Indian designer stakes claim in Paris

A model wears a creation by Indian designer Manish Arora during the autumn/winter 2008 to 2009 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris on Sunday. Arora was the first Indian designer to show in Paris last season. PHOTO: AFP

New Delhi-based fashion designer Manish Arora summed it up succinctly: "It's great to be an Indian right now. And I can tell you, Indians have a lot of money."

With the credit crunch and threatened recession in the US and Europe, luxury fashion houses courting new customers in the boom nations of China and India may find that Asian designers are not willing to be outmaneuvered.

Arora, when he became the first Indian to show in ready-to-wear week in Paris last season, made it clear this was no Indian summer: He intended to make it all year round in the world's fashion capital.

This weekend, as the shows for next autumn-winter got under way, he was joined by fellow countryman Rajesh Pratap Singh from Rajasthan, who developed his label in Italy but has now decided to show here.

"I have a lot of friends in Paris, my clothes are already sold here. It was only natural," he said.

Both events created a buzz, indicating the likelihood that they will carve out more prominent spots in the calendar in future.

"It's great to be an Indian right now. And I can tell you, Indians have a lot of money."

Manish Arora, Indian fashion designer

Arora inspired by warrior women, drawing on costume through the ages and cultures from gladiators, medieval knights in shining armor and samurai to futuristic gear straight out of Star Wars.

His models wore fearsome face masks, all glinting sharp points, with gauntlets to the elbow and thigh-high boots.

Their chainmail tunics and togas had 1980s power-dressing padded shoulders and double cap-sleeves, but exquisitely embroidered with witty designs by Japanese avant-garde artist Kelichi Tanami or even Walt Disney cartoons in Arora's signature garish fluorescent palette.

Singh's were lower key, but also showcased the skills of needlework on the subcontinent. Dresses hugged the body with row upon row of ultra fine pintucks.