Monthly Archives: January 2010

Miss Sixty Forays Mumbai

The desirous, Italian footwear and accessories brand ”Miss Sixty” launched it second outlet in the country at the Palladium, Mumbai. The store houses season wise range of footwear from suede boots to beach sandals and accessories like teenage iconic bags with colour and graphic burst in sync trademark of elegance, sensuality and edgy designs.
 
Mr. Gopal Gupta, MD, Gupta H.C Overseas P ltd was pleased to announce the good news for young sophisticated women who love quirky yet glamorous style that Miss Sixty has to offer. The store is alive with fun, acid colour interiors, future forward décor, liveliness and energy of the edgy accessory collection tantalize the visual appeal.
 
 “We are now present in almost all over the world. However, we feel that emerging markets like India are our potential markets for our future growth. Presently, Miss Sixty has introduced its shoes and accessories only. But the company is seeking for potential partners in the country to launch its apparel segment by the next year that will include menswear label Energie and girls’ range Killah as well,” said Renato Rassi, Co-founder & CEO of the Sixty group.
 
Miss Sixty forays into the Indian market with plans to open over 30 stores in the country in the next five years.

Mercedez Benz

Mercedes-Benz builds the world’s most desirable coupés – a claim which the Stuttgart-based car maker is underlined at the 2010 Auto Expo with its coupe FASCINATION. Not to forget the attributes which provide high level of practical usability, appealing the heart with fast, thrilling lines.
 
At the largest stand alone luxury pavilion, Mercedes-Benz unleashed “Pure Fascination”: a theme that highlights its participation and points the way to the company’s strategy in the near future for Indian market. “Our cars embody passion, perfection and cutting edge technology- values that are reflected through the mesmerizing array of products,” said Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.
 
Each of the cars is category leaders. While the S 500L is the most premium ‘made-in-India’ limosine, the GL350CDI is the largest and most premium off-roader in Indian market. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the highlight of the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main, was presented in a stunning gold paint finish.
 
Not content with just indulging the senses, an exclusive lifestyle show by India’s most celebrated fashion designer Rajesh Pratap Singh with Bipasha basu as a show stopper was a perfect interplay with the aesthetics and dynamic looks of the brand.
 
MBIL put together yet another captivating moment by bringing in famous Montreal Ice Ballet artistes, who performed for the very first time in India. The Montreal Ice Ballet artiste is multitalented in theatrical figure skating and has been performing with some of the world’s greatest figure skating stars.
 
A dazzling display of global heartthrob was well attended by the aristocrats’ of Delhi.

The Leather Fashion in India

The other day I went shopping for an aubergine leather trench coat, and the next question asked to me, are you on a Europe tour. Such is the existence of leather garments in India that it accounts for a fraction nearing zero of the entire fashion buisness. Fashionfad.in goes hunting for the demand and supply confusion working in the domestic high fashion leather garment industry.
 
Leather wear in India is basically for export, though a very small quantity is available in the local market mainly in the north where the weather is conducive despite being the second largest exporter of leather garments to the world with an annual production of over 16 million pieces and a share of 12.9 percent, as per the latest data avilable at the Council for Leather Exports India. Fashion in India has been reaching new heights bridging the gaps of globalisation with every passing season. There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of designers, fashion weeks and fashion houses over the last decade, India also witnessed the successful landing of designers like Armani, Gucci, and Prada against rumours of not being graduate enough to sustain these high end expensive labels. Yet when we come to think of leather garments there is an unjustified void in the domestic market.
 
The Exporter point of view for the entire story summarizes as we talk to some of the giants in leather garment and accessories, who report a lack in market demand being the reason for the not so flourishing conditions of the industry in India. Ramesh Ramiah, GM, Ultima Italia, S.R.L, Italy (Subsidiary of Bhartia International India Ltd. India), who supplies an approx of 14 percent of leather garments of his total exports says, “Indian market is yet to evolve in fashion leather apparel. Leather jackets in India are still perceived as something to shield oneself from cold. You might be able to sell a few garments in Delhi or Mumbai – but that’s it. Secondly, it is an expensive product and people will not buy something if they really do not feel for it. Global demand for leather garments has increased substantially in the past 2 years due to the fact that all high end fashion labels have included leather apparels in their collection, whereas the domestic consumption of leather garments is around 0.01% – negligible”.
 
Similar feelings are also shared by Anoop Singh Rana, R&D Head, Kabir Leathers, as they carve the high fashion delight in leather garments for international brands like Max Mara, Armani with their luxurious jackets, overcoats, waistcoats etc. Kabir Leathers also retails through a domestic brand Poems in India which houses leather accessories like bags, wallets, belts, etc. but none from their leather garment treasure. He says, “India with restricted winters of two to three months and bounded only to the northern region does not welcome leather garments. The climatic conditions and the expensive nature of leather have not allowed us to forsee any demand for high end fashion leather garments.”
 

