From correspondents in Karnataka, India, 05:02 PM IST

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, India’s leading business of fashion event, today announced a powerful list of 10 commercial partners and 79 participating designers who would bring business and fashion on a common platform. The designers comprise established and emerging names from across the country who would market Indian Fashion to domestic and international buyers, fashion enthusiasts, media and other industry stakeholders.

WIFW SS 2009 has the biggest line-up of designers in any Spring/Summer event. While promoting promising design talent WIFW SS 2009 also boasts of 18 designers who would be showcasing their collections at WIFW for the first time. At each event WIFW sets new standards and builds its talent team in keeping with global standards.

The prestigious brands associating with Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2009, from 15-19 October, 2008 are:

Wills Lifestyle – Title Sponsor

Fiama Di Wills – Presenting Partner

Hewlett Packard – Gold Partner

Chivas – Fashion Partner

Audi – Major Partner

Elle –Magazine Partner

NDTV Good Times -Broadcasting Partner

Big FM- Radio Partner

The Park, New Delhi - Hotel Partner

Yahoo – Online Partner

Welcoming the Sponsor and Partners for WIFW 2009, Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, "Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week is India’s leading business of fashion event. With each passing edition the confidence and trust of our partners have grown as we moved forward towards our primary agenda of promoting business. Designers form the epicenter of the fashion industry and we are extremely happy to announce the list of participating designers for the forthcoming event. ”

With 36 shows and 79 designers on the show schedule Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week brings before the Indian and International Clientele five action-packed days of absolute fashion and serious business. The designers will be showcasing their collections under three new categories introduced in the last edition – Contemporary, Synthesis/ Heritage and Creator.

Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC's Lifestyle Retailing, said, "Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week has been scaling new heights edition after edition and I compliment all stakeholders in making this the country's most prestigious event. There is great synergy in the association of our premium lifestyle brands Wills Lifestyle & Fiama Di Wills with the event and we look forward to further strengthening the partnership."

Shubhodip Pal, Head of Consumer Marketing, HP PSG, India said, “HP’s association with the Fashion Week is a perfect blend where technology meets style. True to its design and innovation promise, it our pleasure to bring an international label to the Fashion Week this year. HP will unveil the Spring Summer '09 collection of Vivienne Tam who is one of the most renowned International fashion designer in the industry today. HP is now excited to bring to you, Vivienne Tam in India for the first time ever, to launch HP’s special edition notebook, designed by her which is a ‘must have’ tech accessory for all fashionistas around the world. This colorful imprint is a reflection of how style and personal expression are a part of today’s consumers’ digital lifestyle. Over and above this, we have timed our launch of 3 new HP Pavilion Imprint Notebooks coinciding with the Fashion Week which will be unveiled on the 15th at HP Show at the Wills India Fashion Week. HP has been redefining technology and enlivening the PC space with style icons like Supermodel Petra Nemcova, Tennis Superstar Serena Williams, Cultural icon Jay-Z, and with fashion designers like Shantanu & Nikhil and Suneet Verma.”

Martin Birkner, Head of Marketing, Audi India, said, “Audi has a strong connection and competence in style and design worldwide, which is clearly stated by the successful models introduced by Audi over a period of time. Our latest entrant in the lifestyle luxury segment, the new Audi A4, underlines our extraordinary expertise in design and lifestyle.”

Said Nonita Kalra, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE, said, “India is in fashion and everybody wants a piece of it. For the last 12 years, ELLE has documented and supported the Indian fashion industry, which still continues to grow to mammoth proportions. As always, ELLE is proud to partner with FDCI for the Wills India Fashion Week."

Smeeta Chakrabarti, CEO NDTV Lifestyle, said, “TheWillsIndiaFashionWeek is a true reflection of the style of the times with some of the country’s best known designers showcasing their work. NDTV Goodtimes isproud to be partneringwith the country’s premiere fashion event.”

