Delhi Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2009: March 19 - 23 2009

Unlike last year, when WIFW attracted a whopping 160 buyers, the presence of both domestic and international buyers this time around is predicted to be lower.

‘I do not want to lie about the fact: this time there will be fewer buyers compared to last time. But we are hopeful that our designers will lure all of them with their talent, skills and creativity,’ FDCI president Sunil Sethi told IANS.

Compared to last year’s spring-summer edition when it had 10 commercial partners and 79 designers, WIFW has managed to attract three new partners and established designers like Anamika Khanna, Raghavendra Rathore, Rocky S, Manish Malhotra, Priyadarshani Rao, Puja Nayyar and many more.

Both the events will also have additional Main Show Areas (MSAs).

While WIFW will have a third MSA at the pool side, DFW will have a second one inside the Emporio mall for select audiences.

‘The third ramp is named the ‘Talent Pool’ where young designers will each showcase 10 garments. We’ve created a special ramp over the pool for this,’ Sethi explained.

According to DFW head Sumeet Nair, the second MSA will be for ‘Salon Shows’.

‘Some designers expressed the desire to showcase an edited version comprising 20-30 garments of their pret (ready-to-wear) collection to only buyers and editors and therefore we decided to do salon shows. These shows will be in keeping with the international format of the event,’ Nair explained.

A normal fashion show can include up to 80 garments.

As in the past, the Bollywood quotient is expected to be high at both the events, with WIFW keeping its cards close to its chest, saying only that the celebrity factor could be evident at the shows of Mumbai-based designers Rocky S, Manish Malhotra and Shane and Falguni Peacock.

Though Sethi declined to reveal names, he said: ‘Fashion and glamour go hand in hand; so just wait and watch’.

AS for DFW, there is talk of Bollywood beauties Deepika Padukone, Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif sashaying down the ramp for designer Tarun Tahiliani.

This year, flower retail chain Ferns’N’Petals has been roped in as the decor and infrastructure partner for DFW.

As for WIFW, other than the title sponsor Wills Lifestyle, the other brands associated with the event this time around as associated sponsors are Fiama Di Wills, Hewlett Packard, Chivas, Audi, Elle, NDTV Good Times, Big FM, Intercontinental Eros, Yahoo, Kingfisher, Power Plate and FedEx.