MUMBAI: The Advisory Board members of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) at the meeting discussed important initiatives to be implemented for the forthcoming Lakme Fashion Week being scheduled from October 13-17 2007 here in the city.
The key decisions announced are:
--> Selection of Emerging and Gen Next Designers
--> Wendell Rodricks to style and choreograph the Gen Next show
--> Colour Trend Seminar by Mr Tod Schulman, Pantone Inc USA , a global authority in color forecast.
--> South Asia ties through exchange program with Pakistan Fashion Week
--> The Board endorsed the vision of supporting young and emerging talent
--> Announcement of dates for Lakme Fashion Week – Autumn/ Winter 2008
The Board comprises key stakeholders from the fashion fraternity such as education institutions, buyers, media and designers. The list of members includes prestigious names like Dr Darlie O’Koshy, Director, NID; Anuradha Mahindra, Verve; Sathya Saran, DNA-mE; Priya Tanna, Vogue, Pradip Hirani, Kimaya; Sangita Kathiwada, Melange; Designers Wendell Rodricks and Narendra Kumar; Anil Chopra, VP Lakme Unilever, Ravi Krishnan, Consultant to IMG, Balu Nayar, MD IMG and Vikram Raizada, IMG.
The Advisory Board reviewed all the submissions through a rigorous selection process and selected 10 designers from out of 36 designers as LFW, in the past three seasons, has witnessed a great talent pool from the Emerging designer category, with incredible innovation and creativity displayed.
Emerging Designers:
1. Abdul Halder
2. Anuj Sharma
3. Ekta & Ruchira
4. Kunal Rawal
5. Nachiket Barve
6. Nandita Thirani
7. Nimita Rathod
8. Nitin Bal Chauhan
9. Ruchi Mehta
10. Vivek Karunakaran
Last season, the Gen Next category touched greater heights as the category at LFW has not only been one of its strong pillars but an important step in achieving its objective of investing in the future of fashion. This category that acknowledges the importance of the “future of Indian fashion” had 30 applications out of which the Board selected 7 designers.
GenNext Designers:
1. Arjun Agarwal
2. Bijoya Mukherjee
3. Dhirendra Singh
4. Kallol Datta
5. Rimzim Dadu
6. Roopa Pemmaraju
7. Swati Bhimte
Further, this season, leading Indian designer and LFW Board Member, Wendell Rodricks makes a significant contribution to the future of fashion by styling and choreographing the Gen Next show and expressed his excitement in extending his support for this exemplary initiative and taking it to a whole new dimension.
Further, a key initiative in globalising Indian fashion 'Colour Trend Workshop' conducted by Mr Tod Schulman, Vice President (Fashion) of Pantone Inc. will also be held at the upcoming Lakme Fashion Week.
Pantone Inc. is a world-renowned authority on color having Headquarters in Carlstadt, New Jersey and today it is known worldwide as the standard language for accurate color communication.
LFW has been interacting with various international platforms to present the best in Indian fashion through exchange programs and will witness great designs straight from Pakistan as part of the fashion exchange program. A select group of designers will be hand picked to participate as part of an international showcase of Pakistan designers at Lakme Fashion Week.
Mr. Anil Chopra, VP Lakme Unilever commented that recommendations made by the Advisory Board members are critical stepping stones in attaining a world class stature for this premier fashion event as LFW looks forward to welcoming Pakistan ’s leading designers to participate in this event to help broaden their reach into India, the Middle East and further into the international fashion market.
Mr. Ravi Krishnan, IMG added that the Advisory board members brainstormed on some very relevant suggestions to facilitate ‘raising the bar’ for the fashion fraternity to a new level and with new initiatives every season, LFW has presented itself as the pioneer in taking fashion to greater heights.
In keeping with its vision of contributing to the future of fashion, Lakme Fashion Week continues its support of young and emerging talent. The Advisory Board endorsed the participation of international stylists and other talent.
