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new models for Lakme Fashion Week
 The Fashion Design Council of India has announced the names of 13 new models who will walk the ramp during Lakme India Fashion Week 2003 to be held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai from July 18
–24
This is the first time that FDCI has organised an audition to select models for LIFW. Over 50 female models and 87 male models participated in the audition held at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA recently to vie for a place in the most prestigious fashion event in the country.
The female models who will participate in LIFW for the first time are
Uma Chiplunkar, Kaveri Khullaar, Gauhar Khan, Candice Pinto, Mridula Chandrashekhar, Kavita Kharayat, Shonal Rawat, Piya Trivedi, Sheetal Menon, Deepti Gujral,
and Megha Kawale. The two male models are Haroon Kazi and Acquin Pais.
Vinod Kaul, Executive Director, FDCI said, “In keeping with the FDCI’s mandate of growing the fashion design industry in India, we seek to infuse new talent in the industry. As models are an important part of the industry, this year we have decided to induct new modeling talent at the largest fashion event in the country. Just like Lakme India Fashion Week has been a platform for new designers over the last three years; it should also be a launching pad for upcoming models”.
FDCI Board Member Priyadarshini Rao, who was part of the panel for the auditions, said “We were looking for models who can showcase both Western and Indian wear well. Ramp modeling is very different from other types of modeling. On the catwalk, a model needs to not only look good, but has to have a certain confidence and attitude, and should be able to project the identity of the clothes. So that’s what we were looking for.”
Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director – IMG-TWI South Asia, said, “This is a huge boost for the Indian modeling industry. We had an overwhelming response, which is a reflection of the uniqueness of the event. Internationally, in New York or Milan, there are at least 40-50 new faces during each fashion week. Lakme India Fashion Week is the country’s most high-profile platform for the entire fashion industry, and the exposure that these new models will get will be invaluable.”
The Panelists who selected the new models included well-known designers Rohit Gandhi and Priyadarshini Rao who are part of the FDCI’s Fashion Committee, prominent models Sheetal Mallar and Diandra Soares, and choreographer Lubna Adam.
The largest and most high profile fashion trade event in the country, Lakme India Fashion Week was conceptualized by FDCI and has successfully provided a platform to develop business opportunities for Indian fashion design professionals, and has grown into the most significant annual event for the entire Indian fashion design industry.
FDCI is the proprietor of India Fashion Week with
Lakme as the title sponsor. In 2003, the NCPA Mumbai will be the Official venue, while the
Taj Mahal Hotel will be the Official Hotel.
FDCI has retained IMG to handle all the commercial aspects and management of the event. IMG is the world’s largest sports, lifestyle and entertainment marketing company, which owns and conducts 7th on Sixth (New York Fashion Week) and owns IMG Models, the number one modeling agency in the world.
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