Watchdog notice to FDCI

Here is yet another twist to the fashion week tale. The Director General of Investigation and Registration has initiated a preliminary investigation against the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) for indulging in ?restrictive practices?.

Here is yet another twist to the fashion week tale. The Director General of Investigation and Registration has initiated a preliminary investigation against the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC) for indulging in “restrictive practices”.

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The investigating authority has asked FDCI to furnish details and documents to facilitate the preliminary investigation.

The FDCI has been asked to specify if it has directed the board members or member designers not to take part in any other fashion week or Lakme Fashion Week.

It has been asked to furnish a copy of the communication sent to the members, if any, along with reasons and justification for the same. The Director General has acted suo moto without any formal complaint in the matter.

However, FDCI has refuted the charges. FDCI’s D-G Rathi Vinay Jha says she is not aware of any such development. “We have not heard from MRTPC. We have not banned any designer from taking part in any other event. We only advised them to stand together on the board’s decision. When we have not banned any one, where is the question of restrictive practice?’’ she says.

The feud began when Lakme decided to hold a separate fashion week in Mumbai after falling out with the FDCI a few weeks ago. The fall-out happened because of FDCI’s refusal to accommodate Lakme’s request to have one of the two proposed India Fashion Weeks in Mumbai. Subsequently, Lakme decided to organise its own event ‘Lakme Fashion Week’. FDCI, in turn, told its member designers that they could not take part in the Lakme Fashion Week.

According to Lakme Lever V-P Anil Chopra, his event is open to all designers who creatively qualify to be there. “Right from day one after announcing Lakme Fashion Week, we maintained that from our side there are no restrictions on any one from taking part in any other events,’’ says Chopra. “Designers and other professionals like models, make-up artistes and show choreographers are free to take part in any event they choose to. As for the news on MRTPC, I haven’t heard anything on it yet. In any case, I feel it is a matter between the designers and FDCI.”