Pia Mehta Takes Mumbai: Front Row Diary at Lakme Fashion Week

India’s biggest fashion event, Lakme Fashion Week, celebrated its milestone 25th anniversary. For years, it has been the space where Indian designers, both veterans and newcomers, shake things up, create and innovate. After a long journey from Los Angeles to Mumbai, I flopped on the couch in the Dolphin Suite of the heritage wing of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, gasping at the regal view of the densely crowded Gateway of India amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Arabian Sea. “I’m at your service for the week, Madam,” my butler Raj’s meek voice could faintly be heard against the jarring cacophony of honking horns, street performers, and the chatter of street vendors and passersby. Right at this very moment, I knew I was finally home. There is nothing quite like Indian hospitality. And there is definitely nothing else that quite compares to the soul of Mumbai. I woke up to an unusual feeling of excitement. The fashion landscape in India had come a long way and I was here to take it all in. A few years ago, none of my Western Couture aficionado friends had ever heard of Sabyasachi, Gaurav Gupta or Rahul Mishra. Indian fashion designers were nowhere to be found on

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

from WWDRecent Stories https://ift.tt/cygQ6Ti