We will continue to live stream the fashion week: FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi

The upcoming edition of FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week, a fully on-ground event, is the first indication of the industry returning to normalcy, says Sethi

After two years of disruption, the fashion week is returning in a physical avatar. The five-day FDCI X Lakme Fashion Week 2022, which begins on March 23, will showcase the creations of 40-odd designers. Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) Chairman Sunil Sethi speaks to Akshara Srivastava about the return of the extravaganza in a physical format, the business of fashion and the lessons the industry learnt from the pandemic. Edited excerpts:

How is FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week preparing for this large-scale physical event after a two-year hiatus?

The last two years have been unprecedented, yet game changing. As a platform we were compelled to push past geographical restrictions and innovate in the ways we engage with audiences, while emphasising the safety of one and all. The upcoming edition of FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week, a fully on-ground event, is the first indication of the industry returning to normalcy.

The five-day event, which is being held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi, will follow all safety measures and regulations as required by national authorities for large-scale physical events. Everyone attending the event is required to be fully vaccinated, and wear face masks at all times. The venues will also have social distancing and sanitisation stickers strategically placed at various locations as reminders to ensure protocols are followed.

With Lakmé and FDCI coming together, how will you meet the high expectations?  

We are equally excited about bringing FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week to an on-ground format after two years of hybrid showcases.

This season we will be hosting over 40 on-ground shows and have two showcase areas for designers to present their collections up close and personal. The platform will also continue to champion sustainability through path-breaking initiatives, while further spreading messages of inclusivity and diversity.

The FDCI Designer Stockroom will also make a return to physical format after two years. This B2C sale, hosting around 70 designers, will be open to the public on the last day of the event.

During the pandemic, everything moved online, including fashion. While there is a charm to physical shows, a digital show does give you a wider global audience. How are you navigating this change back to physical?

The pandemic has, in a way, only made us stronger. While FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week will be returning to a fully physical format this season, our virtual initiatives to ensure we reach a wider global audience will continue.

We will continue to live stream all the showcases on the fashion week’s respective websites and social media handles.

Business had slumped during the pandemic. Do you think physical shows will give a boost to the fashion business?

The pandemic hit the fashion industry hard. But the resilience that was shown by all reflects how the industry is very steadily finding its way back.

We have received a lot of support from various brands to partner with the fashion week and sponsor designer showcases.

Physical shows do have an impact on the business of fashion, and that cannot be ignored. They give all stakeholders the opportunity to engage in real time. Having said that, our virtual initiatives will continue to enhance stakeholder engagement as we return to the physical format.

Will international buyers who used to frequent physical fashion weeks earlier attend the event this time round?

We have received buyer RSVPs from USA, UK, Singapore, Japan, Australia, France, Senegal and from West Asian countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

What was your experience of collaborating with Lakmé?

The Fashion Design Council of India and Lakmé Fashion Week (organised by Lakmé & RISE Worldwide) have for decades worked towards the growth of the fashion and design industry. Through the course of the pandemic, we decided to join forces to blur geographical boundaries and help one view the Indian fashion industry more holistically.

The upcoming fashion week continues to be an epitome of positivity as it beckons effective cooperation between the powerhouses of the industry, as we bring meaningful initiatives to the fore to drive growth in the post-pandemic world. Our belief is that this coming together will present one face of the fashion industry to the world as we endeavour to create global brands of the Indian fashion designer.