E-Paper
More than 150 buyers at fashion week
More than 150 buyers from India and abroad will gather at the Lakme India Fashion Week that begins here April 20.
More than 150 buyers from India and abroad will gather at the Lakme India Fashion Week that begins here April 20.
In its sixth year, the country's first fashion week after the fall of the textile quotas has drawn confirmed participation from buyers from the US, Britain, Hong Kong, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the Middle East and Japan.
The apex body Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has announced that buyers are coming from 12 countries, including names like Okra from America, Japan's Saaya and Britain's Kiki.
Other names include Britain's Boho and RCKC, Spain's Ananda, Sanskrit from Hong Kong, Chokri from Singapore, Turkey-based Talisman, Jofima LDA from Portugal and Kuwait's Moda-In.
Unlike past years, when the event drew representation from Saks Fifth Avenue, Selfridges and Browns, there are no mega buyers yet.
According to an FDCI news release, these names, including Harrods and Barneys, "are also expected to confirm their participation soon".
Domestic big names include Kimaya, Be, Elan Couture, Ogaan, Ensemble, Shoppers Stop, Fuel, Kala Niketan, Sosa's, Ffolio, Elahe, Zenon, Evoluzione, Pantaloon, M & S House of Design among others.
India's nascent fashion industry is worth around $60 million, a tiny portion of the $15 billion textile industry. The FDCI is aiming to push that figure to about $225 million by 2010.
