The third edition of Van Heusen India Mens Week (VHIMW) 2011 kickstarts today. Designers are ready to showcase their menswear collection for the modern Indian men who don’t hesitate to shell out a handsome amount for bespoke attire.
Perhaps it’s the lure of the emerging menswear market in our country that is now attracting many designers to venture into this segment. This year, designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Ankita and Anjana Bhargav, Abraham & Thakore, Rajesh Pratap Singh who are famous for their fine womenswear, are associating themselves with the menswear and experimenting in this sector.
Talking about the transition from womenswear to menswear section, designer David Abraham say, “Though this is our first show, we have always had a shirt and kurta collection for men in our stores. This is a small but steadily growing segment of our business. We have been selling men’s shirts overseas and in a few selected stores. For menswear, it is a large market here which is slowly expanding.”
The third edition of the Van Heusen India Mens Week (VHIMW) will bring in some hidden surprises when it comes to having celebrities on the ramp, but the three-day fashion extravaganza is focused more on forecasting trends with some some exclusive collections and generating business.
One will witness the best of designs from creative geniuses like Rohit Bal, Abraham & Thakore, Ashish N. Soni, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rohit Gandhi-Rahul Khanna, Karan Johar+Varun Bahl, Rajvi Mohan and many more at the fashion fete that will kickstart Sep 2 at the Grand hotel.
“The only thing is that some designers wait for this fashion week because they are the ones who specialise in men’s wear. Look at Ashish Soni, Rajvi Mohan, Arjun Khanna – you won’t see them showcasing everywhere,” Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Design Council of India(FDCI) that organises the event told us.
“This being the only platform for menswear in India, it surely sets some trends for men who no longer shy away from looking good. Just like last season jodhpurs were the trend, just wait and watch what the creative minds come up with this time,” he added.
So, be it reviving classic silhouettes or using hand-dye techniques, smart slim-fitted shirts or bomber jackets, cool shorts or twill pants – there will be handsome men walking the ramp in their stylish avatars!
Not-just-that, designer Sanchita Ajjampur, who is a regular at VHIMW, has plans to accessorise men with collapsible shoes, bags, casual hats, geek chic glasses and hand-knotted scarves.
“Accessories were never considered relevant in men’s fashion. But now menswear designers are changing this notion. There is a flourishing market for accessories now. Menswear is no longer limited and we all must hail the change,” she said.
And when the sole motto of this event is to generate business, Sethi revealed that around 30-40 domestic buyers will be present at the event.
“Right now the idea is to first penetrate into the domestic market and get going. A lot many international buyers are showing interest, but we are very much clear what we want right now,” said Sethi.
“Another interesting thing is that a lot many designers are planing to open their solo shops, and some of them have already tied up with retail chains to reach out to spread their wings. So, yes, good things are in store for everyone,” he added.