Don't sensationalise 'wardrobe malfunctions': Kamal Nath

New Delhi, Apr 5: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has said people should not ''demean'' themselves by sensationalising controversies such as the ''wardrobe malfunctions'' at the recently-concluded Lakme India Fashion Week in Mumbai.

''Sometimes people and media love sensationalism. They should not do this because in the end by sensationalising they are demeaning themselves,'' he said at the inauguration of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW) here last night.

The LIFW was mired in controversies after a model's bustier fell down while she was walking the ramp and another model experienced a similar embarrassing moment when the zipper of her skirt came off.

The models were upset not only because of the embarrassing moments on the ramp but also with the arrangements of the event.

''It was more like a Bollywood ramp show with actors walking the ramp. The main models were sidelined as celebrities took the lead in the event,'' said a source on condition of anonymity.

Lauding India for its great intellectual abilities, Mr Nath said, ''We have talent and intellect and this event is to harvest the abilities of our designers so that their brand gets recognition not only in India but across the world.'' He called the designers ''technologists'', and said they not only display their abilities through such events, but also popularise the country's exquisite fusion of art and craft globally.

Mr Nath, who had mooted the idea of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) when he was Textiles Minister, said, ''For me it is a sense of fulfillment to see that it has not only moved on but has achieved global recognition.'' ''We should not look at this merely in terms of something which is 'affluent' but should look at it in terms of employment generation, investment, creativity and recognition of India.'' The FDCI was formed in 1998 and is an apex body of the fashion design industry. The council promotes business of fashion and working towards corporatisation of fashion labels in India.

UNI