Some relief

Sun, Jul 20 12:45 AM

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is back on track. I was kind of relieved when I heard that Sunil Sethi has been elected the new President of the Council.

Finally, better sense prevailed, I thought. I used the word 'finally' because I always wished to have Sunil's active involvement with the Council.

Unfortunately, much to my dismay, I heard that a few members were against his active involvement in the past. If you ask me why, I have no answer except that this was sheer stupidity.

Now that better sense has prevailed among the FDCI members, Sunil is the ranger who has the ability to fire salvos to those who dare to bring the Council down. I have known Sunil for over a decade.

He is a man driven by a passion for fashion. I know that some of the biggest names in the design industry got their biggest orders in some of the prestigious stores abroad because of Sunil Sethi.

He is also selfless. He helped designers even when he knew that there would be no returns for him in the deal.

I think it is this nature which is going to benefit FDCI immensely. For fashion week, which is essentially a trade event, the new president with his impeccable contacts with fashion stores in Europe and the US can be of great help.

I remember meeting Vittorio Radice, the then CEO of Selfridges (now CEO of la Rinascente, Milan's most important department store) through Sunil many years ago. Vittorio held Sunil in high esteem.

A few months later, Selfridges held a Bollywood theme event, thanks to Sunil's efforts, where many of our designers had a chance to showcase and sell their creations. It was one of the most successful events that Selfridges had ever held.

Then there are some designers who had a chance to develop carpets for The Conran Shop in London, and sold those in huge numbers, thanks to Sunil. There are several other efforts by him as well.

Such are Sunil's contacts with the stalwarts of the fashion retail world that can percolate down to our fashion designers through FDCI. In order to take the industry forward, having a vision is crucial. Sunil Sethi has the vision.

Aiding him in his endeavour will be his level-headed way of thinking, non-partisan approach with designers, easy demeanour and the razor-sharp commercial sense. After having represented many of the prestigious fashion stores worldwide at fashion weeks in the past few seasons, Sunil will surely know what will work and what will not.

And that brings me some relief. Hopefully we won't have the circus that we often end up seeing unwittingly on the runway anymore.

I only hope that some of the member designers, who are by now experts in finding faults with people who do their jobs well, won't do the same with the new president. Losing a man like Sunil Sethi will be like cutting your nose to spite your face.

I hope better sense prevails there, too.

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