Column

There is a secret agenda at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. I am trying to find out what it is, but it is obviously verrrry secret. It has something to do with black. Otherwise, why would the entry pre-function area be so dark.... Black cloth, black floor, and dim lights, and of course most of the women were wearing black.... Were they tipped off secretly? Do they know something I don’t? Must find out! But tomorrow I plan to paste my dog’s picture on my ID and go right through to the front row...the lighting will ensure those poor guards with by now permanently dilated pupils standing to check entry passes won’t make out the difference.

As for the first show, Wendell Rodricks fell victim to the FDCI week penchant for starting an hour behind time. They blamed Didier Grumbach, president of Paris Fashion Week, who cut a ribbon to a plea for applause that was not heard or responded to, but the fact is, he was seen well in time, and did not seem unwilling do his bit. Maybe someone forgot the scissors.

Wendell was predictable, but pleasantly so. Liked some of the necklines and his smart, coloured shift dresses with sea horse motifs and broad belts.

Narendra Kumar sent his models out to the sound of clicking cameras, some rude remarks from photographers which tested their no smile stance, and a medley of ringing phone sounds. As for the clothes, well, the shoes were nice.

Today, as I write this, it is Day 3. The past two days have seen a number of shows filing past the consciousness, and all that remains is the sound of the beats from the music, a blaze of colour and some svelte forms on stage, and the sound of desultory applause. If you are expecting incisive appreciation of designer collections, there is going to be very little of that.

As for the entire event, the focus seems to have definitely changed. After all, even Sunil Sethi has gone on record saying that he allowed/invited Sanjana Jon to show because she was getting Salman ‘bhai’ and five other stars on to the ramp!

Celeb walk-throughs on the ramp seem to be the high point of the shows, and clothes have taken second place. Third, actually, as the ramp seems more dressed up with more effort — with flowers everywhere (including in audience faces) at Tarun Tahiliani’s show, and gold arches for Pratap’s, and so on.

What comes through is the lack of enthusisam, buyers look bored, smetimes puzzled, the press is weary, and except for the very starry shows, the audience is ‘being there, doing that’.

Not to say though that there were not some good things on the ramp. I liked among other rare sightings of exception ensembles: a gamcha inspired top that has a lovely flow by Rajesh Pratap who otherwise mainly seemed to favour asystematical versions of his pin-tucked, impeccably fitted look; some interesting gota on white outfits by Amrish Kumar of Ritu Kumar’s Label, eye-catching appliqué, on clothes by Poonam Bhagat, haki in new avatars courtesy Rahul Mishra, Bian, and Anamika Khanna’s new favourite: the sari pants.

If there is anyone imagining that this event is a symbol of the melting of the great divide between Delhi and Mumbai, abandon the thought right away.

This event is more about getting the Mumbai celebrity brigade on board, to whip up the failing enthusiasm in general about Fashion. It is about fashion that shows no fashion statements worth noting. No new thought.

Maybe the ones who are really benefiting by it are the designers: they have, like ‘travelling salesmen’ (not my quote, but another veteran journo’s) decided that where they can show, they will spread their wares and hope to find a new set of buyers, an extension of their known marketplace.

So be it....then. At least someone thinks there is hope, some concrete benefit.