satin while keeping the fluidity with various silhouettes.
A veteran since the 1980s, she has
made a mark with her innovative
textile skills in Indianwear
“We hope the 23rd edition of the Wills
Lifestyle India Fashion Week AutumnWinter 2014 will take the burgeoning
Indian fashion industry to the next
level. With 118 designers participating,
the stage is set for the biggest fashion
trade event of the country to unfold.
The five-day multilayered event
brings forth the best that Indian
fashion has to offer, as it focusses on
boosting fashion, introducing talented
greenhorns who will give style a fresh
perspective, facilitating buying and
empowering indigenous crafts.
Collaborations reach a new high as
Twinings, Nokia, Myntra.com and Pearl
Academy of Fashion collaborate with
FDCI. PETA is our CSR partner for
the event.
It will be impossible to celebrate
the myriad colours of fashion without
the support of a strong Talent Team
and a huge support staff.
I would like to thank our sponsors
and partner Wills Lifestyle and Fiama
Di Wills for supporting us host this
mega event. Their patronage has been
a driving force for this event.
I welcome all of you to a season
of sumptuous style and unadulterated
spunk!”
9
the most
stylish
As the fashion week madness
kicks in once again, here are
the best-dressed men and
women in the industry
INDRANI
DASGUPTA
Model
The fashion
industry’s
muse, her style
sensibilities
range from
feminine to edgy,
depending on
her mood.
Arjun Khanna
Fashion designer
The first to start
a menswear label
in the country,
he is known for
his impeccable
sense of style,
which is not only
modish but edgy
and eclectic.
PIA PAURO
Fashion designer
Her impeccable
sense of
design is
reflected in her
unpredictable
personal style.
Pauro’s laidback style is as
refreshing as it
is effortless.
Virat Kohli
Cricketer
He’s young,
he has an
unconquerable
attitude on
the field and
carries off
everything
from suits to
jeans with elan.
He also flaunts
jazzy hairstyles
and tattoos.
MANDIRA WIRK
Fashion designer
Elegant is what
comes to mind
when we think
of her. While
her label has
evolved over
the years, her
personal style
remains
inherently
classic.
Sachin Pilot
Congressman
He is all
about power
dressing. He
carries off a
simple, classic
kurta pyjama
with as much
elegance as a
bespoke suit
with a crisp
shirt.
10
Tress-busters!
Celebrity hairstylist Rod Anker, with
his team at Monsoon Salon and Spa, is
creating the beauty looks for Raakesh
Agarvwal and Kiran Uttam Ghosh. He gave
us a sneak peek into what to expect
A
t 7 this evening, the spotlight will be on
creations by designers Raakesh Agarvwal
and Kiran Uttam Ghosh. And completing
the look for the models on the runway will
be award-winning celebrity hairstylist Rod
Anker and his trained team of hair and make-up artists
of Monsoon Salon and Spa.
“The clothes from both the designers have a lot of
detailing, so we’re keeping the beauty looks clean so
as to not distract from the garments,” Anker says. “The
focus is on keeping the looks strong, simple and powerful - these are the key words.”
The hair will be parted at the centre and slicked back
into a low ponytail. No texture, just clean, structured
lines. For the make-up, Anker’s team will be keeping
the skin clean and the lips nude. The eyes, however, will have a strong charcoal gold to lend
them some drama.
While Anker has previously styled hair for
fashion weeks in Australia and Singapore, this
is the Australian hairstylist’s first time at the
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Going by
the sound of what he has in store, we sure are
rubbing our hands in anticipation!
‘Strong, simple
and powerful
- these are the
key words’
Launch pad
Sahil Kochar
Archana Rao
Sahil Kochar
The Delhi boy makes his debut at the WIFW
with his collection Phuler Tora, meaning
a bouquet of flowers in Bengali. After
graduating from the National Institute
of Fashion Technology with an award for
Most Creative Collection in his kitty, Kochar
went on to work with designer Rohit Bal for
experience. His collection revolves around the
shola pith craft of Bengal.
Archana Rao
Her collection revolves around a quaint
notion - clothes that come together to form
the wardrobe of a joint family. The pieces are
Nitin Kartikeya
The six designers who are
making a debut at WIFW.
Here’s what they offer
Radhika and Gauri
inspired by the different items worn by each
member of the family. She studied fashion
design from NIFT, and later Parsons, the New
School for Design.
Vivek Karunakaran
Nitin Kartikeya
as a side venture until the duo was noticed by a
US fashion magazine editor and promptly rose
to fame. This season they are showcasing two
collections - ABALONE, inspired by sea shells,
and ROYAL FILGREE, inspired by the lives of
maharanis from ancient India.
Kartikeya has undying love for all things
Victorian. His collection, called the “Poet’s
Dream”, has feminine Victorian aesthetics
with a hint of fantasy that transports you to
the land of the bewitched.
He showcased his collection Viia at
Lakme Fashion Week and debuts at WIFW
with The Tribe.
