(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Ahead of the two-day India Fashion Week extravaganza that will have some of the countrys best designers showcasing their wares in Dubai we speak to a couple of them to find out what we can expect Dubai is all set to witness a two-day fashion extravaganza when India Fashion Week (IFW) hits the city this weekend. The catwalk presentations will represent the best bridal couture and ready-to-wear pieces that designers from India and Dubai have to offer. An exclusive exhibition which will run simultaneously with the event will give shoppers a chance to pick the creations of the designers present for the event including Ritu Beri Vikram Phadnis Shane and Falguni Peacock Archana Kochhar Pria Kataria Puri and others.
India Fashion Week will also pay special tribute to young and upcoming local designers who will showcase their ready-to-wear and semi-couture collections in Indian Indo-Western and Western categories on the ramp and on exhibition.
IFW will take place from the September 4-5 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road.
City Times spoke to three designers who are participating in IFW to understand what they have in store for local fashionistas. Malaika Arora Khan and Dino Morea showcase creations by designer Vikram Phadnis
VIKRAM PHADNISPhadnis started his career as a choreographer before rising to fame as a fashion designer. In spite of having no formal training in designing his creations currently adorn the wardrobes of some of the biggest names in the glamour industry.
Could you tell us more about your collection that you will be showcasing at India Fashion Week in Dubai
The collection for IFW Dubai celebrates the vivacious and buoyant spirit of the Indian woman. It embraces gentle fluid drapes in subtle shades of beige and gold with elite beige and gold embroidery. Voluminous skirts kurtas teamed with palazzos floor-length kurtas that double up as gowns all embellished with intricate Zardosi Gota and Kundan embroidery make the silhouettes traditional yet contemporary in style. It is a perfect blend of traditional elegance and contemporary classicism.
Is U.A.E a profitable market for youThe customers in Dubai are evolved. They know fashion and don’t follow trends blindly. People in business love spending money and are equally conscious of the product. That’s what sets them apart. The clients in Dubai enjoy wearing good clothes and are loyal customers. Once they believe in your product they will always patronise the brand. People in Dubai are always ready to absorb what you offer. The first time I left India was for Dubai; it has always been like my second home.
Is it true that bridal wear is the most profitable section in the marketGood business creates an emotional connection with the market. A bride wants to look her best on her wedding day because it is the most important day of her life. Bridals are to be made in such a way that it hits the right nerve and creates the desired effect the bride needs. I have never created clothes only keeping in mind whether the product is profitable. I believe in value for money. People have to get their money’s worth. I love designing pre diffusion and couture.
You make clothes for a living. Some call you technicians some creative directors and some storytellers. What title makes you feel the most special
You can call me anything when we are brain storming and having creative meetings as to what the collection should be we are creative technicians/directors.
There’s a mood and story behind every outfit that is designed when a designer is showcasing a particular collection there is always a mood board on which they work this exactly depicts a story that the garment speaks. I’m weaving a story in every collection. I love telling stories through my clothes. Styling is something that I love when the clothes are ready and putting the look together.
Fashion and styling has become a very important part of not just celebrities but even the regular everyday life of most people. Do you think in a way our standard of beauty has changed over the years
As I rightly said customers these days have evolved they know what they want and what suits them best I think beauty and fashion has become a more serious business. Beauty is a feature. I feel fashion has evolved. Beauty hasn’t changed. Beauty is forever.
People think this industry is all about glamour. Could you tell us more about the other side of your industry
What people see on the outside are all the glitter and the glamour but there is much more that takes place behind all the shimmer and shine. We need to be constantly on the go as fashion is never constant. Coming up with new designs and making sure you are not plagiarised. You need to constantly reinvent yourself. Demand and supply needs to be maintained at all times and you are constantly being judged whether you like it or not. You need a great support system. Designers can create but execution is important and hence a great team is equally important .It is not a one-man show. A designer’s work involves a lot of blood and sweat being drained and is not always fun and fabulous. Archana Kochhar with choreographer and actor Prabhudeva and actress Shazahn Padamsee at one of her shows
ARCHANA KOCHHARIndian fashion designer Archana Kochhar has participated in various international fashion weeks such as London Fashion Week 2009 and showcased her outstanding silhouettes there. Her designing aesthetic has also ranked her as favourite fashion designer of many Bollywood divas like Minisha Lamba Dia Mirza Katrina Kaif Amrita Rao and Jacqueline Fernandez.