Existing domestic market of leather is provided a little teaser of high fashion through brands like Da Milano and Hi Design with a platter of super luxurious range of travel bags, wallets, belts and other accessories. Though they had forayed into the market with a fractional percentage of basic leather jackets but could not create a sustainable demand for it.
 
The twist comes as we speak to Aditi Wasan, who has recently launched her line of exquisitely designed leather jackets at Samsaara. Aditi belongs to the Wasans Group, one of the leading exporters of leather in India. “Today the Indian consumer is ready to spend on a high fashion article and their purchasing choice does not depend on price or limited weather condition of the products exposure. I am testing my grounds in the domestic market and so far the response has been very appreciable. People are also looking for varieties like pencil skirts, waist-coats and pants”, says Aditi. But she also agrees that the demand is absolutely in the niche market, the consumer who is well travelled, is breaking away from the basic browns and blacks, walks in the store to pick up the aubergine and green leather.
 
Henceforth, the leather garments fashion is open to decipher the true nature of demand in India and it is for the Indian designers to have a look at the void in this segment of fashion. So that the next time we set out shopping for leather waistcoats we don’t have to fly but the growing design fraternity takes care of our fashion essentials or rather luxury.

Racy Curves by Mandira Wirk

A fast fashion elude by the Force India Formula One muses designer Mandira Wirk for her latest luscious collection showcased at the most glamorous lounge of the city F. Bar. Sensuous models paraded the ramp in her sexy concoction of sporty details whiles the crème de la crème of Delhi gathered the sizzling evening. And need for speed came alive when the very handsome Adran Sutil, The Force India Speedster, transcended the ramp.
 
The assortment of ensembles for the evening graced an unusual combination of floor sweeping goddess gowns and pleated dresses, jumpsuits, shorts, hot pants flowing in relaxed silhouettes of jerseys and satin. Meticulous details like the non concealed zippers and suspenders satisfied the race edgy quotient of force and speed. The precise design of lines and the straight cut of the dresses resembled the immaculate precision with which a Formula One car maneuvers on the grid. The range evokes the feeling of Sunday afternoon with straw hats and sparkling white comfort dressing. A lot of cutout works has been weaved in the designs and smart overlapping of fabric takes place at the hem line. A very shadowy print with paint brush effect strokes the white line that has predominately one shoulder and off shoulder dresses.  
 
The colours applaud the basic purity of the look and span from ivory, plum berry, rocco red, fusion coral to salmon pink, black and tyrian purple. The ultra feminine but concrete, impeccable and contemporary allure synonymous of the Mandira Wirk label surfaces in the collection.

The showcase of the glitzy collection designed exclusively for the evening, was attended by Dilip and Devi Cherian, Ramneek Paintal, Payal Kapoor, Shalu Jindal and Big Boss heart throbs- Pravesh Rana and Claudia Ciesla, singing sensation Shibani Kashyap among others.

Salaam Mademoiselle

Elaborate yet understated. Flamboyant yet finessed. Spring 2010 Offering by Archana Kochar is a visual fantasy born out of rococo murals. The collection entitled Salaam Mademoiselle is a lyrical presentation of bygone French opulence and rich Indian heritage.

 Her collection spell sheer uber chic couture creation crafted with perfection and precision. She has luxuriously drawn inspiration from the 18th century Indian regalia, victorian costume and architecture to ancient heirlooms and heritages of the bygone period. The pastel oriented collection is whipped out of softest creams and laguna green.

Embellished lavishly with 3D embroideries bordering digital paintings of romantic cupids. The silhouette pays homage to modern Indianized garments which has soul of our enriched silhouettes with European panache. From indo western salwar suits to gown like lehengas and light net sarees teamed with bejeweled blouses makes this collection a must have for modern day Marie Antoinette from Varanasi to Venice.

Couturier Archana Kochhar has been showcasing her creation on Indian as well as International runways for the last decade and has to her lineage a bouquet of 3 stores in fashion Mecca Mumbai. Due to the high acclaim she has received, Archana was invited by Galleries L’fayette Paris to present her collection with international design houses like Kenzo, Christian Lacriox, Ungaro and Nina Ricci in March 2008.

Karl, a Fire Escape, and of course Some Fur

Karl Lagerfeld was spotted on the streets of downtown Manhattan, Soho and the Lower East Side to be exact, to shoot current muse Freja Beha Erichsen and Abbey Lee Kershaw for the F/W 2010 Chanel campaign. The pair replaces supermodel Claudia Schiffer, who is the current face of Chanel’s collection. The designer shot mostly from a crane lift while the duo posed on the fire escape of a brownstone building sporting looks from the fall’s faux-fur-lined, arctic themed collection. André Leon Talley confirmed on his Twitter page that Lagerfeld is in New York to shoot both the fall 2010 Chanel and Fendi campaigns.