An exclusive Indian Fashion Show presented in Jakarta on March 14 during the Asia Global Sourcing Textile Conference and exhibition (AGA2002) was organized by Rantai Expo International at the Jakarta Convention Centre. Some of India’s top designers have sent their creations and displaying these creations were the India’s top models that are not only known for their beauty but as a complete woman. The top growing list of reputed fashion designers in India like Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar, Abraham and Thakore who came to Jakarta for the exhibition and fashion show, together with top designers like Sangeeta Chopra, Rocky S, Manish Malhotra, Shaina N.C. Khrisna Mehra, Shivani Tijori, Anita Dongre. Lascelles Symons, Salim and compere by Hugo D’souza.Gracing the catwalk at the mezzanine floor of the convention centre, were Indian beauties like model Lara Duta, who won the Miss Universe Crown of the new millennium for India in 2000. Neha Dhupia, model and current Miss India, Swetha Menon a Model, Film, Actress and former Miss Asia Pasific, Deepanita Sharma Model and Film Actress, Aditi govitrikar a Model and Mrs. World. Model Alesia Raut and Tanya Sharma and male models, Tarun Raghavan, Shayan Munshi also took to the stage. In the last six years international beauty crowns came six times to India. The succes of India women in such high-profile beauty pageants, amidst tough competition from other contestants from different parts of the world, points to the growing confidence and self-esteem in the Indian women. In Indian culture, the body is endowed with various meanings and is reflected in its rich sculptural tradition where decorations and bodily poses as well as hand and leg position is perfected to convey specific messages. India dressing styles of costumes and accessories worn usually depict simplicity and opulence and the choice of materials worn is based on the person’s status, wealth, and religious orientation. Over the centuries, Indian costumes like the silk saris, brightly mirrored cholis, colourful lehangas and the traditional salwar-kameez have fascinated many people especially in the western world. The rich tradition of Indian embroidery has also been use by fashion designers from other countries. India took much pride in the works of Zardozi, Dabka, brocades, Pashmina, Jamawar and bandhni. The first fashion show was held only in 1958 when Jeannie Naoroji took credit for initiating the trend of fashion shows in India and for giving a degree of professionalism to such shows. It was this beginning that spurred the ever-growing consciousness among the Indian men and women towards the type styles and designs of the dresses that they wear. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (IIFT), and other fashion academies have been established where the students are taught to translate their creativity into dresses and fabric designs. In the past one decade, the Indian fashion industry has moved from the embryonic stage to a blossoming takeoff. Fashion designers have contributed substantially to the spread of fashion as a driving force, both among Indian consumers and select segments of Western and Asian markets. India can now boast of dozens of leading fashion designers, which can match any European fashion designers in their concepts, styles, and designs. Today the textiles and fashion designers from India have indeed constructed a lasting impression on the world market for export houses targeting the US and European markets apart from Asia. Western culture has been developing like partner with the distinctive fashion style that is India. Along with India music and spirituality, Indian fashion is having a huge impact on the mainstream identities of western style and culture. Indians express themselves a great deal through their clothing; their quest for perfection plays a role in their choices of beautifully coloured, dramatic, and flowing garments with sumptuous, vibrant colours woven into the intricate and ornate designs. Asia’s sourcing Global 2002, showcased the best of Indian textile industry in terms of quality, styles, richness of colours, weaves, textures and so on. The participants presented a wide variety of yarns, and fabrics while displaying an enhanced range of products and exquisite styling trends in the textiles industry. The focus of the exhibition is on participants from the business sectors, international visitors and buying agents.Published in Roving Insight Magazine
Source : Roving Insight E Journal The One Stop Journal since 1996 By Loreen Neville April 2002