Some designers believe that a star showstopper absorbs all the publicity, whereas others believe that it adds value to their creations.
As the latest fashion week drew to a close in the city, the debate still lingers on whether the publicity attracted by the presence of Bollywood stars takes the limelight away from the designers' creations.
The recently concluded India Couture Week in Mumbai and Wills India Fashion Week (WIFW) in Delhi had a bevy of stars like Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor walking the ramp, fuelling the never-ending debate whether Bollywood steals the show at fashion weeks.
Some designers believe that a star showstopper absorbs all the publicity, whereas others believe that it adds value to their creations.
"It only makes sense if the celebrity is your client, otherwise, if you have a star as your showstopper, people don't talk about your designs anymore, the celebrity gets all the publicity. If your designs are not good, no star can help impress your buyers," designer Manish Gupta, who showcased his spring summer collection at WIFW, told PTI.
Gupta's words are echoed by designer Rahul of the Rahul & Gunjan duo, who thinks that the buyers are not influenced even if you have a star endorsing your designs.
"Fashion is a form of art and having a celeb as the showstopper totally takes away the focus from that art. The real stars are the people who make efforts from behind the scenes to put together a collection," said Rahul.
Bollywood stars have been using the ramp to serve their own purposes, be it promoting a social cause or their upcoming film.
Aftab Shivdasani had promoted Acid Factory at the India Men's Week in September, while director Madhur Bhandarkar promoted Jail, making actors Neil Nitin Mukesh, Manoj Bajpai and Mugdha Godse at designer Reynu Tandon's show at WIFW,
despite having no connect with her collection.
Stars like Katrina Kaif and Ranbir kapoor also scorched the ramp for Rohit Bal at the grand finale of WIFW to promote their film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.
"There is definitely more coverage from the media if you have a star walking the ramp, but then the designer's creation is ignored. For me, my creations always come first," said Bangalore-based designer Nimirta Lalwani.
And it is this coverage that the stars look for at a fashion show. Superstar Salman Khan has been using the ramp as a platform to promote his charitable organistaion 'Being Human' at various fashion shows.
Sanjana Jon's debut show at the WIFW here was more about the star siblings like Salman and Sohail and Sushmita and her brother, who walked the ramp for her, than the collection she showcased.
She had organised the show in support of her brother Anand Jon, who has been sentenced for 59 years of imprisonment in the US for multiple sexual abuse cases.
Not many designers are happy with this utilisation of the glamour of fashion but there are others who think that star presence can work in the favour of the designer too.
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