After the battle cry, the war paint.
All efforts are on by both sides — FDCI, which has India Fashion Week, and its former bedmates IMG-Lakme, which has split from the designer organisation to organise its first fashion week in Mumbai — to dress up their respective fashion weeks, on about two months from now.
FDCI touted "critical mass of designers" showing solidarity with them as a major victory.
But even as many designers sit on the fence before signing up with one faction, the Indian branch of IMG (the group which owns and organises New York Fashion Week) and Lakme (its partner) has delivered a resounding promo-punch.
An item on style.com titled 'Indian Fashion Week?' actually promotes the upcoming Fashion Week in Mumbai.
It says: "Done the New York, Milan, Paris thing? You might add cosmopolitan Mumbai to the fashion trail. This bustling city already has a Project Runway-style documentary soap, Lakme Fashion House, that follows aspiring designers and stars celebrity judge Donatella Versace.
"And for the first time this year, IMG, the production company that runs Gotham's Bryant Park shows, is helping to organise and broaden Lakme Fashion Week. Mark your calendars; it runs from March 28 to April 1."
There is no mention of the India Fashion Week, or New Delhi as a destination. It sounds as if the fashion week in Mumbai is the only Indian fashion week. So much for FDCI's initial boast about being the "official" fashion week.
{{/usCountry}}There is no mention of the India Fashion Week, or New Delhi as a destination. It sounds as if the fashion week in Mumbai is the only Indian fashion week. So much for FDCI's initial boast about being the "official" fashion week.
{{/usCountry}}Watch this space for a counter-salvo from the FDCI side.