Indian Fashion Weeks (and too many weeks) Couture 2010

Love the very Bollywood style set, with exception of the glaring signage on the back set wall, dress has potential...

Lovely backing

Model Lisa Hayden (on of India's top models) on runway for Manav Gangwani's show

I met with IMG India, whom runs the Mumbai Fashion week, which perhaps is the foremost show in India at the moment. I was told that India has about 25+ fashion shows (most 1st and 2nd tier cities are hosting them) along with mens and couture every year. I am a huge supporter of Indian designers and the growth of the industry world-wide. Yet, similar to many elements in India that are frustrating (government and lack of infrastructure--both utterly time consuming), the fashion industries lack of strategy is frustrating. First off, there should be only 1 fashion week, held 2x/year (and not during the NYC/Paris/Milan junket) highlighting the best of the best, rather than allowing anyone enter whom has the funds. During each show week, all designers share the same stylist, hair & makeup and models, which doesn’t allow for much ingenuity. Hair, makeup and styling comes across too extreme, the west only pays attention the poor styling rather than the intricacy of the clothing. Case in point, the latest couture shows.

If India really wants the west to notice its designs, and we do recognize your talent (many major western designers are getting their beading and embroidery work done here), they have to play the game. National and regional identity is one thing, but overwhelming the west with too many mediocre designers won’t help. There are some fantastic houses here, more which I will cover in my blog. A unified show week, will enable buyers to see the best of the best, including individual clients whom may want something made custom, is the way India must proceed. A few years ago, I met with the embroidery designers whom did all the costumes for the movie Elizabeth in Bangalore (designers I will review), their work is mind-blowing and leads me to think, what unique wedding gowns they could make for the west.

The fashion talent has arrived in India, yet the execution and strategy is lacking. Seems to be a national problem. Sorry mother India. I can love you and be critical of you as well.

Hong Kong's Stylish Domestic Workers

Per my earlier post, think there is a larger story here....

Mainland Shoppers in HK

Louis Vuitton, where there is always a line to enter on the weekends

Typical Saturday afternoon in Chanel

Early on I learned that there is a Chinese divide, those whom are from Hong Kong and those from the Mainland. Those in HK think less of the mainlanders, assuming they are unsophisticated, speak loudly and have poor manners. It is not for me to judge, but I do think I understand a bit, for us New Yorkers view those from NJ in the same manner. And similar to those in NJ spending 100s of dollars in NYC, the mainlanders spend thousands and millions individually in Hong Kong. For many reasons (lack of sales tax, HK being the closest proximity to the "western" shopping market, security that they are purchasing "real" goods, not knock off, and the need for many wealthy Chinese to unload cash), the mainlanders are the ones supporting all of these luxury stores. They come in huge tour groups and most recently as individuals (before 2003, they were only allowed in groups or for business) easily spending thousands of dollars. The average spend for overnight is about $600 specifically for shopping. And rather than spend (I will get to this issue later in my blog) on expensive hotels and restaurants, their main purpose is to shop for luxury goods. Approximately 70% of all tourism is from the Chinese shopper. For those more interested, in the divide between the Hong Kong citizens and the mainlanders, check the link below. It details a latest uproar, around HK based tour guides basically bullying mainlanders into buying products. The attitude seems to be, if you invade our island, you better buy and buy a lot to support our economy....

WSJ Article