Indian fashion going nowhere: Tahiliani

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="77.5%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=197483&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=81&width=81&photoID=197483" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge picture</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">NEW DELHI: Tarun Tahiliani is working overtime supervising the backdrop and clothes for his show in Milan on Sunday.He showed at the Italian fashion capital last year also, but he was not part of the Fashion Week. This time he is, and is doing a solo show.<br /><br />An Indian designer at an international event became stale news some years ago. J J Valaya, Rohit Bal and Ritu Beri have done it at the Paris Fashion Week. Others have held exhibitions and trunk shows in London and New York. Most came back saying the fashion capitals are in awe of Indian fashion. <br /><br />Tarun Tahiliani came back awed by the professionalism abroad. “The lesson we learnt is there extremely organised methods to these trades. Otherwise, there is no point in being there.�<br /><br />Professionalism is alright, but surely, there is something called talent also? This poser normally evokes the standard -– the Guccis and the Armanis have been there for ages –- response. “Give us time and we will be there� is the collective mantra for Indian fashion. <br /><br />So we asked Tahiliani about the Japanese design greats -- Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo -- the trio which came in late but put Japan on the international fashion map.<br /><br />“They worked for a far more affluent population. And there is nothing Japanese about their style, it works very well for the West,� Tahiliani explains, adding Indian sense of colour and styling is completely different from that of the west. “Here you do a four-inch long slit and people scream.�<br /><br />That’s why you see a lot of sheers and open plackets in the Tarun Tahiliani collection for Milan. And yes, his last year’s jewelled tees are there too. “People just loved them, but the stores were not ready to sell them for 500 euros a piece, since I am not a brand yet,� he says. <br /><br />So, is Indian fashion creating a buzz abroad? “No.� Period. At least, he is upfront. </div> </div>