Fashion saga to bolster India-France ties

New Delhi, Sep 8 (UNI) Fashion can serve as the new medium to help India strenghen its ties with France as its popularity at the 'fashion hub-- Paris' is growing remarkably.

Counsellor for Culture and Cooperation at French Embassy, India, Philip Martinet, a regular at every India Fashion Weeks, says that Paris and New Delhi share a special relation and this can be cemented further through the channel of fashion.

''Indian designers' demand in Paris is going up each year. I attend fashion weeks in India to get an impression of what is happening here. Being a culture and cooperation counsellor, I feel the means of fashion can help the two countries understand each other better.'' Mr Martinet says that fashion lovers in France like Indian designers for their spirit and energy which is the most 'striking' and the designers also share a close relationship with their counterparts in france.

''Paris Fashion Week is looking forward to participation by Manish Arora, Anamika and Rajesh Pratap Singh,'' the French official says, adding the French designers are also willing to be a part of Indian fashion fraternity and participate in the events here in the near future.

''To take into account the fashion trends in India, many of our leading designers will be visiting the country very soon.'' Asked whose desinsg caught his eyes during the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week so far, he said Rajesh Pratap singh's creations were unmatched.

Designers Anamika Khanna, Manish Arora and Rajesh Pratap Singh will be showing their collection at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week (PFW), scheduled to be held from September 30 to October 7, 2007.

This is the first time Indian designers are participating independently under their own labels at the event.

Anamika and Manish will be showcasing their Spring/Summer 2008 collection during the coming event while Rajesh will be displaying his Fall/Winter 2008 line in March in the coming year at this highly acclaimed fashion week.

Manish Arora will be showing his creations on the first day of Paris Fashion Week and present his collection 'Pop India' while Anamika's ensemble christianed 'Louvre' would be witnessed on the concluding day of the PFW.

UNI