The 13-member team from India has relative newcomers like Atsu Sekhose, Nitin Bal Chauhan and Raakesh Agarvwal, besides stalwarts like Tarun Tahiliani, Ashish Soni, Varun Bahl and Manish Arora. “We had met Hadida at the Paris Fashion Week and he expressed his wish to come down for our Week. He came, had a look around and gave us a list of the guys he wanted at the fair in September,” says Sumeet Nair, executive director, Fashion Design Council of India. Incidentally, some of the senior designers, who are on the FDCI board of directors, have been complaining that Hadida had been given a recommendation list before his visit, which closed the door for other aspirants.
Hadida, who owns the high-end boutique L’Eclaireur, apparently visited the selected designers’ stall, meticulously went over their work and gave them pointers for Paris. “He is a man of few words, but he did tell me that he liked my detailing and was looking for a designer who did clothes that suited the European market, but with an Indian twist,” says Sekhose, 30. Chauhan, who has his platter full with a number of showings at international events this year, says, “He dropped in at my stall after my show and said he liked what he saw, particularly a few items from my autumn-winter 2007 and spring-summer 2008 lines. He gave me his word right there about showing in Tranoi. Later, I got to hear about it from the FDCI as well.” Chauhan will be taking his spring-summer 2009 collection to Paris, comprising a blend of women’s western wear, including summer jackets, dresses and skirts.
Most of the designers will be funding their own shows and the costs are pretty steep. However, the FDCI has tentatively earmarked Rs 25 lakh for the event, including approximately Rs 5 lakh each for three new designers and Rs 10 lakh for ramp decoration. “We want everyone to have a fair chance, which is why we thought it made sense to sponsor the guys who are just starting out,” says designer Bobby Grover, part of the board of directors, FDCI.