Hong Kong showcase for contemporary Indian fashion
Indian designers have largely catered to domestic buyers until now, but couture show this week aims to change that and draw not only Hong Kong’s Indian community but Chinese and expat fashion fans
India has long been a creator and manufacturer of high fashion for Western designers and brands such as Dries van Noten and Christian Louboutin. Now, the country’s homegrown talent is hitting the global stage and will be on show in Hong Kong during the first edition of ICE (Indian Couture Experience) on March 18.
The one-day event was conceived and is being curated by Ankita Sareen Batra, a former model and managing partner of Delhi-based creative agency Green Room Creative.
“I’m a globetrotter and noticed a need and demand for good Indian designers in countries like Hong Kong (sic), Singapore and Australia. Not only do these places have a big Indian community but locals are also looking to discover new talent. Our designers aren’t easy to access outside of India, so I wanted to bring them to a new audience,” says Batra.
ICE, which will be held at a showroom in Kennedy Town, will feature a range of labels, from bridal and ready-to-wear designers to accessories brands – a mix of high-profile names favoured by Bollywood actresses to rising stars in the fashion world.
“I want to change the current mindset of the international market, who have this very clichéd view that Indian designers only create clothes with heavy embroidery, that are gaudy and over-the-top. In truth, India has amazing designers who can appeal to a range of aesthetics, whether it’s minimalist and understated to powerful and glamorous,” says Batra.