Pune fashion week takes a cue from its big brothers, decides to adopt international concept of holding separate events for Spring-Summer, winter collections

Like Delhi, Mumbai, PWF twice a year

Pune fashion week takes a cue from its big brothers, decides to adopt international concept of holding separate events for Spring-Summer, winteru00a0 collections

The city, already a hub of education and IT, will soon become a fashion destination. As the second edition of the Pune Fashion Week (PFW) came to an end, bigger plans for the next year were made ufffd the fashion extravaganza will now follow Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai's example and host two fashion weeks a year.

"There will two shows henceforth ufffd Spring-Summer in February-March and Festive Winter in November," said Badal Saboo, MD, PFW. "That's the concept international fashion weeks have and we will follow it."

The team from PFW will soon sit together and set out areas they need to work on. Parameters need to be drawn, contacts worked on and much, much more.

So does making the event a twice-a-year affair mean more city designers get to showcase their stuff on the ramp? It does, says Saboo.

"Yes, of course. We will have more of city designers who are talented and need a platform. But there are certain parameters on which they will be chosen, including experience, work and label," said Saboo. "To create 60 to 65 garments requires talent."

That's not all. The team is also focusing on Gen Next shows where new designers will be able to showcase their collection. The idea behind working on these initiatives is to make the city a fashion destination and also give opportunities to budding designers.

"It would be great to have young talent get a chance to rub shoulders with designers like Vikram Phadnis, Nivedita Saboo or Rocky S," said Saboo. "It's not only for designers, but also hair and make-up artists. It works for all."

Though the fashion week has not been able to generate too much business this year, the team is confident it will do so with their plans for the next fashion PFW.

Designers like Rocky S and Deepak Shah say the city has a niche market as of now.

"The market is emerging as people have started using designing clothes," said Rocky S. "There is still a lot of scope to grow, but the important thing is it is growing."

Shah added that the city was going in the right direction and given time it would make it.

"The city is growing in terms of fashion. It will take some time," said Shah.

The good news from Saboo is that the PFW is getting international buyers from next year so that designers' work gets noticed internationally.

"That's our big plan and we have already started working on it," said Saboo.