Textual content by Ranjabati Das, with inputs from Akanksha Pandey and Sarah Rajkotwala. Images by Naomi Shah and Asad Sheikh.
The discourse across the reordering of priorities in addition to long-standing energy dynamics inside the trade — introduced on by rising shopper consciousness and the democratisation of trend by way of digitalisation and social media, and geared in direction of making trend extra sustainable and inclusive — has already taken centre stage lately. And, as anticipated, the return of the bodily format of FDCI x Lakmé Vogue Week in March 2022, after two years of warning exhibited by way of phygital variations in a post-pandemic world, gave contemporary impetus to the dialog across the relevance of trend weeks, one of many many contentious sides of an trade in want of dire change.
In an effort to create a roadmap for the longer term, Verve brings to you a motley assortment of opinions to dissect the legitimacy of the pleasure of place trend weeks have come to take pleasure in over time and the world over regardless of the dissonance created by an outdated mannequin that leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to entry and monetary yields. Pointing in direction of a spate of modifications deemed very important to make trend weeks extra present, experiential and interpersonal, these reiterate the necessity to problem the established order and reclaim a extra genuine face of trend, most seen maybe in trend week’s potential to encourage and provide an area for celebration, drive innovation, mould expertise, make statements and tackle collective cultural histories.
On the newest version of the occasion, members of the style fraternity weigh in on the professionals and cons, the return to the concept of the style present as spectacle powered by celebrities and influencers, and the significance of reinvention:
Rajesh Pratap Singh
“It offers us a timetable, a singular platform for designers and their communication. A calendar for the trade. And it makes the expertise handy for consumers.”
-Rajesh Pratap Singh of his eponymous label.
Abraham & Thakore
“Vogue showcases serve completely different functions to completely different stakeholders. Firstly, trend reveals are a terrific platform for us designers to creatively highlight our distinctive values to merchandisers, consumers and trend trade professionals. Secondly, we get to talk to the media immediately in addition to by way of our showcase, which provides us a voice. Thirdly, on this age of social media, we additionally get to talk on to the shoppers, who can take part remotely.”
-David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore of Abraham & Thakore.
Eka
“In the meanwhile, there aren’t many consumers. Vogue week is extra of a media train these days. Due to the quantity of stimulation we obtain on social media when it comes to the inflow of labels and trend imagery, the inventive trade has been pushed to a nook. Maybe we have to reinvent the mannequin of trend weeks. As a lot as I take pleasure in presenting on the runway, it doesn’t all the time translate into enterprise.”
-Rina Singh of Eka.
Pankaj & Nidhi
“Vogue reveals ought to experiment and take dangers. They must encourage upcoming designers and never simply goal the influencer market. Designers get to inform their tales, reaching inventive satisfaction. However, by some means, glamour has taken up a big area, the showstoppers are prepared earlier than the clothes.”
-Mohit Ahuja, influencer.
Satya Paul
“Vogue week was a refreshing expertise after so lengthy. After the gloom of the pandemic, all people wanted a trigger for celebration, and trend week solidified the truth that trend just isn’t useless. It proved the relevance of designers, outdated and new.”
-Ankith ES, stylist.
Studio Medium
“The interplay and engagement fee on social media is greater throughout these occasions and it helps your web page attain new audiences. They result in a whole lot of new enquiries, a few of which do turn into fruitful!”
-Riddhi Jain of Studio Medium.