Showcasing a collection is no cheap task. The flat fee a designer needs to cough up starts at Rs 50,000 and can run into lakhs, what with fees for models, make-up artists, hairstylists, etc. One way to bring down the cost, however, is to share the spotlight with another designer -- i.e. showcase your collection immediately before or after another designer. You still need to spend on fabrics, accessories, cost of labour, accommodation, etc.
Which is why the Gen Next contest for budding designers across India is such an attractive option. The criteria for selection: Your portfolio and some samples of your designs. If selected by a panel of judges, you get to showcase a collection of 12 designs for a flat fee of Rs 10,000. Besides, you also get help with shoe accessories, which are sponsored by a shoe brand, keeping your design aesthetic in mind.
Last year, six designers were short-listed for the Gen Next show. Of these, three -- Rahul & Firdoz and Deepti Toor -- have returned with commendable collections.
We have five names on this year's list (from left to right): Tejasvini Kulkarni & Rushabh Maniar for 'Vice Versa', Ajeet Mishra, Nida Mahmood, Abdul Haldar and Amit Vijaya & Richard Pandav for 'Am Rich'.
As it turns out, these young guns have a great many fresh designs up their sleeves.
Text: Merril Diniz
Photographs: Kunal Verma
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