Vogue launches Talent Contest for young Indian Writers

Media News

New Delhi, January 20, 2009

For aspiring young writers with a love of fashion, the World’s Fashion Bible launches the Vogue India Talent Contest 2009. The contest for fashion journalism is a first of its kind, a pioneering initiative undertaken by Conde Nast India to bring to the fore young, creative writers.

Says Oona Dhabhar Marketing Director Conde Nast India, “It is our aim to raise the standard of fashion journalism in the country. We strongly believe there is tremendous potential in our youth but no opportunity befitting. A platform as ‘Vogue’s Talent Contest for fashion journalism’ will give young writers a rare chance to have their work noticed by the experts.”

Instituted by Vogue UK, the Vogue Talent Contest for Young Writers has been one of the UK’s most prestigious writing awards for over 60 years. Entering the contest has been the turning point in the careers of many of today’s revered fashion journalists. Recent winners have gone on to become successful poets, playwrights, authors and members of Vogue’s staff. As the magazine's European editor-at-large, Hamish Bowles is considered one of the most influential people in fashion. Hamish was a Finalist in the Vogue Talent Contest UK 1978 and accepted a position at US Vogue in 1992.

Adds Priya Tanna, Editor Vogue India, “Given the exponential growth of the fashion and luxury market, there is a need to build a new generation of experts in the area. Taking our role as the fashion authority seriously, we want to promote new talent through this hunt.”

Reaching out to young writers, Vogue will interact with over a 100 colleges across India - the top journalism and mass communication colleges and fashion institutes. The contest will also be promoted by chain bookstores across the country - Crossword, Oxford and Landmark, while online, it will be promoted on www.vogue.in and on social network sites such as Facebook and Orkut.

To participate in this contest the entrant has to submit his/her autobiography (500 words maximum), comment on a current fashion trend (350 words maximum) and describe a fashion designer whom they admire as if you were profiling him or her for Vogue (1,000 words maximum). Participants should be aged between 18 to 25 years and entries will be accepted till the midnight of 15th March, 2009. All applicants must be citizens of India and no previously published works will be admitted for consideration.

The winner and runner up will be announced in the June issue of the magazine. The winner will get published in Vogue and receive a special mention on the Vogue India masthead, a six-week training programme with the team along with a monetary reward of Rs 30,000. The runner-up will receive a monetary reward of Rs 15,000.

The panel of eclectic judges will include Vogue India’s Editor Priya Tanna, Vogue India’s Fashion Features Director Bandana Tewari, Vogue’s Vice President & Editorial Director New Markets Anna Harvey, renowned writer Pico Iyer, multi-talented designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Senior Vice President IMG Fashion, Fern Mallis.

This exciting initiative is sure to discover a unique talent. After all, before it’s in fashion, it’s in Vogue.

For further information, please contact:

Condenast

Kehkashan Merchant

E-mail: kehkashan.merchant@condenast.in

Tel: +91 - 22 - 66119000