Break away

Fri, Jul 18 01:05 AM

Sumeet Nair is done with lying low. The former executive director of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) has decided on his plan of action - a Couture Week in August, followed by a full-fledged pr and #234;t-a-porter Fashion Week in October.

The October Fashion Week will clash with FDCI's Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), reveals a source. The WIFW dates are October 15 to 19 and those of the new Fashion Week are October 14 to 18; Couture Week will run from August 22 to 27.

With the two new fashion weeks, Nair will cover both Delhi and Mumbai. The new pret week will take place at the Emporio Mall in Vasant Kunj, and Couture Week will be held in Mumbai.

While there's no official news on the organisational hierarchy of the new fashion body yet, Nair will only be a consultant for both events, says the source. The organisers have roped in a seven-member jury comprising industry experts, fashion editors, stylists, buyers and models to decide on the 30 participants who will participate in the new fashion week.

The week will also focus on accessory designers, with as many as 15 in the running. The news comes a day after FDCI's press conference where Sunil Sethi was named president.

In his briefing, Sethi declared, "the day was a very good example of showing solidarity" as it saw a turnout of fashion heavyweights including Manish Arora, Ranna Gill, Rina Dhaka, JJ Valaya and Suneet Varma. However designers like Ashish Soni, Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal and Rocky S were conspicuous by their absence.

They have reportedly pledged their allegiance to Nair's fashion week. When contacted, Bal said: "I will be part of the Couture Week but haven't made up my mind on the fashion week.

I would love to participate in both (FDCI and Sumeet's initiative) but with the dates overlapping, most likely I'll go for Sumeet's.".

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