This week I attended a glamourous fashion extravaganza at a five star hotel in the city of gargantuan malls, swanky townships and lush, green parks. Oops. Just malls and townships. No parks.
The bold and the beautiful of Delhi, turned out, well-coiffured in tuxes, cocktail dresses and saris. It was a motley crew of people – the glamazons, the intellectuals, the activists and the artists. A prominent actress was the chief guest. Also in attendance were some big names, and some designers, up and coming, of the fashion fraternity. There was white wine and sushi and sinful little chocolate desserts, and my favourite fruit – the kiwi. And some air kissing. I bumped into a couple of people from my fashion week reporting days.
What was most interesting really was the theme of the fashion show – sustainable development – a fashion forward idea that’s somewhat ahead of the curve in these parts. Contemporary designers teamed up with traditional craftsman, to create new looks. I can’t say I loved all the designs, but I liked the ones by my favourite designers, and a few more. At the end of the show, the crafts people walked alongside the designer, to take a bow. I dare say some of the former may never have set foot outside their villages, let alone walk the ramp amidst the bold and the beautiful of Delhi. But they did it with flair, anyway. Touché.
Interestingly, even though Dilli Haat is a favourite haunt, I always feel that one sees the same old crafts every season. What the crafts people need is some help, some insight and some financial assistance on how to blend the old with the contemporary, because one is incomplete sans the other.
written with alot of passion