Sew in style.

After turning heads at Delhi Fashion Week, the best of India's designers hope to wow Dubai fashionistas, writes Jane Plunkett Colours were bright, materials were luxurious and accessories were to die for; Delhi Fashion Week (DFW) recently showcased the most creative of talent handpicked by fashion experts in India. And now, fresh off the catwalks, some of DFW's top designers have their sights set high on Dubai. In a bid to bring exquisite Indian-made designs to the streets and glamourous parties in the UAE, The people behind Delhi Fashion Week have organised '12' - a two-day business to business platform that will exhibit the collections of twelve leading designers. Taking place on Sunday, January 18 and Monday, January 19 in the Bastakiya area, designers showcasing collections will include, Rohit Bal, Tarun Tahiliani, Malini Ramani, Raghavendra Rathore, Alpana Neeraj, Monisha Jaising, Vineet Bahl, Varun Sardana, Gaurav Gupta, Preeti Chandra, Abhijeet Khanna and Anamika Khanna. I caught up with some designers due to fly in this weekend, to find out more about why Indian fashion gurus have their eye on Dubai. It's no secret that India has a rich textile culture boasting elaborate fabrics and embroidery techniques. So is this where designer Vineet Bahl gets his inspiration? "India has been an inspiration to global fashion for a long time. Her rich history, architecture and vibrant colours have been inspiring generations of designers in India and abroad," says Bahl. "For me, my country inspires me in terms of textiles, weaves, heritage and culture. But to say that my designs are always inspired by my land would be incorrect. "There is no 'Indian' look to my creations and they cannot be bracketed as 'east' or 'west'. "I like to believe that the entire world is my stage, and I can get inspiration from anywhere in the globe." Agreed, inspiration can come from anywhere, but are outfits from Indian designers always relevant to western or Arabic tastes? How much crossover is there in fashion, and will Indian designs be successful in Dubai, I asked designer Alpana Neeraj Azara? "I think that we are at a very exciting point as far as fashion is concerned," says Azara. "Continuous globalisation is leading to a fusion of cultures. While the western influences have evidently caught on in India in a big way, Indian influences are crossing over too. "For example, Elizabeth Hurley picked Indian outfits from our store that included saris and kurtas for her wedding. There are so many examples where international celebrities have made appearances in Indian outfits," says Azara. Designer Vineet Bahl adds that he sees a cultural similarity between the Arab world and India in terms of clothes and social values, and that's a big reason why Indian designers do so well in Dubai, he says. Not every designer I spoke to however, agrees that traditional designs cross over from one culture to another with ease. "Until I came to this part of the world I did think fashion was universal. But now I know it is still very much influenced by each country's roots and traditions," says Alecca Carrano, a Greek/Lebanese designer who lives and works in India. "A western woman in a sari will never look as graceful as an Indian woman," says Alecca. "And vice versa, an Indian woman is not as comfortable wearing a sexy and revealing gown. But these are extreme examples, because much of the ready-to-wear designs nowadays, cross over very well." Fashion at the end of the day, however, is completely down to individual taste, and pulling off wearing an Indian, American, Italian, Arab or French design, is ultimately down to confidence, and knowing how to mix and match with style. It's likely we are going to see many Indian designs popping up in fashion outlets throughout the region in the near future, so here are some fashion tips from the experts to keep in mind. "My clothes are simple designs in comfortable fabric, because I feel that the wearer's personality shouldn't be overwhelmed by the threads they are sporting. Remember simple is beautiful," advises Vineet Bahl. "It doesn't have to be a big brand name to be beautiful. Small designers and workshops do exquisite things and need to be discovered!" advises Alecca Carrano. Pay a visit to delhifashionweek.com for a closer look at the best India-based designers have to offer.

2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company