Anticipation, satisfaction on Day 4 of Bangalore Fashion Week

You couldn’t better apply the phrase “Leave the best for last” to describe the last day of the Blenders Pride Fashion Week. From the organisers to the visitors and everyone even remotely connected to fashion, the name Ritu Beri had been on everyone’s lips and needless to say, there was a feverish scramble for passes to the internationally-acclaimed fashionista’s show.

While the world around her might be all excited, Ritu Beri remained calm. With her main work of getting the collection ready out of the way, the designer chose to focus her energies on D-Day towards “the presentation” of the show. “My focus is on presenting the show the way I want to. From the sequence of models walking the ramp to the music, my job now is to ensure the clothes are presented well. It’s important to me that the audience gets to see the clothes the way I want them to see,” she reiterates.

Now, where on one hand you had a Ritu Beri who has 22 years of experience in the business, there was also 19-year old Tina Gupta, showcasing her designs for the first time here. The young designer from Chandigarh was all enthused about her show. “My collection is based on the memories of my growing up years,” she said with no doubts whatsoever that her collection would be liked by the audiences. “Everyone does the same kind of designs which is why I decided to something different.” Her creations, despite having an Indian influence, are decidedly Western. Apart from memories of the different shows, “I loved Abdul Halder’s collection,” Tina will remember BFW for introducing her to the “wonderful people of Bangalore.”

Prabhat Kumar, another first timer, was already in a celebratory mood, much before his show had even started. The reason: an impressive number of sales and enquiries from individual customers, retailers and high-fashion houses for his bags. Yes, Prabhat Kumar was the only accessories designer participating in the BFW and his stall that displayed his tasteful leather-bags was one of the busiest through the four days. “I didn’t expect this kind of response,” he candidly admits. Even as he gushes about the perfect placement of his stall between Ritu Beri and Gitanjali Jewels, “It was such a strategic spot,” there are quite a few takeaways from his experience here. “Clients in Bangalore have the spending power they are just strapped for time. I’ve learnt how to convince customers about my label in a short amount of time,” he states. That he was showcasing on the last day of the show, a day that sees the most footfalls had him visibly excited and very nervous. “I’ve heard that even the best of the best have nerves before their shows. So, I’ve asked the backstage crew to have a glass of water in hand for me,” he jokes.

While designers run around getting the finishing touches, the organisers too had their own share of running around to do. Yet, Feroz Khan, creative director of Dream Merchants Events & Entertainment, looks unflappably cool. “This edition was better organised than it has ever been,” he admits before conceding that “Every year, when the event starts we can’t wait for it to get over, but curiously, on the last day of the event, we just wish that it starts all over again!” Until July when the Monsoon/ Fall week is due, it’s a sweet adieu to this event that celebrates fashion and fashion gurus in inimitable style.