Vivek Karunakaran
Radhika and Gauri Tandon
Jyoti Kant
ISHARYA, a premium designer-jewellery brand
jointly owned by the sisters-in-law, started off
Accessory designer Jyoti Kant is an NID
graduate and holds an NIFT diploma.
Lights, sound
and action
Photographs by Rohit Dhingra
Just before the spotlights were switched on, just before
the ramp was unveiled and just before the countdown
ended... This is what the magnificent venue looked like a
day ago; being put into place nail by nail and inch by inch
11
Style uploaded
myntra mantra
The trend of online shopping
has picked up in India in the past
couple of years, especially among
youngsters. Myntra, one of the
leading online stores, showcases
more than 600 brands on its
website and has a dedicated
customer base in more than 450
towns across the country. But,
contrary to popular belief, online
shopping is not only a rage in the
metro cities but also in India’s tier
2 and tier 3 towns. Now residents
can shop for all international
brands at the click of a button
from the comfort of their homes.
Another recent trend attached to
online shopping is the lookbook,
in which a model showcases
different brands in one look and
buyers can shop for the whole
look if they like it. Thanks to such
ideas, more and more people
are aware of seasonal shifts in
fashion trends - such as springsummer and autumn-winter
styles - which was not the case
before.
top tweets
We are super kicked that we
are joining hands with @
itcfiamadiwills for our show
at #WIFWAW14 Hope to do an
amazing show !! Watch this
space!
-Pankaj & Nidhi
Peek-a-boo paisley and leaner
silhouette. All about mystery
in this season’s collection @
Kiranuttamghosh
-Harilein Sabarwal
Fittings over! Can faint with
relief now! Thursday 24th 4.30!
Countdown begins!!! #wifw @
thefdc
-Nachiket Barve
Salivating already! “@JoosDotln:
Style Stanza #3: @Rajdeep
Ranawat’s Beyond The ColdWIFW FW wp.me/p1x4Vo-2sR”
#WIFW @TheFDCI
-NupurDayal
Fittings and talking hair &
makeup with @MasabaG #wifw
and it’s hot! Can’t say more
-Rod Anker
Unexpectedly excited looking
forward to #WIFWAW14 Fashion
weeks are suddenly interesting
because of @RahulMishra_7’s @
Woolmark win ;)
-Naina
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From how many ‘likes’ an outfit receives to
fashion week reportage round the clock,
social media is changing the way we look at
fashion and fashion weeks
By Sujata
Assomull Sippy
F
ashion has a new influence
- and it is not a style icon, a
designer or a trend. It is social
media. Facebook, Twitter,
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)
and Instagram have not only changed
the way we look at fashion but also
the way we report it. Gone are the days
when we would have to wait for the
next day’s newspaper to know what is
happening at the fashion week - today,
shows are streamed live and reviews
are up on blogs within minutes. Knowing how to write a show review in 140
characters is considered an art in itself.
But it doesn’t stop with just knowing what’s happening at the shows.
Online shopping sites prompt us to
“shop the runway look” the very day
a designer shows. But despite the
level of access the internet gives us, it
also takes away the exclusivity of the
shows and their trends. Fashion now stands to lose
that aura of mystery.
But it cannot be
denied that social
media has made
the industry a lot
more relevant and
au courant.
Social media
has changed the way
a consumer approaches fashion. Spend a weekend observing your friends on
social media. Most will change their
BBM display picture every time they
step out, or upload them on Facebook
and Twitter, giving you an update on
their latest wardrobe change. What
people wear has always been a way
of projecting who they are. According
to the Association of Image Consultants International, the “ABC” of our
image is “Appearance, Behaviour and
Communication”, responsible for the
crucial first impression. So the number
of comments or “likes” we receive on
our Facebook picture directly relates
to how much our look is appreciated.
And if you there are lots of comments,
we may think twice about repeating
the outfit we have worn, as it has been
“virtually” flogged to death.
But this has a flip side. What we
wear now makes a statement - always.
The whole point of putting a picture
up is for it to create an impact.
For those who are on the forefront of the glamour industry, Twitter
and blogs have added a whole new
dimension to getting dressed up. Their
pictures are posted on style blogs,
and everyone is free to comment on
their look. In a way social media has
spurred us on to shop more, as each
piece of clothing has a shelf life of just
one wear, at least online. But that also
means we are more sensible about
what we shop for, as one picture is all
it takes to make or break our image.
Interestingly, in India the blogs
that concentrate on celebrities
are the most successful. Take
www.highheelconfidential.
com. More than five years
old, it is a site most of us
love to hate. I overheard
a well-known director of
a fashion magazine say, “I
check it out every day. Most
women I know do, even if they
will never admit it.” Style quotient
notwithstanding, it has definitely
upped the stakes for women’s fashion.
