International buyers flock India Fashion Week

Indian designers and their dazzling creations are attracting a lot of foreign buyers from across the globe at the on-going India Fashion Week here in New Delhi.

New Delhi, Sep 8 : Indian designers and their dazzling creations are attracting a lot of foreign buyers from across the globe at the on-going India Fashion Week here in New Delhi.

While the designers beam in ecstasy in the splendour of their innovative and distinctive creations, a determination to club fashion with business clearly marks the event.

Buyers are making a beeline at the shows and business is coming from across the globe as India's talent gets international look-in.

"Indian clothes are very famous. But, each fashion week, the prices become higher and higher," said Manal Alduwaisan, a buyer who runs a store in Kuwait.

"The response has been good. We have been getting a lot of enquiries from international buyers, particularly from France, and it has been really good," said Ridhima, a debutante designer.

The buyers mean business, the groundwork for which is being laid at the fashion week.

"I am planning to start a distributorship in future and I am talking about a year from now that I would like to start. So, first the discussions and getting to know each other then hopefully build a strong relationship," said Erica Harp, a buyer from Netherlands.

Though a lucrative market awaits India designers in the west, they need to re-invent and mould themselves to cater to an international clientele.

"What we have noticed is that most Indian designers do very well in the Middle-East. The designers that have started actually looking at Europe and America have made a concerted effort to change their lines to suit those countries," said Tina Tahiliani, Executive Director of Ensemble, a retail store.

Indian fashion designers have often been criticised for not being trendsetters and copy-cats of western motifs to tap into an emerging global demand for high-end Western outfits with an Asian edge.

According to buyers from France, the US, the UK, Indian designers have a long way to go before they establish themselves in the international fashion arena.

"If Indians want to have a share in the western market, they need to think really in this way in western style and bring their own personality, because it's possible for them to be present with a very strong personality," said Arnand Habida, a buyer from Paris.

While many buying houses are still trying to spot designers with serious potential, some of the designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Sabyasachi, Manish Arora, Ashish Soni have already got an impressive international clientele.

Over 80 international buyers from 19 countries and 100 domestic buyers are taking part at the Fashion Week this year, also boasting a participation of 71 designers.Today the fashion design industry is worth 1.8 billion dollars, growing at 20-30 percent in the 35 billion dollars global fashion market.

ANI