Fashion’s leading ladies

Women are the toast of this fashion season.

Besides the two young women designers — Nida Mahmood and Shilpa Chaval — who were chosen to open the 15th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), the week-long event will see about 53 models and 30 female designers weave their magic on the ramp. Talking about the decision to open the show with these designers, FDCI president Sunil Sethi says, “About the opening show, I think Nida and Shilpa are edgy and creative people. There is a need to promote young talent and give them a platform.”

“There are many women designers who are emerging on the fashion arena now as compared to about 10 years ago,” said fashion czarina Ritu Kumar. “It’s a very positive change in the fashion scene. Even my collection — Cityscape — is very contemporary and sophisticated. With use of minimal colours, along with a lot of layering and prints, it is an ode to the career women of today.”

According to designer Payal Jain, it’s amazing to see women achieve great success in the fashion industry. “It’s a great feeling to know that now it’s not just the men who are making it to the ‘Top 5 list’. A feminine perspective is evident even in my upcoming collection — The Solitary Monk,” she said. “I am glad that women are at the forefront now. It’s about time,” said Aparna Nambiar who is doing the interiors at the venue, NSIC Exhibition Complex, Okhla, along with Maitreyee Narendra.

The Wills Twitter Face this year is jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali and supermodel Sheetal Mallar is the Celebrity Photographer for the event.

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