July 2011 - Page 6 of 17

Expo Riva Schuh, Italy in partnership with IEPL (Italian Exposition Private Limited) brings “EXPO RIVA SCHUH FAIR” to India for the first time at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The fair will purely be a B2B platform that sets the tone for global trends in footwear and leather design. “Expo Riva Schuh India” will present the finished products of various commercial sectors, from footwear, bags, belts, purses and wallets, gloves and other accessories in leather.

The fair follows an innovative format that will showcase products by over 200 Indian and International exhibitors from Italy, Spain, France, UK, China, Thailand and couple of other countries. Italy will be represented by as many as 40 top brands like Giovanni Fabiani, Loriblu, Manas, Massimo Santini, Fabi and Fratesi.

"What Expo Riva Schuh is preparing is much more than just a trade fair, reveals Giovanni Laezza, Director of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi. It will also be the perfect opportunity for learning about the Indian distribution system and potential commercial partners. Penetrating a market with such far-reaching potential is confirmation for the Expo Riva Schuh team of its professionalism and experience as well as an opportunity for demonstrating the excellence of Italian fairs,” he further added.

Expo Riva has been the most important and effective trade fair in Europe for the leather & footwear sector. Steered by the trade consultancy backed by Roney Simon, exhibitors at Expo Riva Schuh India will not only find a Fair but also a partner that will provide them with all kind of assistance with Indian Market starting from Customs Rules, Indian Regulations to Market analysis.

Global Desi, an Indo-western fusion wear high street brand by Anita Dongre, roped in Bollywood’s new youth icon, Shraddha Kapoor as the new face of the brand.

The latest shoot as designed on the lines of “Global Style, Indian Threads”, features the collection of tops, tunics and kurtis, impeccably blends cuts, color, embellishments and the vibrancy of Indian fabrics into stylish and chic silhouettes, which embodies the best of both the worlds.

About Shraddha as the new face of the brand, designer Anita Dongre says, “It’s great to have Shraddha onboard! Every Global Desi likes to dress colour, she likes to dress fun, and Shraddha depicts these values impeccably. We have a lot of exciting stuff lined up this season with her, and you’ll see Global Desi, in an all new avatar”.

Whereas exalted Shraddha puts, “I am delighted to be the face of Global Desi because just as I’m rooted to my culture but at the same time adapt to global trends, Global Desi imbibes the same blend of fun, colorful fusion wear for young Indian women.”

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The Delhi based designer Ankita Chaudhry of SAAJ has the ‘eureka moment’, as this September, she will color the Pret-a-Porter Paris with her debut collection.

One of the leading international fashion rendezvous, Pret a Porter Paris brings together labels, connects buyers, incites collaborations between fashion and artists from all horizons, and welcomes people from more than 45 countries for each edition.

Being one of the few designers who have been selected by the Prêt à Porter panel to debut in Paris this year from India, Ankita will showcase a collection with clean lines and deep attention to intricate details. The collection is for a glamorous, confident, edgy, stylish young girl who believes in herself. The colour palette is a mix with dominant nudes but extensive highlights of the Indian hues of green, hot-pink, reds and yellows. Feminine cuts will dominate the collection that SAAJ is preparing for her first major step into the European Market.

“This is my debut season at ‘Prêt à Porter’ Paris and it’s a prestigious platform to showcase my creativity. I am working on a special collection, keeping in mind the European clientele.” shares the 25-year-old designer.

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Bold African prints and modern designs will come booming down the runway in this never before fashion experience in London. Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) 2011 will showcase over 60 designers from all over the continent of Africa, UK and non-UK based seasoned and emerging fashion designers inspired by Africa on the 5th and 6th August 2011 at the Gibson Hall.

Africa Fashion Week London is a project designed to create a wide exposure and propagation of style, beauty and fashion from an African perspective, in a European environment, thereby creating an atmosphere for cultural exchange—a fusion of western and African cultures, through fashion.

“A global interest in African fashion has been growing, and now we’re bringing the perfect platform to London to celebrate the budding diversity of the fashion industry and show the UK what African designers have to offer,” said Ronke Ademiluyi, CEO Africa Fashion Week London.

The event will:

Feature designers from the whole of Africa
Offer those in the fashion industry a free platform on which to showcase their brands
Act as an opportunity for fashion designers to network among each other
Create a portal for new designers to enter into the market and integrate into the international fashion arena
Highlight the African Textile Industry to a global audience, enhancing development and carving a niche in the global market
Make African textiles visible to the world by creating an interactive platform that will involve the Media, Manufacturers, Designers, Retailers and Consumers.

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Apart from retailing under her label, she has also been Fashion…

M.A.C Cosmetics will be the official makeup and hair sponsor at Delhi Couture Week and will be working backstage with designers including Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, JJ Valaya and Varun Bahl. M.A.C will have a team of top-tier makeup artists headed by Mickey Contractor, Director of Artistry India and Vimi Joshi, SeniorArtist Middle East & India working backstage at 11 shows. Delhi Couture Week will be taking place from the 22nd– 25th of July 2011 at The Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi.

M.A.C (Make-up Art Cosmetics) is present at all major Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan and Paris. M.A.C also sponsors fashion weeks throughout the world including London, Athens, South Africa, and Sydney. The M•A•C PRO Teams work closely with renowned makeup artists and play key roles in creating the makeup looks on the most famous runways in the world.

