After the initial hullabaloo is over, the two players with fashion weeks to their name are indulging in a serious bout of shadow boxing.

Even the dates of the fashion weeks - India Fashion Week and Mumbai Fashion Week - are too close for comfort. While the Mumbai-based LFW will happen between March 28 and April 1, the IFW will begin four days later (April 5-9).

To give the Mumbai Fashion Week an aura of exclusivity, a special team comprising Wendell Rodricks, Sangita Kathiwada, Pradeep Hirani etc. has been constituted. "This panel and many others will spell the names of the participants of Mumbai Fashion Week," says Anil Chopra, vice-president, Lakme.

Even the newcomers are being given a chance to showcase their talent. "We will be choosing six designers from the fashion institutes. They will be given a platform to make their own label," he adds.

"The separation from our previous sponsor has been a blessing in disguise," says designer and FDCI board member Raghuvendra Rathore. "People are 10 times more cautious now. The India Fashion Week will be internationally charged with buyers who are aiming to buy larger volumes," he adds. This time, there will be more shows and more stalls in there.

"I feel the increase in the number of fashion weeks is a boon for the Indian fashion industry. This will test our designers' creativity," says designer Ravi Bajaj.

(www.tmcnet.com)