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.

Priyanka Chopra walks the ramp for Ritu Kumar

Bollywood actress and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra says she gets goosebumps whenever she sashays down fashion runways.

'I am not a ramp-friendly person, as professionally I have walked the runway just for a couple of months. You can say I am out of practice,' Priyanka said after she turned out for designer Ritu Kumar at the inaugural show of the HDIL Indian Couture Week on late Tuesday.

'In movie making, we have so many cuts and takes that we can cover up our goof ups but on the ramp, everything is live. Hats off to the professional models who do it so gracefully,' says Chopra.

Chopra had first walked the ramp for Kumar when she was just 16, and doesn't remember the last time she did so professionally,.

'I have been doing it for friends only, like I did today but apart from that, I do not remember when was the last time I did it professionally,' says Chopra.

”After winning Miss World title, I shifted to movies so there was no scope of doing it on a professional level.”

Chopra had made her Bollywood debut with Anil Sharma's The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy (2002) but climbed the ladder of success two years later with Aitraaz, in which she played a negative role. Very soon, the actress will be seen in Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion' in which she is plays the role of a supermodel named Sonia.

'I have got so much into the skin of my character that while walking the ramp there was a sense of deja vu that director would yell Cut. Of course, that did not happen,' Chopra said smilingly.

Apart from Fashion, the actress will be seen in Goldie Behl's Drona opposite Abhishek Bachchan and Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana, also opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The movies are slated for release in October and November respectively.