FDCI announces commercial partners

Company Brief

New Delhi, September 09, 2009

'Van Heusen India Mens Week' (VHIMW), India’s first seriously exclusive fashion week JUST for men, today announced a powerful list of 10 commercial partners who together with 28 of India’s best designers will bring business and men’s fashion on a common platform.

The prestigious brands associating with the first ever Van Heusen India Mens Week 2009, from 11-13 September, 2009 are:

* Van Heusen – Title Sponsor

* Ray Ban – Associate Sponsor

* Whyte & Mackay – Lounge Partner

* Men’s Health – Official Media Partner

* NDTV Good Times – Television Partner

* Kingfisher – Good Times Partner

* Kingfisher – Official Airline Partner

* Honda Jazz – Official Car Partner

* Harper’s Bazaar India – Fashion Sponsor

* The Grand – Venue Partner

Welcoming the Sponsor and Partners for VHIMW 2009, Sunil Sethi, President, FDCI said, "In the 50s,60s & 70s, there were no designers, models, star or fashion design labels that the country could show off. Today, FDCI has taken the Indian Fashion industry to touch new heights with the first seriously exclusive fashion week just for men. Menswear dominates a larger per cent of branded apparel sales in the country and the 'Van Heusen India Mens Week' aims to give menswear designers a structured impetus and the much needed platform to tap this potential of men’s fashion in India."

Shital Mehta, COO, VanHeusen, said, "Having worked closely with FDCI and the designers over the last few weeks in the run up to the event, we are very excited to see it getting started in a couple of days. With the kind of interest we have seen amongst the designers up to now, we are confident that this unique initiative will be a landmark event in the years to come".

Mr. Paolo Ciarlariello, Managing Director, Luxottica India, said, "Luxottica Group is a global leader in premium fashion, luxury and sports eyewear, with a strong and well balanced brand portfolio that includes Ray-Ban, the best known sun eyewear brand in the world. Ray-Ban has always correlated with fashion aficionados who display power, passion and energy. The sunglasses are designed in sync with latest fashion trends, at the same time drawing inspiration from the rich heritage of the brand. We have ensured that the latest fashion statement in eyewear is available in India and this Men’s India week will witness the launch of our Spring Summer 2010 collection. Ray-Ban is proud to be associated with the first ever Mens India Week and we are happy that we are supporting men’s fashion in India achieve greater heights."

"Whyte & Mackay is the coveted brand of scotch from the portfolio of Dr Vijay Mallya - a man who stands for impeccable style and business acumen and truly reflects the Whyte and Mackay philosophy of 'a little extra works wonders.' With this lineage, an association with the first ever fashion week in India exclusively for discerning men was a natural choice for Whyte and Mackay," said Anant Iyer, Business Head - Luxury Brands, United Spirits Ltd.

Elaborating on Honda’s association with the VHIMW 2009, Mr Jnaneswar Sen, Vice President, Honda Siel Cars India said, "Honda Jazz is a globally acclaimed stylish car boasting a sporty and advanced design with youthful appeal. The Honda Jazz is an ideal choice among trend setting fashion professionals participating in 'Van Heusen India Mens Week' who want the latest and most stylish models with the best of technology, safety and practicality in their cars."

Jamal Shaikh, Editor, Men’s Health added, "The practice of wives, mothers and girlfriends choosing what a man should wear is now a thing of the past. Today’s young Indian male is as conscious about what he wears, as he is about his career, family commitments and his fitness levels. As the largest-selling men’s lifestyle magazine in India, Men’s Health believes fashion is as important as fitness, and is proud to be associated with the first FDCI-endorsed Van Heusen India Mens Week."

Shibani Sharma Khanna, Channel Head, NDTV Good Times said, "With fashion and style being the buzzword of today's lifestyle, men too are becoming increasingly conscious of their look and what it says about them. They are looking beyond the obvious and heading for a change of their wardrobe and accessories. NDTV Good Times has always attempted to define fashion and lifestyle for men through its innovative programming. We are delighted to partner with FDCI for the Van Heusen Mens Fashion Week."

Mr. Shekhar Ramamurthy, Deputy President Breweries said, "Kingfisher shares the common values of fun and style with the fashion world, and the FDCI sponsored Men’s Fashion Week offers a great opportunity to synergize the two in an interesting and exciting manner." The entire event is a representation of the Kingfisher lifestyle: an exotic cocktail of style, glamour and excitement.

Said Sujata Assomull, Editor, Harper’s Bazaar India, "After ten years of India Fashion Week, finally men are getting the attention they deserve. The men’s market has always been vibrant and it’s about time there was a dedicated event for them, from them. We at Harper’s Bazaar India think that the FDCI has put together a list that includes some of fashion’s most celebrated names, most creative names and a healthy mix of young talent. Fashion is always personal for us at Harper’s Bazaar and we are looking forward to putting together a trend book that will help men enhance their personal style."

Excited about hosting the 1st Van Heusen India Mens Week, Harinder Singh, General Manager, The Grand assured the organizers, sponsors and all participants on the hotel’s commitment towards making this event a success.

Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Van Heusen are set to change the dynamics of the Indian fashion landscape with the first seriously exclusive fashion week JUST for men. FDCI made the formal announcement of its first annual ‘Van Heusen India Mens Week’ and unveiled the logo of the forthcoming event at a recent press conference in the capital. After a decade of successful India Fashion Weeks,

FDCI is ready to explore the growing potential of Men’s Fashion in India in partnership with Van Heusen, India’s leading lifestyle brand. The ‘Van Heusen India Mens Week’ positions India as the 4th Fashion Capital of the World to host an independent Mens Week.

Fashion Design Council of India – A Decade in the Business of Fashion

In the last 11 years FDCI has taken the Indian Fashion industry global and secured national pride for the business of fashion. It has been instrumental in promoting the business of fashion and creating new opportunities for all stakeholders. Over the years FDCI has used various marketing platforms, seminars and workshops to promote fashion. FDCI, a not for profit organization, is the apex industry body in the field of fashion in India. Its primary objective is to provide a cohesive platform for Indian designers and act as the mouthpiece of the industry at all relevant platforms, in a bid to promote Indian fashion - at home and abroad. FDCI is actively involved in promoting the 'business of fashion' and working towards corporatisation of fashion labels in India. FDCI is instrumental in facilitating designer-corporate tie-ups, aimed at expanding the fashion market in the country. To mark its 10th anniversary FDCI introduced India’s first couture week in September 2008 and now in its 11th year the India Mens Week.

For further information, please contact:

PR PUNDIT

Divya Mitroo

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