The glitzy five-day Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week may have come to an end, but the fashion fraternity has good reason to continue celebrations.
NEW DELHI: The glitzy five-day Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) may have come to an end, but the fashion fraternity has good reason to continue celebrations. The event fetched nearly 40 percent more business than last year for both established names and newcomers.
"As compared to the last edition, business this time was up 40 percent. Apart from our regular buyers we are also in talks with the USA's renowned fashion store Bloomingdales," designer Rohit Gandhi of label Cue said.
"As enquiries transpire into sales I am sure we would sell at least 1,000 outfits," he said.
The fashion extravaganza was held at Pragati Maidan here March 12-16.
Veterans like Tarun Tahiliani are set to cross the 600 garments sale mark, while Ritu Kumar will touch 1,000 and Rina Dhaka may sell about 5,000.
Other big names include Anamika Khanna, who is set to cross the 1,000 mark, JJ Valaya 3,000, Anju Modi 1,000 and Rohit Bal would "sell thousands of pieces".
"We are first timers and there was nothing to compare for us. Some buyers from the Middle East, London and Chicago approached us," said Neeraj of label Azara.
"Also, there were orders from domestic stores like Kimaya and Ensemble. We expect no less than 100 outfits to be sold this time," the budding designer said.
Other young talents also did well at the fashion fair. First timer Amit G.T. got orders for 50 pieces from Middle-Eastern and European buyers. "However, after other enquiries transpire into sales I expect no less than 400 pieces to be sold," he said.
While Nitin Bal Chauhan expects at least 100 bags and 150 outfits to be sold, Varun Sardana may sell 50 pieces, Abhijeet Khanna could sell 100, and Charu Parashar has already received orders for 375 pieces.
Said Tomoko Inuzuka of fashion store Beams in Tokyo: "We are buying about 100 outfits of Manish (Arora) and 10 of Namrata (Joshipura).
Alan Bilzerian, owner of the store of the same name in Boston, said: "I have picked up nearly 50 outfits from Rohit Bal, Abraham & Thakore and Manish Arora."
International buyers also lauded the events' content and its management.
Bilzerian said: "The event was very well organised. With factors like language barriers and travel barriers in play, we had a hectic but smooth stay. It was comfortable to work here."
But he pointed out that there was a dearth of accessory and handicraft stalls in the exhibition area. "A foreign buyer keeps looking for traditional craft and that is what was missing. Also, there were not many accessory stalls here."
There were complaints of delays in shows, lack of water, few washrooms and their early closure.
Lorenzo Hadar of store H. Lorenzo, Los Angeles, picked up "at least 10 outfits of (Rajesh Pratap) Singh and (Manish) Arora.
"I liked the work of Soni and Anamika. In fact I am fancied by the India talent," said Hadar.
Hiba-Al-Ateeqi, owner of fashion boutique Tiki Style, picked up over 100 outfits from Kavita Bhartiya, Rina Dhaka, Tarun Tahiliani, Renu Tondon, Anju Modi, Abhijeet Khanna and Ashish Soni.
Domestic fashion store Ensemble, which is opening a new store in the capital in July, bought thousands of outfits. Also on an expansion mode, retail fashion chain store Kimaya, set to open 48 stores in the next three years, bought thousands of pieces from over 30 designers.
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