Split: After Delhi, it’s Kolkata

After Delhi’s fashion week underwent a bitter split two years back, followed by a much hyped unification, the two season old Kolkata Fashion Week has now split.

After Delhi’s fashion week underwent a bitter split two years back, followed by a much hyped unification, the two season old Kolkata Fashion Week has now split. The city will now see two fashion weeks — the KFW and the Kolkata Fashion and Lifestyle Week (KFLW) — go head to head next month.

Infighting between the directors of the organising firm, Mindscapes Maestros, has led to the split. The breakaway faction, led by Yudhajit Dutta, has announced KFLW under a new banner. “There are 36 confirmed designers with us from 24 to 27 February,” Dutta says, insisting that his is the real Kolkata Fashion Week.

Ranadeb Paul of Mindscapes, however, maintains that his firm shall go ahead with the original fashion week. “We haven’t announced the dates yet as we are in talks with an international agency.”

The split has left designers and celebs, confused. Designer Ritu Kumar says, “We would participate with the original one,” but fails to clarify which one is that. Celebs such as Bipasha Basu, John Abraham, Riya Sen, Raima Sen, Minissha Lamba and Nandana Sen, who had walked the ramp last season, are clueless about the recent developments.