Lakme Fashion Week is to India what New York Fashion Week is to the USA--and the rest of the world, really. Yes, of course, there is the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, which is also a fashion week to contend with. However, since 2005 when IMG [a global leader in fashion weeks and events production] joined forces with Lakme [India’s leading cosmetic brand] to produce Lakme Fashion Week, it has been nothing short of aggressive marketing, branding, re-branding, cross-promotions and a “whole lotta” of money spent to make Lakme Fashion Week a force to be reckoned with, locally and internationally.
Naomi Campbell’s ‘Mai Mumbai’ Fashion for Relief Charity Show at Lakme Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009, definitely put Lakme Fashion Week in the center of the world’s fashion map as well as raised the stock value of Ms. Campbell, as if she needs more help in that area?
Aimed at raising awareness and funds for the not-for profit “Citizens for Justice and Peace” and to show solidarity against the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Supermodel Naomi Campbell, Lakme Fashion Week, IMG and India’s luxury hotelier and wealthy tycoon Vikram Chatwal of Vikram Chatwal Hotels staged an unforgettable ‘Mai Mumbai’ Fashion relief show, one that has been dubbed, “one of the most unique fashion events in the history of the industry in the country.”
The 26/11 event included thirty [32] top Indian and International designers. The creative Manish Malhotra, amazingly brilliant Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Anuj Sharma, Anupama Dayal, Arjun Khanna, JJ Vallaya, Lecoanet Hemant, Malani Ramani, Nachiket Barve, Nandita Mahtani, Rina Dhaka, Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar, Sanchita Ajjampur, Savio Jon, Varun Bahl, Vikram Phadnis were some of the Indian names in the line up.
On the international front the world’s top designers like Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Dennis Basso, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Louis Vuitton, Mathew Williamson, Naeem Khan, Nanette Lepore, Oscar de la Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Ungaro, Vera Wang, Versace, Valetin Yudashkin, YSL and Zac Posen were participants.
By the way, what is wrong with this picture? The producers couldn’t see fit to have two or three spots for Africa’s top fashion designers? Bad, bad, bad! The triple threat of an Indian, African and Western fashion combo would most likely create an effect that is in one word, “out of this world.”
Nevertheless . . . wearing the designs of the aforementioned esteemed designers were India’s finest Bollywood stars which included the devilishly handsome and super hot Kunal Kapoor, the equally hot Mallaika Arora, Deepika Pudukone, Farhan Akhtar and Rahul Bose. The lineup of goddesses and gods incomplete without India’s very own supermodel Ujjwala Raut, and the country’s first supermodel Madhu Sapre.
While the star power gathered under one roof was enough to cause a Myocardial Infarction for the many fashionistas and global fashion-forward present, the entrance of Naomi Campbell on the runway, with all of her “supermodel swagger” was all that was needed to really get the world's press talking. Beyond the many outfits Naomi Campbell wore, she stole the spotlight in a Sabyasachi Mukherjee sleeveless gold embroidered black choli, an undergarment [skirt] and a see through black sari draped over her left shoulder. The lining of the sari was beautifully embroidered with gold. The event ended with a generous donation from hotelier Vikram Chatwal.
Looks from the runway are being auctioned on eBay. To see and purchase some of the designs for 26/11 visit eBay. All proceeds will be donated to "Citizens for Justice and Peace."
India's finest, Bollywood star Kunal Kapoor
Yet another of India's sexy men alive, Bollywood star Rahul Khanna
[L-R] Bollywood's hottie Arjun Rampal struts the runway with his sexy wife Mehr Rampal aka Mehr Jesia, India's International Supermodel of the early '90s.
All photos courtesy Zimbio
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