No kids on the front row, says Anna Wintour. Do Mumbai designers feel the same way? After Hrs checks in...
Trust the nuclear Anna Wintour to ban babies from fashion weeks. According to reports, Her Royal Vogueness wasn't too happy about baby North West's tantrums at Paris Fashion Week. She even disapproved of Kanye West's baby's style quotient and asked her mom Kim Kardashian to dress her like one would a normal child -- in pastels.
West would do best to take cue from the Beckham boys - Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, who along with sister Harper, have been gracing the front row at mum Victoria's show for years - all dressed in couture and impossibly well-behaved all the time. In fact, at one of the shows, Harper even managed to inspire a rare chuckle from the cold Anna.
In India, a few years ago, designer Abhishek Datta had made his son walk the ramp. The tot couldn't finish his walk and fell off the ramp. Even so, it's not uncommon to see kids at Indian fashion weeks. Jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor walked the ramp a few seasons ago with her daughter as she took a bow. Waluscha Robinson's daughter Chanel, too, had made an appearance for a Barbie-inspired show.
We asked designers for their take on children at fashion shows, on the ramp and in the audience...
Nishka Lulla
It depends on the age group. After age five, it's okay to walk the ramp. However, I don't encourage make-up. A ramp show is a good experience for children. It boosts their confidence and has to be done correctly. But a strict no, if it is a serious show.
Namrata Joshipura
I have been on both sides - having brought my daughter to my shows after she turned three so that she's aware of what her mother does. However, a fashion week is not good place for kids because the music is extremely loud and they are not conditioned to hear such loud decibels. Also, most of the shows run late.
Ken Ferns
Kids are a reflection of the parents. One definitely doesn't want to see children throwing tantrums. Having said that, I think some kids love glamour from an early age and harbour inclinations for style. It's absolutely okay to have them as long as they are well-behaved.
Sneha Arora
No. Fashion Week is a business event and we should keep it more formal. Babies are okay only when they are very well-behaved.
Surily Goel
There shouldn't be a ban as long as the child is well-behaved and does not causes inconvenience to others. It's equally irritating when people bring kids to movie theatres. As long as the child enjoys fashion, it's a nice exposure.
Nachiket Barve
Fashion shows are amped up and multi-sensorial experiences and some people like to make them into a social afternoon. However, it's best if the kids are left out of it, unless it is a designer's kid. The volume is huge and lights are strong and it's not a pyjama party. Also, in the middle of a high-octane show, you don't want a kid screaming.
Paras Modi
Kids being on the ramp is very different. A fashion week is a serious platform for everyone - from buyers to media. A kids' fashion week is a good exposure for children. However, kids coming on the ramp at the main ones is not a good idea as it is a serious fashion platform.
Shyamal Shodhan
A fashion week is a formal event and you don't want to discipline kids in the front row, which is strictly for buyers and media. Even for my own show, I wouldn't want my kids on the front row.
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