Delhi is just a few days away from its date with fashion when Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week kicks off its 17th edition. The five-day jamboree is getting bigger with every season. The fledgling event is usually crammed full of runway shows, buzzing stalls, parties, presentations, trade shows and other exciting activities. This time it promises to be more flamboyant and boasts of the highest number of designer participation apart from Sabyasachi Mukherjee doing the finale.

The A/W 2011 will see collections by 141 designers. Apart from the 17 accessory designers and eight choreographers (again the highest, we are told), adding to the list of first-time participants are designers Neeru Kumar, who is opening the week, and James Ferreira, a popular name in Mumbai’s fashion circuit, who is showcasing in Delhi for the first time.
Veteran textile designer Neeru has been in the trade for more than two decades, but participating in a fashion week never crossed her mind. Neeru says, “Earlier I didn’t find it either important or necessary. Or maybe I was not ready. But now I feel it’s time I make a start. Many people from the fashion community encouraged me to participate. I too have realised that it is important to create awareness among people about your work.”
As hers is going to be the first show of the event, she is ear-deep in work putting together the collection. Nonetheless she is excited about her maiden innings. “My collection is very textile-driven and is made out of natural material,” adds Neeru, who works with traditional Indian crafts such as kantha, khadi and ikat, creating weaves that can be moulded into saris, scarves, shawls and even home furnishing products.
JJ School of Art alumnus James Ferreira, who has decades of experience behind him, is also geared up to make a noise right here. Through his collection, he wants to address the issue of endangered species.
Indian fashion’s big daddy Sunil Sethi is proud to have them on the list. Last year Abraham and Thakore too made their Wills runway debut and the response had been phenomenal. Sunil informs us, “Last time Abraham and Thakore took a chance and their show was a success. And this time it is an honour to have stalwarts like James and Neeru showcase their collections. Both have fantastic knowledge of textiles.”
About the increase in the number of buyers thronging the city and Japanese buyers sticking to their travel plans, Sunil says, “It is a misconception that Japanese buyers won’t be coming in the wake of the tragedy. I assure you that at least five to 10 buyers are coming and that is a big number. As far as the other buyers are concerned, we have registered a hike in their number too.”
NIFT graduate Puja Duggal, a footwear designer who is debuting with A/W 2011 and has already been associated with international brands like Zara, Topshop and sells in many European countries, wants to test the domestic market now. She is launching her label Gypsy in India with her stall at Wills that will have wedges, ballerinas and lots of other stuff on offer. “Four years back I was designing clothes, but later I joined my family business and now my focus is strictly on footwear,” says Puja.