Lakme Fashion Week is to India what New York Fashion Week is to the USA–and the rest of the world, really. Yes, of course, there is the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, which is also a fashion week to contend with. However, since 2005 when IMG [a global leader in fashion weeks and events production] joined forces with Lakme [India’s leading cosmetic brand] to produce Lakme Fashion Week, it has been nothing short of aggressive marketing, branding, re-branding, cross-promotions and a “whole lotta” of money spent to make Lakme Fashion Week a force to be reckoned with, locally and internationally.
Naomi Campbell’s ‘Mai Mumbai’ Fashion for Relief Charity Show at Lakme Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009, definitely put Lakme Fashion Week in the center of the world’s fashion map as well as raised the stock value of Ms. Campbell, as if she needs more help in that area?
On the international front the world’s top designers like Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Dennis Basso, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Louis Vuitton, Mathew Williamson, Naeem Khan, Nanette Lepore, Oscar de la Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Ungaro, Vera Wang, Versace, Valetin Yudashkin, YSL and Zac Posen were participants.
By the way, what is wrong with this picture? The producers couldn’t see fit to have two or three spots for Africa’s top fashion designers? Bad, bad, bad! The triple threat of an Indian, African and Western fashion combo would most likely create an effect that is in one word, “out of this world.”
Nevertheless . . . wearing the designs of the aforementioned esteemed designers were India’s finest Bollywood stars which included the devilishly handsome and super hot Kunal Kapoor, the equally hot Mallaika Arora, Deepika Pudukone, Farhan Akhtar and Rahul Bose. The lineup of goddesses and gods incomplete without India’s very own supermodel Ujjwala Raut, and the country’s first supermodel Madhu Sapre.
While the star power gathered under one roof was enough to cause a Myocardial Infarction for the many fashionistas and global fashion-forward present, the entrance of Naomi Campbell on the runway, with all of her “supermodel swagger” was all that was needed to really get the world’s press talking. Beyond the many outfits Naomi Campbell wore, she stole the spotlight in a Sabyasachi Mukherjee sleeveless gold embroidered black choli, an undergarment [skirt] and a see through black sari draped over her left shoulder. The lining of the sari was beautifully embroidered with gold. The event ended with a generous donation from hotelier Vikram Chatwal.
Looks from the runway are being auctioned on eBay. To see and purchase some of the designs for 26/11 visit eBay. All proceeds will be donated to “Citizens for Justice and Peace.”
Yet another of India’s sexy men alive, Bollywood star Rahul Khanna
[L-R] Bollywood’s hottie Arjun Rampal struts the runway with his sexy wife Mehr Rampal aka Mehr Jesia, India’s International Supermodel of the early ’90s.
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
