United we stand: India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week come together

The Rainbow show featured as part of the finale at FDCI’s India Fashion Week in October 2018

Since March 2020, the traditional format of India's twin fashion weeks - the India Fashion Week in New Delhi and Mumbai's Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) - have collectively seen more changes than in an entire decade. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the physical shows were cancelled and moved completely to digital. But, Indian fashion is not done with its whippy nature to excite and inspire. "This is so big that it could be perceived as controversial!" says Sunil Sethi, chairman at Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex body of fashion design in India.

The Winter/Festive 2019 edition of Lakme Fashion Week held in Mumbai

Indeed, it is big news. After a controversial divide that lasted a decade-and-a-half, the two titans of the industry are coming together for a unified season of Lakme Fashion Week to be held virtually between March 16 and March 21. "[There is] No sense of competition anymore. The world is talking about collaborations, so why not us? Designers don't have to take sides now; here is a common platform," says Sethi. He took over the reigns at FDCI in 2007, a year after the two fashion weeks parted ways.

The partnership is just the shot of romance and optimism the industry needs to recover amid bleak global recession that has brought mass layoffs and plunging sales. Jaspreet Chandok, head of lifestyle businesses at RISE Worldwide (formerly IMG Reliance), says the alliance was inevitable. "However, though the pandemic sped things up. It will provide stability to designers after a turbulent year, and help the industry get back on its feet," hopes Chandok.

Sunil Sethi, chairman, FDCI

"JC [Jaspreet Chandok], frankly, played an important role in making it happen," Sethi points out. "It [the alliance] naturally took time with three important stakeholders involved; Hindustan Unilever Ltd of Lakme, RISE and FDCI." Sethi is confident that by joining forces, FDCI will benefit from LFW's corporate expertise. "We are a small creative team. We don't have the marketing knowhow that LFW does."

Most of the shows will be digital, with an attempt to host at least a few shows on-ground in Mumbai. But, its status remains pending given the uncertain pandemic cases. The two coveted talent discovery assets; LFW's Gen Next and FDCI's Get Noticed maintain their authority in the calendar. In terms of buyers programme, it will be held virtually, with FDCI hosting its Stockroom and LFW Showroom, respectively. Interested designers can choose and be a part of either after paying a nominal fee. "The advantage of a combined event is it saves time and resources for its organisers as well as media, buyers and fashion followers. Instead of following two digital events, now you can just one," reasons Sethi.

Jaspreet Chandok, head of lifestyle businesses, RISE Worldwide

The unified LFW will, as usual, host a sponsored opening show and the Lakme Absolute grand finale. "The selection of designers showcasing at the opening show is an amalgamation of joint inputs. The Lakme finale stays," says Chandok. He believes that the digital set-up will allow a first hand opportunity for its organisers, sponsors and its designers to settle into things.

But all good news always follows a caveat. For now, the event organisers confirm the news of alliance is for one digital season only. "Let's just say the era of collaborations has begun. Whether we will continue next season is perhaps a conversation to have post this edition," says Chandok.

"Who knows whether this courtship will last? We will know if the relationship will go forward after this season. This has come after 15 years of divide, and is a historic moment for Indian fashion," says Sethi.