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Fashion Designer Sunita Shankar ride the crest of Indian heritage and her collections are an ode to the Indian craftsmanship. A 1990 graduate of National institute of Fashion Technology, Sunita Shankar made her first professional foray in 1994 and launched her own label called “Sunita” in 1995.

Sunita’s work is a combination of unique sensibility, especially in tone and texture as well as her commitment to support the craft sector. Her design palette is contemporary while at the same time reflecting traditional skills. It is no surprise that Calvin Klien picked up a number of her stoles during one of his visits to India. She has been designing and developing textiles and apparels for the Japanese market.

Apart from retailing under her label, she has also been Fashion & Textile consultant to the Textile Ministry where she had the opportunity to travel to remote villages of India & develop new designs in Textiles & further develop them into products. Sunita has also been a design consultant to C.C.I.C. for a year where she designed new textiles in Chanderi, Ikats, Tussars, Khadi, Mangalgiri, Barmer Applique Work, Crewel Embroideries, Silk Cotton blend fabrics from West Bengal etc. Her work which was developed for the Ministry has also been displayed at the Smithsonian Museum, Museum of the Far East in Sweden and Takashimaya Silk Museum to name a few. Since 2002 Sunita’s most important aspect of development has been Bandhini from Kutch along with surface treatment and texturization.

Further, she has exhibited her work along with other reputed designers from Japan, Indonesia, in Tokyo and has shown her collections in various parts of the world – Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, London, etc. Her development work from Sikkim of soft furnishings was presented at the Smithsonian Museum.

Ever since, she has been retailing her designs from the premier stores in the country like Ensemble, Ogaan, Aza, Cinnamon, Amethyst, Elahe to name a few. Besides the domestic market Sunita has also retailed her work from Selfridges London and The Conran Shop.

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I AM She 2011 presented the Grand Finale of the prestigious and much coveted beauty pageant in India. The announcement of the winners came amidst a glittering star studded ceremony with excitement levels sky rocketing, to watch the triumphant ones walk away with the crowning glory.

Ready to take the international platforms by storm, the gorgeous winners of I AM She Miss Universe India 2011 – Vasuki Sunkavalli, from Hyderabad; I AM She Miss Globe International India 2011 – Parul Duggal, from Bhopal; and I AM She Miss Asia Pacific World India 2011 – Tanvi Singla, from Mysore .Their excitement and joy at representing India at the three of the most prestigious international

beauty pageants was palpable. The title winner and 1st runner up were also awarded the New York Film Academy and Instituto Marangoni, Milan scholarships, respectively.

Speaking at the press conference, Sushmita Sen stated, “It gives me great pleasure to announce the I AM She, an endeavor close to my heart, is now three times larger. We have added two new franchisees, the Miss Globe International and Miss Asia Pacific World, and are growing as a property from strength to strength. This year, the Wadhawan Lifestyle I AM She 2011 was a stupendous success. I had the privilege of mentoring 20 of India’s finest young women. Intelligent, committed, focused and beautiful, they displayed spirit and enthusiasm that was contagious. As I present the three winners that will represent the country very shortly, I feel immensely proud to say the international crowns coming back to India are closer than we think.”

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Aki Narula est best known for his couture et Bollywood creations. Sourendra Kumar Das meets la young designer who now eyes a foothold in retail.

“Fashion est my passion,” said designer Aki Narula as he launched his newest collection with Puma. La mid-to-premium range priced collection targets all women looking to add a bit of his funky designs to their wardrobe.

Inspired by la rangoli et replete with bright neon colours, la range artfully combines comfort with fashion. La second quarter’s range est inspired by la Japanese art of folding, origami. La fabrics have soft drapes et folds along with neon tacks that highlight la garment. La footwear range comprises bright graphic flip-flops with rangoli motifs, to lace up ballerinas et uber chic wedges.

Aki est also designing SS11, a women range that comprises footwear, apparel et accessories. This collection est all about colour blocking in Aki’s favourite pop art shades and fluorescent hues. He has mixed athletic et street influences with lots of colour. La Indian element runs through bright braided belts that can turn from drawstrings into necklaces or bracelets est a floral mehendi pattern that circles the edge of one la flipflops. “My collection is all about colours, silhouette est functionality with quirky details,” said la young designer.

With a string foothold in la couture world, Aki is also known for his Bollywood designs. Remember la outfits in Bunty aur Babli, Bluff Master, Don, Tashan, Bachna Ae Hasseeno, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Kambakht Ishq and Break ke Baad? Well they all have la signature Aki sense of style to them. Et coming up soon is Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod.

“I would love to design sunglasses et watches. Et if I could choose any brand to collaborate with, it would have to be Topshop,” said Aki. 2011 will see a continued association with la sporting brand. “My second origami inspired collection will come out soon, et there is also la collection for autumn-winter 2011 et spring-summer 2011. La latter will have lot of India in it.”

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Monthly Archives: July 2011

Expo Riva Schuh Fair

Global Style, Indian Threads

Ankita Chaudhry in Paris

AFW debuts in London

Sunita Shankar

Backstage Beauty with Mac

Sunita Shankar

I Am She 2011 Winners

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