Lakme Fashion Week 2003
from July 18-24 in Mumbai

Nearly 58 leading fashion designers are expected to participate in the Lakme India Fashion Week 2003 to be held at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai from July 18-24.

Among them will be Rohit Bal, Satya Paul, Tarun Tahiliani, Wendell Rodricks, Suneet Verma, Hemant Trivedi and Malini Ramani.

They will showcase their Prêt (ready-to-wear) and Diffusion line of collection.

The event would also encourage new talents to showcase their creations.

Announcing the event in Mumbai on Thursday, Fashion Design Council of India Executive Director Vinod Kaul said the show was conceived with the primary objective of creating business relationships and facilitating a dialogue between designers and trade buyers.

This year's event will comprise 35 fashion shows, exhibitions and several stalls, he said.

Nearly 15,000 visitors from international and domestic buying houses, retailers and mediapersons are expected to participate in this prestigious event of the fashion industry.

"The highlight of this year is the change of venue. We decided to shift from a hotel to the NCPA, since the event required more space and an ambience designed to showcase fashion. The technical infrastructure, including lighting and stage, made us zero in on the NCPA," Kaul said.

Last year, the event was held in Delhi.

A series of seminars covering various facets of the industry, including the future of Indian fashion, corporatisation of brands, utilisation of crafts, tradition and brand position have been planned. The seminars would also focus on fashion, lifestyle and beauty, he said.

This year the prêt collection would include apparel priced between Rs 800 and Rs 10,000 and diffusion priced between Rs 10,000-30,000, Kaul said.

According to Lakme Lever's Business Head Anil Chopra, Hemant Trivedi and Wendell Rodricks would present 'creative interpretations of Lakme's Summer 2003 statement' by showcasing their creative apparel on the theme of 'Water Colours'.

'Water Colours' is based on the phenomenon of water, an element that completely revives and rejuvenates.

Lakme would also fly down international beauty experts to organise a series of workshops at its beauty salon, Chopra said.

"We are also planning to have road shows to attract key buyers from major Indian metros. Similar mini shows would also be held elsewhere in the country after the event," he said.