LFW announces list of Gen Next designers

The grand finale of any fashion week is where

most designers want their collections to be showcased. And the buzz is that the organizers of Lakme Fashion Week are in talks with Delhi-based veteran, Rohit Bal for staging a never seen before Lakme Grand Finale for Summer/Resort 2011 to be held from March 11-15. Meanwhile Rohit Bal has joined the LFW Advisory Board. It may be noted that in mid 2010, Goa- based Wendell Rodricks had left the Board because of his other commitments and Bal seems to be replacing Rodricks. Sources have also revealed that Delhi-based designers Gauri and Nainika Karan, who have designed for celebs like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Deepika Padukone may be the chosen ones.

Many top Mumbai-based designers had approached the Lakme Board and made it aware of their discomfort with Delhi designers closing the ceremony for the past few events. Lakme’s grand finale track record suggests that the last three finales have been staged by Delhi designers only. In September 2009, it was Tarun Tahiliani, in March 2010 Suneet Varma finished the season, while in September 2010, Malini Ramani brought an end to the five day fashion fiesta. Mumbai designers feel since LFW happens in the city, it should have Mumbai-based designers for the Grand Finale.

Meanwhile, the Advisory Board members of Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW), the leading Fashion and trade event, declared the list of the Gen Next, Emerging, and Accessory Show Designers for the upcoming LFW Summer/Resort 2011. The LFW Summer /Resort 2011 received 155 Gen Next designer applications marking a growth of 60 per cent. Submissions came from 46 cities across the country and also London, Colombo, Karachi, Lahore, Ontario, Paris, Sharjah and Vancouver.