WIFW ends with increase in orders

NEW DELHI: Curtains came down on the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2008 on Sunday with several designers going home with substantial orders from domestic and foreign buyers.

The five-day fashion carnival witnessed domestic and international buyers from Middle-East, Europe and the US placing huge orders with the Indian designers.

Acknowledging it, designer Alpana Chauhan informed that she has received huge orders from the fashion week, besides building long-term relationships with both domestic and international buyers.

Hiba, owner of a high-end store Tiki Style also expressed the same and said while admiring the creativity of the Indian designers, "I came with an intent to spend less but ended up spending more due to exclusive apparels produced by the Indian designers".

She also informed that the orders have been steadily growing by over 10 per cent every year. About 700-800 pieces have been ordered last year, she added.

Domestic buyers, who accounted about 80 per cent of the sales of Indian fashion designers, include Ensemble, Kimaya Fashions, Ogaan India, Aza and Genesis Colors.

Another retailer Tina Tahiliani said orders increased by over 30 per cent this year, adding that new ones were placed with new designers like Anamika Jai Singh, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Abraham and Soni and Tarun Tahiliani.

The buyers were keenly watching the fashion shows and visiting the stalls of designers before placing the orders.