Ritu Bararia, Director Public Relation The Park, New Delhi, said, "The Park Hotels epitomize a collection of boutique hotels, which are very contemporary, designer and stylish. Our guests are mainly global, urban people who live in style. Therefore, we feel a natural blending with a fashion & lifestyle event like FDCI. We are delighted to be the hospitality partner for

Gopal Krishna, Head of Audience, Yahoo! India, said, “Yahoo! India is delighted to once again partner with Wills India Fashion Week. Today, we are at the forefront of creating new and engaging Internet experiences for the Indian youth and fashion is an integral part of their lifestyle. As the official online partner, our association with WIFW reaffirms this strong connection with our audience and their quest for innovation.”

Designers Participating:

S. No.

Designer Name

1

Abdul Halder

2

Abhishek Gupta & Nandita Basu

3

Abraham & Thakore

4

Adnormal by Abhishek Dutta

5

AG2 by Adarsh Gill

6

am:pm (Ankur Modi:Priyanka Modi)

7

Amishi

8

Amit GT

9

Amrapali by Rajiv Arora & Rajesh Ajmera

10

Anant by Shobhna & Vijay Arora

11

Anita Dongre

12

ANKY by Anjana Bhargav

13

Anupamaa by Anupama Dayal

14

Aparna & Norden Wangdi

15

Art Apparel and Accessories by Shelina & Camelia

16

Aruna Singh

17

Ashii by Ashima Singh

18

Ashima - Leena

19

Ashish Pandey

20

Ashish, Viral & Vikrant for Virtues

21

Blue Coral by Parvesh & Jai

22

Charu Parashar

23

Cue by Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

24

Deepika Gehani

25

Elisha W

26

Falguni & Shane Peacock

27

Form Debarun

28

Gaurav & Ritika

29

Gauri & Nainika

30

Geisha Designs by Paras & Shalini

31

Hemant & Nandita

33

Joy Mitra

34

Kavita Bhartia

60

Khushali Kumar

35

Krishna Mehta

62

Label - Ritu Kumar

36

Lalit Jalan by Sunita & Lalit Jalan

37

Nitin Bal Chauhan

38

Mandira Wirk

39

Manish Arora

40

Manju & Bobby Grover

41

Manoviraj Khosla

42

Monapali

43

Mynah by Renu Tandon

44

Namrata Joshipura

45

Neeta Bhargava

46

Nida Mahmood

47

Niki Mahajan

48

Nisha Merchant

49

Pankaj & Nidhi

50

Payal Jain

51

Prashant Verma

52

Preeti S Kapoor

32

Priyanka Murarka Jool Kurry

53

Puja Arya

54

Raakesh Agarvwal

55

Rabani & Rakha

56

Rajesh Pratap Singh

57

Ranna Gill

58

Ravage by Raj Shroff & Neetu Gupta

59

Rehane

61

Rina Dhaka

63

Rohit Mittal

64

Samant Chauhan

65

Sanchita

66

Satya by Satya Paul

67

Shantanu & Nikhil

68

Shyam Narayan Prasad

69

Siddartha Tytler

70

Sonia Jetleey

71

Surily

72

Swapan & Seema

73

Taika by Poonam Bhagat

74

Umesh Vashisht

75

Urvashi Kaur

76

Valaya Base

77

Varun Bahl

78

Vikram Phadnis

79

Zubair Kirmani

10 Years of Fashion Design Council of India – A Decade in the Business of Fashion

Ten years into the business of fashion, FDCI has taken the Indian Fashion industry global and made it a national pride. It has been instrumental in promoting the business of fashion and creating new opportunities for all stakeholders. Over the years FDCI has used various marketing platforms, seminars and workshops to promote fashion. FDCI, a not for profit organization, is the apex industry body in the field of fashion in India. Its primary objective is to provide a cohesive platform for Indian designers and act as the mouthpiece of the industry at all relevant platforms, in a bid to promote Indian fashion - at home and abroad. FDCI is actively involved in promoting the 'business of fashion' and working towards corporatisation of fashion labels in India. FDCI is instrumental in facilitating designer-corporate tie-ups, aimed at expanding the fashion market in the country. To mark its 10th anniversary FDCI introduced India’s first couture week in September 2008. For details visit www.fdci.org

Source: Press Release Distribution via India PRwire