Indian fashion industry can’t afford me: Ujjwala Raut

Ujjwala Raut has sashayed down the ramp for international luxury brands like Yves Saint-Laurent, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta but is hardly seen on the Indian ramp. The Indian supermodel candidly admits money is the reason. "They (Indian modelling industry) can’t afford me; that’s why I am rarely seen. Also, my involvement with ad shoots and magazine covers takes maximum time," said Raut. The leggy model shot to fame when she won Femina Look of the Year at the Miss India contest in 1996. She was just 17. The almond-eyed girl was pushed by her elder sister to join this glamorous field. "I used to be an average looking girl; so I had never thought of modelling as a career option. It was my elder sister who inspired me to get into this field. She was completely fascinated by Madhu Sapre and instructed me to follow her and that’s how my journey started," Raut recollected.

Raut has appeared on the cover of fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire and was once the face of Yves Saint Laurent. She has also walked the ramp in Milan, Paris and New York fashion weeks.

Unfortunately, India hasn’t been able to produce any supermodel after the likes of Madhu Sapre, Milind Soman and Raut. And she blames Bollywood for it.

"The main reason why there is no supermodel left in the Indian modelling industry is the presence of Bollywood which has become an obvious career option for most models," she said.

"I never tried Bollywood because it requires a lot of attention and time which I won’t be able to give keeping in mind my other projects. In future I will definitely think about the same but no plans as of now," she added.

Currently Raut is on the judging panel of the NDTV Good Times popular reality show ‘The Hunt for the calendar girl’ 2012 along with Milind Soman and Sonam Kapoor.

Raut feels the most important thing a young model should have is right focus to excel in this business.

"I do what I want to do and I just don’t do anything and everything. There are girls who would often say ‘You are a model, I want to be a model too!’ I would tell them that modeling is not for everybody. You actually have to understand where your interest lies and what you are capable of pursuing as a profession," she said.

Raut, whose father is a cop and mother a homemaker, believes that the Indian modelling industry has increased manifold but there are miles to go before one is satisfied.

"There is no doubt that the Indian modelling industry is growing but it’s still new, while in the West it is very old. In the West, there’s much more competition because you are competing with girls from different parts of the world, whereas in India there are just a few girls from outside, rest all are just Indians," she said.

Indian fashion goes to Spain

Fashion veteran Ritu Kumar is all set to showcase her couture collection in Spain which is awarding the designer for her efforts to popularize the craft and traditional weaves of India.

Kumar would display 10 garments at "Valladolid de Moda Fashion Week" to be held in Madrid and Valladolid from June 28-30 and also participate in business meets with Spanish designers and institutes to brainstorm on fashion collaborations and deals, a first between both the countries.

"The garments are part of my couture collection. I have used dull gold metallic threads and traditional look fabrics with dhapka and mukarish work embellished with sequins to give a royal look," Kumar told reporters.

The designer says she would skip the upcoming couture fashion week in Delhi early next month to participate in the Spanish event.

"I have been invited as the finale designer and FDCI supported my decision to go to Spain as it is a national honour for us," says Kumar who is fellow member of Fashion Design Council of India.

The Delhi-based fashion guru whose work draws heavily from the embroidery and textile heritage of India says she is excited about showing in Spain.

"I am quite excited about the event which will be held in an old monastery outside Madrid. Spain is quite eastern in its aesthetics and they love the colours and drama associated with India," says Kumar who is taking an assortment of Mangalpuri, cotton and Benarasi beadwork on her trip.

The collection employs dull and gold metallic threads, interspersed with a line of antique looking textiles which drape, enhance and produce the most romantic imagery of a yesteryear of royalty.

Organised by Indian cultural centre in Spain, the fashion event would have Indian representation from officials of the Indian Institute of Fashion Technology and FDCI among others.

Alongwith Ritu Kumar, Spanish designer Elyo Berhanyer would also be honoured at the event.

"The objective of this meeting between specialists, institutions and professionals is to provide a platform to discuss a common commercial cooperation, industrial, cultural and educational strategy between the two countries in the fashion industry," says Kumar.