Buyers come calling for debutant designers at India Fashion Week

New Delhi, Sep 9 (UNI) Amidst a discord over paucity of buyers in the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), for debutant designer Drashta Sarvaiya there is no time to stop and relax after the event gets over as buyers come calling for her collection showcased in the show.

With WIFW primed for its fashion fix with established designers showcasing their designs, the show also saw emerging design talent have their first taste of the catwalk.

''The first thing I want to do is go for a vacation after the event but I think that doesn't seem to be possible as I have to get to production work to meet the orders I have got,'' Delhi-based Drashta who splashed colours on the ramp with her collection 'Paradiso Fondare' on the second day at WIFW, said.

Refusing to disclose the exact number, the designer said, ''The response from the buyers has been overwhelming, I can't give you the exact figure but a lot many buyers mostly from the Middle East have showed their interest in my collection. The deals are in the final stage of completion," an ecstatic Drashta said.

Pradeep Hirani, a buyer for Kimaya Jumeira, echoes similar sentiments as he states that for him a fashion show begins a week before the real show and continues two weeks after the show ends.

''The new talent on display has been good but will take time to mature and we will be merchandising from them since we plan to open 40 stores in 36 weeks,'' Mr Hirani added.

Mr Hirani said he was always open to good designs and encouraged them. ''I have bought a stake in Pam Mehta's design. Though, people do not hear much about her but she has an export turnover of Rs 21 crore in the UK .'' The event has transformed a massive hall at Pragati Maidan into a fashion Mecca, dotted with swank eateries and displays of accessories.

For Dubai-based debutant designer duo Meher and Riddhima who succeeded in creating a fascinating effect with their collection Titled 'Affascinare' based on amalgamation of ivory and bright colours there is no looking back.

''This is our first year in India Fashion week and the response from the buyers has been really good. We have been getting a lot of enquiries from international buyers, particularly from France , and it has been really good,'' Riddima of the designer duo said, not revealing the exact number of their buyers.

''Deals with three buyers from Kuwait are almost finalised and negotiations are going on with many others who have showed interest in our collection,'' the duo, who has been doing solo shows in Dubai for the past five years, said.

However, debutant designer Elisha W seemed disappointed with few international buyers coming her way; however, she had her share of domestic buyers. ''Around five to six domestic buyers have approached me but they are my usual customers. The international business on the other hand has been average. I am a bit disappointed with the response.'' The designer added that it was not surprising as the number of buyers this season has gone remarkably down as compared to last season when they managed to get 15 customers.

''I think it is too early to predict anything as the buyers usually turn up only after two to three weeks,'' the designer, who retails to Lovefair and Logan stores in Delhi besides others across the country, noted.

However, the designer did not seem complaining and termed the India fashion week a great platform for newcomers who get a chance to interact with established designers.''I have managed to get a good response overall and will definitely come back next season.'' Abhijeet Khanna, another designer from Hi 5 duo team, who received rapturous applause for his 'RISA' collection comprising bright red glitter sequin said , though he has found two to three international buyers, he was not focusing on sale of his clothes.

''I am being selective in choosing my buyers. I think making good associations are far more important than selling products,'' the designer said.

For the 27-year-old designer, the season has brought double delight. He will debut at WIFW and London Fashion Week.

For Tina Tahiliani, the Executive Director of Ensemble, a retail store, judging the talent of a new designer will take more than one show. ''We are looking for consistency among designers and a fashion show is an ideal steroid for the promising new designers,'' she said.

Stressing that the selection and de-selection of the designs take time, Tina Tahiliani stated that she has picked up a lot of promising designs from the stalls which meet her expectations.

A prominent buyer from the Indian fashion circuit Salah Duaij Al-Sabah of Moda In said that the consistency among new designers was missing. ''The likes of Tarun and Anamika Khanna are stable and consistent with their good designs. However, sometimes I come to a show and find very little to buy because it does not meet my expectation.'' The Hi-5 duo is a special initiative of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) that provides upcoming fashion designers a platform to showcase their collection on the ramp during the ongoing fashion extravaganza.

This year, there is a bumper crop of newcomers of ten young designers making their debut on the ramp instead of the customary five.

UNI