Backbiting agenda

Sat, May 3 01:30 AM

Several years ago when I started writing on fashion, I was pretty confused (read amused) to see our fashion designers smirking behind one another's back and hugging and kissing when they come face to face. I just couldn't quite figure this one out since for me a bete noir is always a bete noir from any angle! Anyway, in the fashion industry at that time there were just a handful who didn't indulge in these 'interesting' activities.

So, when the news of the formation of a fashion design council came, I was probably more delighted than the designers themselves. At least this kind of backbiting and front hugging would not happen and, along side, good things were in store for the industry, I thought.

And, it happened exactly how I had thought. When all the fashion designers came under the same umbrella of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), all discordant murmurs became non-existent.

The sense of belonging that they were all from the same cadre made the industry flourish to a great extent. FDCI for the first time introduced the concept of a fashion week in the country.

This, in turn, paved the way for fashion in India being looked upon as a serious business and fashion events as not just forums for society bimbettes and business honchos to exchange pleasantries. The business of fashion took off as the runway shows were presented in front of the media and buyers and some of our fashion designers even participated in coveted fashion weeks in London, Paris, Milan and New York.

And just as I was beginning to think that FDCI was well on course in the business of fashion, the most unwanted thing - the business of politics - invaded its boardroom. Now that's bad news for our fashion industry.

Keeping the fallout between the FDCI and Lakme aside, there also seems to be other issues plaguing the FDCI these days. The much publicised 'Fashion Hub' project proposed by the FDCI and also supported extensively by Delhi's Urban Development Minister Ajay Maken, even now hangs in fire because of divided opinions on its feasibility among some of FDCI's own board members.

There is an allegation from FDCI's members that favouritism was shown while choosing participants for the proposed Couture Week to be held later this year in Mumbai. Apparently, a few individuals did the selection, not in keeping with the pre-set norms of FDCI. Then comes the latest.

It seems that the selection of designers for the coveted Tranoi fair in Paris too was done by the FDCI without even intimating all its member designers and not giving them a chance to be part of the selection procedure. If rumours are to be believed, Armand Hadida, the founder and owner of L'Eclaireur and Tranoi was given a list of preferred fashion designers by a few powerful board members without the approval of the Board along with subsidies from the ministry.

The complaints making rounds are that besides being chosen, they are also being assisted with funds even though some of them have already been taking part in Tranoi Fair on their own before. The practice, as far as I know, is that designers from around the world attend at their own expense, as they do for rest of the trade-related activities like Premier Vision, Coterie, etc.

Now allegations, counter-allegations and explanations through emails are making their rounds on this matter among members and FDCI's director general. It's a shame that a body that was formed and ran successfully for many years has come down to a level where its own members are questioning its very existence.

FDCI's proceedings are done in-camera, so at the moment I do not know where things are going wrong. All I can say is that if what I hear is true, it might well prove to be curtains for India's organised fashion industry.

With bitching and backbiting back on the agenda, who knows whether designing won't sink lower on our fashion designers' list of priorities? Let's hope better sense prevails!.

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