’As far as I know, there is only one fashion week in Delhi’

Sumeet Nair on discontinuing DFW and joining hands with the Govt-backed FDPC

Much news space was dedicated to the split in the Delhi fashion circuit when Sumeet Nair, the then Executive Director of Fashion Design Council of India, was accused of nepotism and misappropriation of funds and of restricting the freedom of a democratic body by some designers. He broke away to conceptualise the Delhi Fashion Week under Fashion Foundation of India. Now, just two seasons later, Nair has decided to discontinue this fashion week and has joined hands with the government-backed Fashion and Design Promotion Council to take on as the Managing Director of Prodigy Fashion, which will organise a new fashion week in Delhi for the FDPC.

Speaking about his new role, Nair says, "I am not directly involved with the FDPC. My role will be in organising the event. I didn't want a role in FDPC because that would have meant a conflict of interest if I was also heading a commercial venture."

On why he decided to join hands with the FDPC, he says, "Raghavendra Rathore wanted me to meet Vijay Singh of the FDPC. When I met Singh, I realised that his philosophies matched mine, which were external jury, no individual or group of designers calling the shot. And I could carry forward what I wanted to do with the event."

When asked if the response he got for DFW wasn't good enough, he says that's not true. "We had a good designer list and it brought good business to the designers associated with my body."

On the bad blood that he and Sunil Sethi share, he says he is ready to work as one entity. "I don't want to comment on the FDCI or what they plan to do. As far as I know, just one fashion week is happening." When prodded further on what Sethi's role will be if he agrees to be a part of the united fashion week, he says, "I don't know what Sethi's role will be. I will be working with Vijay Singh and will be answerable to him. I guess, as things go forward, it will get clearer. To tell you the truth, I just want to get on with the event."

Meanwhile, when FDCI's Sethi was contacted, he said he was at lunch and would speak later, couldn't be reached after.

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