Talk about the fashion week's in India and the first name that comes to a dilettante's mind is inevitably the Lakmé Fashion Week. It was first organized in the year 2000 in Delhi. And the oldest beauty brand in India, Lakmé became its title sponsor. It was conceptualized in 1999 by the Fashion Design Council Of India in collaboration with IMG. Together FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week did five successful seasons and the two fashion power houses headed for a split post that. It was only during the Covid 19 pandemic that they realised that it is pertinent to join forces in order to keep fashion weeks afloat in India. The recently held Lakmé Fashion Week in association with the FDCI in Mumbai was the third season of the two bodies working together. With the corporatization of India's leading designer labels, the dynamic of the fashion business has also changed. We spoke to FDCI chairperson Sunil Sethi, Head of Rise Fashion and Lifestyle Jaspreet Chandok and Head of Innovations at Lakmé Sumati Mattu on this season's response and what all can we expect in the coming fashion weeks from the two power houses of fashion.
Tell us about the response received for this season's showcase of LFW X FDCI.
Jaspeet Chandok: This is the first time that Lakme Fashion Week is being hosted in Mumbai in a fully physical format in partnership with FDCI, ever since the onset of the pandemic two years ago. The response received from across stakeholders so far has been incredible. This edition introduced the fashion industry to new talent, clutter breaking showcases, sustainable initiatives at the state of the art global venue of Jio World Convention Centre that permitted us to create an all- encompassing custom experience for the fashion community.
Sunil Sethi: The response has been nothing short of wonderful. This edition marked FDCI’s return to Mumbai after 16 years. The edition unlike ever before, created opportunities for designers, and buyers from across the world to engage and collaborate at the Showroom area. The one-of-a- kind FDCI Design Stockroom Sale that was hosted on the last day of the event was a roaring success.
Sumati Mattu: The support and love we received from viewers, designers, models and collaborators this season has
been overwhelming, to say the least. This edition of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI has been incredibly special for us owing to this being Lakmé 70th year in the country. The spirit of celebrating this milestone echoed through a multitude of elements at the event right from the Lakmé Lounge to the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale.
Has the collaboration between FDCI and LFW been fruitful and do we see something more coming our way from these two giant powerhouses of fashion?
Jaspreet Chandok: The partnership can only be summed up as being landmark in its origin. Formed as the need of the hour, the coming together of Indian beauty and fashion was and is the road ahead for the growth of the industry. It is only through collaboration and partnership that we can continue delivering a world class fashion experience.
Sunil Sethi: The partnership continues to be unbelievably rewarding. At Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI the aim has always been to celebrate the fashion industry and provide a platform for some of the country’s most diverse set of established and emerging designers and provide an opportunity to showcase their work. As we continue to push the envelope, we hope to be back next season with an even grander experience.
Sumati Mattu:
Lakmé’s partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India has been extraordinary and truly evolved through the course of our long-standing relationship. Through our efforts, it has always been our endeavor to create an environment for the fashion and beauty community at large that fosters new talent, innovation and growth. As a pioneer in the beauty industry, we will continue to bring alive the world of beauty and fashion. In future, our efforts will be directed towards sustainability, providing a platform to the next generation of creatives, spotlighting home-grown brands and showcasing the best of fashion.
Tell us about some of your favourite shows from this season
Jaspreet Chandok: This season, we saw some of the most unique and different collaborations come to life on the runway. Our first sports meets fashion showcase with IPL team Gujarat Titans and Kanika Goyal, technology meets fashion showcase with Logitech and Saaksha Kinni, realme and Amit Aggarwal along with a meteorically inspired collection from Gaurav Gupta x NEXA. The opening show by Anamika Khanna’s AK-OK, Satya Paul at the Jio World Drive and Lakme Absolute Grand Finale by Rajesh Pratap Singh were some of the most impactful that the platform has ever seen.
Sunil Sethi: The showcase presented by FDCI this season with Shahab Durazi returning to the ramp after 12 years was an immaculate collection to witness. Our emerging talent showcases with the ‘Men’s Edit’ by Khanijo, SNOB and Countrymade was widely appreciated, and is a personal favorite. The FDCI presents Pearl Academy x Graduate Fashion Week International showcase marked the first ever international chapter outside London for GFWI. This too was a first-of-its-kind initiative that presented collections by very talented students from the top 27 fashion design
schools around the world.
Have the international buyers increased from last season? What type of designs and designers are they more interested into?
Sunil Sethi: There has been a significant rise in the number of buyers this season. Many of the international buyers were visiting Mumbai as a fashion week destination for the first time, so they were pleasantly surprised to see the state-of-the-art venue at Jio World Convention Centre. The post-Covid ease of travel has also significantly contributed to this rise in international travel. It goes without saying that having more than 80 designers present their most recent collections was a plus.
