Fashion in India has emerged and has come a long way. Many people of prime importance have joined hands to come up with fashion shows and fashion weeks. This would not only give them exposure but also help to widen their consumer base. In 1988, the fashion design council of India (FCDI) was formed to represent the business interest of the designer fraternity. As they realized the need to grow, FDCI launched the fashion week for the first time in India. This served as a single platform for interaction with the fashion industry. The event was titled as India fashion week and it represented the national spirit of the fashion industry.
Lakme India fashion week was organized for the first time in New Delhi in 2000. Lakme India fashion week gave an excellent opportunity to Indian fashion designers to showcase their work. The fashion fair was open to visitors with invitations only. There were more that 33 designers from all over the country that showcased their work and as many as more than 15,000 visitors came to watch the fashion shows. In all there were 36 models that walked on the ramp.
The designers who showcased their work at the event were Ranna gill, Ritu Beri, Wendell Roderick, Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Aki Narula, Muzaffar Ali, Anshu Arora Sen, Manish Arora, Malini, Ramani and Rajesh Pratap Singh and many more. Most of the dressed showcased in the India fashion week were very elegant and wearable.
From then on, every year India fashion week is celebrated. The second India fashion week that was sponsored by Lakme was held in Mumbai at Taj lands end. This event too was organized by the fashion design council of India.
In 2006, the FDCI along with percept which were partners in implementing the India fashion week appointed Wills Lifestyle as their official sponsor for the event. The event represented the national scope of the fashion industry ion the country and unlike fashion weeks that were held internationally which are city based, India fashion week represented the collective spirit of the nation. The event promoted India’s best and trendiest clothing. J. J. Valaya, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Gandhi, Satya Paul etc all represented their work.
India fashion week has indeed proved to make India a name popular in the international fashion industry. It has brought together many fashion designers, garment houses and the consumer in general. It truly celebrates the collective fashion spirit of the nation.