But most interestingly, it has made
the role of celebrities in fashion even
stronger. Every website, from www.
vogue.in to www.popxo.com,
is obsessed with what
celebrities are wearing; young designers
can’t get enough
of Sonam Kapoor,
Deepika Padukone and Katrina
Kaif. Rest assured
that if they have
a choice between
sending an outfit to a
fashion magazine or for a
celebrity appearance, they will
go for the latter, as celebrity pictures
reach out to a much wider audience.
The fashion industry today is experiencing an upheaval. Bloggers now
share the stage with fashion magazine
editors and newspaper columnists.
We may not yet have a blogger that
can compare to The Sartorialist’s Scott
Schuman or Bryanboy - but it is just a
matter of time. Fashion is on its way
to becoming social media-savvy. And
proof of this can be found at Wills
India Fashion Week,
where you
can now
see bloggers, official
members of
Google Hangouts and Twitter
the whole week.
Accessible - that’s
what social media has
made fashion. Which
means there is more
awareness. And true to
fashion norms, India has
arrived fashionably late on
the social media scene - and
in style.
Bloggers now
share the stage
with fashion
magazine editors
and newspaper
columnists
One of India’s leading fashion columnists, Sujata Assomull Sippy was the launch
editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and has worked with ELLE, Verve and Man’s World. Read
her in various leading lifestyle publications.
Proud to be Official
Hair and Makeup Partner
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week
Autumn Winter 2014
Autumn Winter
March 26 - 30, 2014
Proud to be Official
Hair and Makeup Partner
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week
Autumn Winter 2014
Autumn Winter
March 26 - 30, 2014
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M: +91-88826 29821
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/monsoonsalon
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For all exciting deals visit monsoonsalon.com/offers
M: +91-88826 29821
w w w. m o n s o o n s a l o n . c o m
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Australian Celebrity Hair Stylist and
Director Monsoon Salon & Spa
Greater Kailash - II, 43005850 | South Ext - I, 43005700
Rajouri Garden, 43411052 | Punjabi Bagh (W), 43142417
Connaught Place, 43552400 | Dwarka, 47017621 | Gurgaon, 4023888
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week – Autumn Winter 2014
March 26 – 30, 2014 | Hall No. 18, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
SHOW SCHEDULE
Day 1, Wednesday – March 26, 2014
3:30 PM
Opening Show by Tarun Tahiliani
MSA 2
5:45 PM
Anupamaa by Anupama Dayal
MSA 1
Vineet Bahl
7:00 PM
Kiran Uttam Ghosh
MSA 2
Raakesh Agarvwal
8:15 PM
Shantanu & Nikhil
MSA 1
9:30 PM
Nokia presents Rina Dhaka
MSA 2
Day 2, Thursday – March 27, 2014
2:00 PM
‘Myoho’ by Kiran & Meghna
MSA 2
Prama by Pratima Pandey
Vaishali S
3:15 PM
‘my village’ by Rimzim Dadu
MSA 1
Kallol Dutta 1955
4:30 PM
Anand Bhushan
MSA 2
Nachiket Barve
5:45 PM
Amit GT
MSA 1
Charu Parashar
Important
information
& Details
7:00 PM
Ashima-Leena
MSA 2
8:15 PM
Malini Ramani
MSA 1
Nikasha
9:30 PM
Rahul Mishra
MSA 2
Pia Pauro
MSA 2
Day 3, Friday – March 28, 2014
2:00 PM
Urvashi Kaur
3:15 PM
Akaaro by Gaurav Jai Gupta
MSA 1
Paromita Banerjee
4:30 PM
Vogue India Fashion Fund presents Archana Rao
MSA 2
5:45 PM
Dev r Nil
MSA 1
Rishta by Arjun Saluja
7:00 PM
Payal Pratap
MSA 2
Sanchita
8:15 PM
Satya Paul
MSA 1
9:30 PM
Twinings presents Abraham & Thakore
MSA 2
Day 4, Saturday – March 29, 2014
12:45 PM
Chhaya Mehrotra
MSA 1
Josh Goraya
Rinku Sobti
Saaj by Ankita
431-88 by Shweta Kapur
2:00 PM
Hemant & Nandita
Tanvi Kedia
3:15 PM
Rajputana by Samant Chauhan
MSA 1
Zubair Kirmani
4:30 PM
Soltee by Sulakshana Monga
MSA 2
Virtues by Ashish, Viral & Vikrant
5:45 PM
Mandira Wirk
MSA 1
Rehane
7:00 PM
Rabani & Rakha
MSA 2
Siddartha Tytler
8:15 PM
péro by Aneeth Arora
MSA 1
9:30 PM
Fiama Di Wills show
MSA 2
Day 5, Sunday – March 30, 2014
12:45 PM
Pinnacle – Shruti Sancheti
MSA 1
Tanieya Khanuja
Taurus by Dhruv - Pallavi
3:15 PM
Jenjum Gadi
MSA 1
Mrinalini
Sahil Kochhar
5:15 PM
Anita Dongre
MSA 1
9:30 PM
Wills Lifestyle Grand Finale by Namrata Joshipura
MSA 2
Space for map
14