The first FDCI x LFW phygital fashion week to begin today

A landmark collaboration of two leading fashion entities
The collaboration between the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) to host their first phygital fashion week together is being considered a landmark event by the fashion fraternity. The first-ever FDCI x LFW fashion week will begin today with an opening show by designer Anamika Khanna.The fashion week, which will continue till March 21, has been one of the most awaited events of this year for many reasons. First, it might be the kickstarter for many businesses after a period of a lull due to the pandemic. Second, it is the beginning of concentrated efforts by the industry to work towards the common goal of strengthening digital presence.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI, says, “Earlier, many people had pointed out that the fashion industry was suffering from what they termed as ‘fashion fatigue’ with too many fashion weeks and events. So, this is an effort to shift attention from fashion fatigue to fashion focus, with two prominent and renowned fashion bodies coming together and putting together joint efforts to promote fashion during the pandemic.

Last year, the pandemic made us realise that there are no physical boundaries to fashion and it is more logical and sustainable in times like these to bring our resources together to put up one grand show with some of the best-known designers from the Indian fashion industry showcasing their collections. Fortunately for me, the meetings with Ashwath Swaminathan, Head of Innovations, Lakmé, and Jaspreet Chandok were very amiable with both parties agreeing that fashion focus is the need of the hour. It just took us a couple of meetings to arrive at a decision to do a collaborative fashion week.”

He adds that the idea of the collaborative fashion week was perceived as a positive step by the board of directors at FDCI and some veteran designers from the fraternity. “When I went to my board of directors and designers, who are known to be the pillars of fashion fraternity, they unanimously agreed that this will be the best decision in the interest of the industry and that to me was a green signal,” says Sethi.
Names like Suneet Varma, Masaba, Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra and Payal Pratap will be showing their collections in the fashion week. Each of the virtual showcases has been created using state-of-the-art technology during an extensively designed and carefully planned on-ground shoot in Delhi led by FDCI and some shows have been conceptualised and shot in Mumbai.

Talking about her show, designer Anamika Khanna says, “It’s an honour to be doing the opening show for FDCI x LFW’s joint fashion week. The past year has been a challenging one, to say the least, and I am glad that to have the opportunity to use this platform to showcase my work, and the incredible artists I work with. My collection is a collaboration of art and textile and will be a homage to the fact that what is created will one day perish. What is left behind is legacy, and what matters most is what you do with it.”