[Goanet] Fashion lessons for Goa - by Ethel da Costa

[Cecil Pinto]

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    Domnic Fernandes continues (Part III) his reminiscence of     
                      Mapusa of the 1950s                        
                                                                 
 http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=426  
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HEART TO HEART
By Ethel Da Costa
(Herald 9th April 2006)

It's serious fashion at the India Fashion Week No falling tops, no 
splitting skirts, I'm feeling oh-so-retro at the India Fashion Week in 
Delhi that I'm beginning to think it's the capital city heat getting to me. 
Or, was it Kingfisher and Manoviraj Khosla's chic retro Uber 60s naughty 
rock star collection, which I immensely liked, that has me upbeat and fancy 
free? Vijay Mallya's brand is in the news for all the right reasons and the 
denim-Stetson hat-big 60s hair-leather-David Bowie-Lenny Krativz concoction 
got the applause roaring from first go at The Grand's late night show. Not 
to forget Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla's Shweta Bachchan, Anna Bredmeyer, 
Sheetal Malhar triology that sizzled the ramp with such classic nostalgia 
and fabulous chikankari ensembles that the audience was literally choking 
on the brilliance of the collection.

It's big time fashion business at the Fashion Design Council of India 
(FDCI) led mega fashion week with 80 designers fine-tuned by leading 
British events company `S2' - this biggie-wiggie's credentials include 
events like the London Fashion Week and clients such as Gianni Versace, 
Vivien Westwood, Jean Paul Gautier, Donna Karen - producing what is easily 
turning out to be a very professional job at the catwalk. For the first 
time in a long time, I also see a media seriously making an effort to 
report just fashion, discussing collections and trends rather than going 
starry-eyed and losing it completely at the sight of a Mumbai well-oiled 
celebrity or Bollywood brat pack in the front rows.

Mercifully, the `bling' variety seem to have given Delhi the slip (what 
with the design fraternity split against who is best and rife ramp politics 
leading to dysfunctional wardrobes hinted by `Vogue' magazine as 
intentional), flashbulbs are popping at the model on the ramp, the designer 
is getting a sound byte for all the hard work and all reigns well at the 
designer stalls with fresh talent serious about their creativity. From glad 
rags to jewellery designers (some very young and raring potential talent 
with bright futures and immense creativity), for fashion followers nine 
shows a day under a roof is too good a treat to miss, and Goan model 
wannabes with starry airs and egos in Goa could learn many lessons on the 
professionalism the industry seeks and demands for winners. Goan model 
Ignatius Camillo holds his head high as does Nolana D'Mello on the ramp, 
displaying a professionalism desperately needed by models in Goa who 
believe they are already the cat's whisker doing hotel shows.

Unfortunately, I haven't met a single Goan designer yet at the fashion 
week, (Honies, constant exposure and upgradation of creative skills is the 
mantra to re-invention), except for fellow buddy, Dr Brian Mendonca who 
popped in to give me the first copy of his first book of poems `Last Bus to 
Vasco' to be released on April 16 at Vasco and Abel Sousa of `Sosa's'. In a 
simple T-shirt boldly screaming GOA and drawing attention to a lobby full 
of foreign branded bodies, Dr Mendonca had curious on-lookers walking up 
and telling us `Goa rocks' with a smile so bright it could put Mumbai's 
socialite Aarti Surendranath's diamonds to shame (is the Tourism Dept ready 
to back a fashion festival in Goa because designers are keen to come and 
we're raring to go to produce it?). Which makes me want to ask Dr Willy why 
Goa doesn't concentrate on producing a calendar of quality world-class 
events that could firmly put her as 'diva' of the entertainment universe. 
And while am on this, could I also know where did the Rs 15 lakh allotted 
to the Panjim Carnival Committee drain into for a shoddy show of 
entertainment sense? After all, we need value for money too. In the days of 
inflation every rupee counts. What say?



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