FDCI presents Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Autumn/Winter, 2009

Company Brief

New Delhi, March 11, 2009

Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, India’s leading business of fashion event, today announced a powerful list of 13 commercial partners and 103 participating designers who would bring business and fashion on a common platform. The designers comprise of established and emerging names from across the country who would market Indian Fashion to domestic and international buyers, fashion enthusiasts, media and other industry stakeholders.

Through each event, WIFW continues to set new standards and help its members achieve global benchmarks. WIFW AW 2009 is represented by some of the best and the most sought after designers. Over 24 designers would be showcasing their collections at WIFW for the first time.

The prestigious brands associating with Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, Autumn/Winter 2009, from 18-23 March, 2009 are:

Wills Lifestyle – Title Sponsor

Fiama Di Wills – Associate Sponsor

Chivas – Fashion Partner

Hewlett Packard – Major Partner

Audi – Official Car

Kingfisher – Good Times Partner

Power Plate – Fitness Partner

NDTV Good Times - Broadcast Partner

Yahoo – Online Partner

Elle –Magazine Partner

Big FM - Radio Partner

Intercontinental Eros - Hotel Partner

Fedex – Logistics Partner

Welcoming the Sponsor and Partners for WIFW 2009, Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, "It is with pride, FDCI can say that 10 years into the business of fashion has established Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week as the most sought after trade event for the fashion design industry. The Indian fashion industry has seen a dramatic growth and with India being in fashion, everybody wants a piece of it! FDCI has taken the Indian Fashion industry to touch new heights globally and made it a national pride. WIFW, without doubt, is not only India’s premier fashion event but Asia’s largest. Adding another feather to our cap is the recognition we have received from the Fashion Design Promotion Council (FDPC).”

The list of participating designers at the forthcoming event was announced. With 34 shows and 103 designers on the schedule, Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week brings before the Indian and International clientele five action-packed days of absolute fashion and serious business. The designers will be showcasing their collections under three new categories introduced earlier – Contemporary, Synthesis/ Heritage and Creator. The sixth day is dedicated to a designer-buyer B2B dialogue.

In addition, FDCI in association with FDPC will shine the spotlight on young budding talent at a special showing in between designer show schedules.

Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC’s Lifestyle Retailing Business Division, said, “Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week has been scaling new heights edition after edition and I compliment all stakeholders in making this the country’s most prestigious event. There is great synergy in the association of our premium lifestyle brands Wills Lifestyle & Fiama Di Wills with the event and we look forward to further strengthening the strong and deep–rooted partnership that we have established with the fashion fraternity.”

He further added, “In a ‘Ramp to Racks’ initiative, we have collaborated with several leading designers of the country to craft special collections to be retailed at Wills Lifestyle. This initiative will enhance the accessibility of designer wear across the country and celebrate the event with our customers.”

Commenting on Fiama Di Wills association, Mr. Chand said, “To the new, empowered woman, Fiama Di Wills promises a “Beautiful You Today, Tomorrow”. Fiama Di Wills with its unique selling proposition of combining the goodness of Nature and Science to give gentle and effective care continues to promote beauty and complement fashion with an array of innovative products. We look forward to an exciting and yet another successful Autumn Winter edition of WIFW.”

Shubhodip Pal, Head of Consumer Marketing, HP PSG, India said, “Carrying forward our philosophy of ‘The Computer is Personal Again’ and with a keen eye on style, trends and technology, our products are tailored to address the lifestyle consicious, whereby what you carry is a reflection of your own personal expression as a consumer. Hewlett Packard is glad to associate yet again, to create the most successful communion of fashion and technology at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion week 2009. With the consumer base growing - New segments and sub-segments do emerge even in the lifestyle computing space, at HP we believe as the clear leader in the PC industry aiming at further growing the lifestyle computing market. As a result, there is constant focus on design, form factor and innovation in all our products and our continuos association with the fashion fraternity both in the domestic and international arena vouches for our commitment towards adding oomph to technology.”

Benoit Tiers, Managing Director, Audi India, said, "Audi has been defining luxury, design and sophistication for a century. Our involvement with lifestyle and fashion is not just an association but is engraved in the Audi DNA that we truly believe in and inspire through our products and services. In India, we are instrumental in redefining customer experience and perception of luxury cars, be it our existing or soon to be launched new models in the country. The WIFW offers us a perfect platform to reinforce Audi’s philosophy of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ by showcasing our super sports car Audi R8 which defines fashion in its own unique way."

Mr. Shekhar Ramamurthy, Deputy President, United Breweries Limited, said, “Kingfisher is an iconic brand in the country and over the years has become synonymous with fashion and lifestyle. Kingfisher has contributed to the fashion fraternity in India in a big way by being a pioneer to many coveted fashion properties like The Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar. Our constant endeavour is to be The Good Times Partner and we at Kingfisher are elated to be partner with an event of this stature and look forward to associating with many such events in the years to come".

Kuldeep Verma , Vice President (Marketing), Power Plate®, said, “Power Plate® training promises to combat the devastating and debilitating effects of our increasingly sedentary lifestyle by offering the most technologically advanced, easy to use, time efficient & non-injurious fitness equipment that all people can use regardless of their age or condition. A 15-20 minute session 3 times a week is far more effective than a regular 45 minute conventional exercise in the gym.”

Shibani Sharma Khanna, Channel Head, NDTV Good Times, said, “We are delighted to be media partners for Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. This event captures the latest & high fashion from the country's best known designers and has a strong appeal for the discerning & style aware audience of NDTV Good Times.”

Gopal Krishna, VP and Head of Audience – Emerging Markets, Yahoo! India, said, “Yahoo! India is happy to partner with Wills India Fashion Week for the fourth consecutive season. Today, WIFW is a strong brand in the fashion and lifestyle space. With increased online demand for such content, Yahoo! India’s lifestyle channel (http://in.news.yahoo.com/lifestyle.html) has already emerged as one of the top destination for lifestyle and fashion users on the Internet. Our association with WIFW reaffirms Yahoo!’s focus to bring people closer to their passions.”

Said Nonita Kalra, Editor-in-Chief, ELLE, “It is ELLE’s global philosophy to align itself with fashion weeks around the world. In India, our association allows fashion to step off the catwalk and reach the homes of fashionable young women in an approachable and detailed manner. You can be certain that ELLE is fashioning the future.”

Ashwin Padmanabhan, Station Director, BIG 92.7 FM Delhi, said, "We are extremely happy and excited to partner with FDCI for the fourth consecutive ‘Wills India Fashion Week’. We are really excited to partner this biggest and the most extravagant fashion event. At BIG 92.7 FM, we believe in not only entertaining our listeners but also impacting their lives positively. Fashion has now become an integral part of our lives and our partnership with FDCI will enable BIG 92.7 to bring alive all the moments at “Wills India Fashion Week” for our listeners and live up to our brand philosophy of - Suno Sunao, Life Banao!"

Julian Ayers, General Manager, Intercontinental Eros, said, "We are happy to have an event of this magnitude and prestige at InterContinental Eros"

Samuel Thomas Managing Director, Operations FedEx Express, said, “FedEx is proud to be supporting Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week as the official logistics provider. We are committed to helping the Indian fashion, apparel and textile industries access opportunities in the global marketplace.”

For further information, please contact:

PR Pundit

Ruchika Gupta

Email: ruchika.g@prpundit.com