It’s a known fact that the fashion industry has witnessed many a fights with the multiple fashion week scenario. DNA asked some of the designers to elaborate on the problems that are currently plaguing the industry. Here’s what they had to say...
Nachiket Barve: The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is the lack of professionalism in the industry — especially at the worker level. As the work force is unorganised, what happens is these workers tend to take off without any prior notice and that can really leave you in a lurch if you have a deadline that you’re working against.
Also, as opposed to the West where the designers run their businesses like big corporations, here the designers do everything — right from the designing to the manufacturing and even promoting and marketing it. So you have to be the master of all trades here.
Mandira Wirk: The multiple fashion weeks are not only causing fashion fatigue for the buyers and media, but also for the designers and the workers. Of course, I do take care of my workers — apart from paying them for their overtime, we give them food and at times, even arrange for them to sleep at the unit itself! It’s unfortunate, but sometimes the tough deadlines demand it. The overhead expenditures go up and we can’t always shift the burden onto the customer — especially during recession.
Rahul Mishra: I have been working with the weavers of Kerala for quite some time and the biggest problem they face is the consistency of work assignments. They keep lamenting the fact that though many designers (including established ones) come to them, more often than not, the designers walk out without giving them any proper work. What needs to be understood is that if these weavers get discouraged, then their talent will never really be fully utilised and that in itself, would be a huge setback for the Indian fashion industry.
Gayatri Khanna: Too much is being made of the celeb culture at a fashion show. It’s okay to have your celeb friends at your show, but I don’t see why they have to be on the ramp as well — the idea should be to showcase one’s clothes and not celeb connections. Also, there should be some incentives to promote the newer lot of designers. The organisers should give some leeway to the younger lot so that they can be noticed by the buyers.
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