The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the  largest and most high profile fashion trade event in the country, Lakme India Fashion Week aims at providing a platform to develop business opportunities for Indian fashion industry professionals.
		Top-notch professionals in the fashion industry came together in December 1998 to form the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). The Council has been set up to consolidate its position in the global marketplace and this embodies the first step taken towards according corporate status to the fashion business in India.
		The largest and most high profile fashion trade event in the country, Lakme India Fashion Week aims at The third Lakme India Fashion Week will continue to focus on the Business of Fashion. It will facilitate exchange of ideas amongst
		established & upcoming designers and trade professionals such as buyers, retailers, corporates, channel partners (wholesalers, distributors & agents), real estate developers and fashion observers. The designers will be able to showcase their collections - Prêt-a-Porter (ready-to-wear) and Diffusion (a line between ready-to-wear and high-fashion) to this focused target audience of industry professionals. Announcing the event, Vinod Kaul, Executive

Director, FDCI, said, "The huge ready-to-wear market in India and abroad translates into a Rs 67,000 crore industry. Even though the fashion design industry component today constitutes a small segment of this market, it has shown tremendous potential as was evident by the runaway success of the previous two events. We believe the event this year will offer new and exciting business opportunities for all participants." Propelled by the unprecedented success of the last two years, Lakme India Fashion Week 2002 is all set to reach new heights this year. A 'by invitation only' event, Lakme India Fashion Week 2002 is a trade event expected to have over 15000 visitors ranging from buying houses to domestic and international trade buyers, the textile industry, media as well as sponsor and designer guests.

	Attendees will not only witness the latest collections from India's leading designers, but also get to see India's best --- models, make-up trends, hairstyles and accessories for the upcoming season. During the week, the event will also host a range of interactive ‘business of fashion’ seminars covering various facets of the industry.
FDCI is the proprietor of India Fashion Week with Lakme as the title sponsor. Sunsilk continues to be the associate sponsor. Kingfisher, Fiat and The Taj are the co-sponsors of the event, with Air Sahara returning as the Official Domestic Airline. Star World will be the lead broadcaster of Lakme India Fashion Week 2002. "Lakme, a name synonymous with beauty, has a deep-rooted commitment towards the development of the beauty and fashion industry. We at Lakme, believe that fashion and beauty are closely interlinked," said Anil Chopra, Business Head, Lakme Lever.

"Our participation as the title sponsor of Lakme India Fashion Week has strongly reinforced our position as leaders in the beauty business. Our trend-setting fashion statement in 2001 – Shimmer, Shine, Sparkle created great excitement in the industry and consumers. The Lakme Beauty Salon on site showcased the latest in hairstyles, make-up and skin care. The outstanding success of Lakme India Fashion Week 2000 / 01 has reinforced our belief in the fusion of beauty, style and fashion," he added.

Spread over the entire Taj Palace Convention Centre, the venue will contain the main show area, an exhibition area, an on-site media centre, trade buyer hospitality lounge, an on-site café and a section for other sponsor driven events.

Few Jwels of the Lakme Fashion Show

FDCI has retained IMG to handle all the commercial aspects and the management of the event. IMG is the world largest sports, leisure and entertainment marketing company which owns and conducts 7th on Sixth (New York Fashion Week) and owns IMGModels, the number one modeling agency in the world.

"IMG has been expanding its fashion and lifestyle related activities around the world, and Lakme India Fashion Week is an important part of this," said Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director, IMG-TWI South Asia and Senior International Vice President, IMG. "Our involvement with some of the world's biggest fashion events combined with our international expertise and resources enables us to conduct Lakme India Fashion Week to truly world-class standards," he added.