Could you tell us more about your collection that you will be showcasing in Dubai
My latest collection ‘Regal Scarlet’ is an ingenious mishmash of a jetsetter and the diverse trends she radiates with every city she visits. The collection is a marriage of two distinctive ranges which reflects her stopover one being the Indian royal heritage and the other being a castle overseas. This Scarlet is a royal gypsy in her own essence and in her journey she assembles her chic and hip flare. The vibrant Gulal exquisite Gehna and the garden-fresh Genda inspire the collection which is equipoised by the royal pinnacle. Highlights of the royal Crown and antique Castle keys are uncovered through dynamic digital prints. The colour palette rushes from happy yellow citrus orange candy pink lime bottle green plush gold and hues of black white and grey. The silhouettes streams from short playful skirts to long flared skirts kurtas with patiala crop tops teamed with dhoti pants gown sarees sheer shararas teamed with straight high slit kurtas anarkalis light weight lehengas and floor length gown anakalis. The garments are skillfully embellished with mirror work velvet applique work with a sprinkle of Swarovski stones highlights. Headbands embellished with jewels chains and Swarovski stones are added to elevate the styling factor.
Is UAE a comfortable and profitable market for youYes the UAE is definitely an excellent and profitable market for high fashion garments and exclusive designer wear.
Is it true that bridal wear is the most profitable section in the marketBridal wear is definitely a profitable section in the market as there are no boundaries for the clients to get the best regardless of the monetary factor. But a new trend that has surfaced is resort weddings which is less traditional yet maintaining the essence of the occasion.
You make clothes for a living. Some call you technicians some creative directors and some storytellers. What title makes you feel the most special
Being a versatile designer I have the facility to cater to all kinds of sectors from heavy bridal wears which is my forte to pret wear which is an exciting venture. So the title that makes me feel most special is when I am called creative director as that reflects the position I am in.
Fashion and styling has become a very important part of not just celebrities but even the regular everyday life of most people. Do you think in a way our standard of beauty has changed over the years
Fashion and styling go hand in hand. From high fashion to street fashion styling is the main key to making an individual statement. Styling has become the main element in bringing out the look in fashion. From movies fashion shows and photoshoots styling and fashion has become the eminent essentials. Our standard in fashion has definitely risen over the years and people in general are more aware and mindful about what they wear and how they look.
People think this industry is all about glamour. Could you tell us more about the other side of your industry
Glamour does blindside the hard work energy and long hours that goes through in materializing a collection or show. But through it all the climax and the outcome are worth the while. SHWETA WAHIBrought up between Dubai and Johannesburg Shweta Wahi began putting together her signature style at the young age of 10 as a byproduct of her interest in visual arts and culture. Shweta was one of the youngest designers to be invited to Ottawa Fashion Week in 2010. Apart from being a designer Shweta is also an international advisor to the Design Council in Mauritius.
Tell us about the collection you will be showcasing in Dubai.
This year the collection pays homage to my Middle Eastern childhood an introspection of the long-prevailing Arabic classics. I have integrated the Indian look and feel with the abaya and jalabiya silhouettes. You can expect commercially viable ready-to-wear pieces with clean classic cuts.
Is UAE a profitable market for youOf course I find the UAE - and Dubai in particular - is emerging not only economically but also as the fashion capital of the Middle East. The industry here has embraced young designers like me. As an artist creative freedom has always superseded profitability; and opportunities here have helped bridge the gap between business and art in a seamless way.
You make clothes for a living. Some call you technicians some creative directors and some storytellers. What title makes you feel the most special
I can never find a title that fully captures everything I do. As a trained image consultant I work with my clients to dress according to their body-type and to ensure that they are comfortable in what they wear. I’m a strong believer in feeling good to look good; and at the end of the day what makes me feel special is when I know that I have succeeded in making someone happy with my work.
Fashion and styling have become a very important part of the regular everyday life of most people. Do you think in a way our standard of beauty has changed over the years
It is never beauty that changes but rather how it is captured. Alongside living in a day and age where everything is very visual fashion has become a mainstay across the world. Unfortunately it has currently adopted an approach belittling the “everyday” woman. I’m hopeful that my work helps change this mindset. There is absolutely nothing more gorgeous than a person who is comfortable in his or her own skin.
Tell us something about the industry people aren’t aware of.
Over the course of my seven-year journey in the industry I’ve come to realise that it isn’t all glitz and glamour. Fashion is a highly competitive industry and it takes a lot of time and effort to get recognised. It can take years of unrewarding diligence. But what draws me in is the constant realisation that it is a gift – being able to do what I love to express myself.
Wahi will showcase her designs at Jumeirah Emirates Towers on September 5 at 6:30pm.
Photos retrieved from agencies
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