Part deux of India?s fashion week (well, Mumbai?s Lakme sponsored one at least) begins tomorrow. And even though Lakme?s VP Anil Chopra insists it will be ?about the business of fashion?, there?s enough to keep coloured pages colourful.


?This is the first time that international designers are coming into India,? says Chopra, commenting on the presence of South African designer Clive Rundle and French designers Leonard and Nathalie Garcon. ?When we took Sabyasachi Mukherjee to New York, he had orders worth half-a million dollars. We?re just showing that designer traffic shouldn?t be one way.?


Having said that, Mumbai will flaunt its Bollywood connections for sure. And it will all start with Narendra Kumar?s show. The opening act will have Kumar?s unofficial brand ambassador John Abraham shaking his tush on the runway yet again (Abraham opened March?s fashion week with Rocky S). While girlfriend Bipasha Basu will gush from the front row. ?Having a star on the ramp brings in a whole new audience for a designer,? says Kumar. ?John was kind enough to volunteer to do this, he?s only doing it out of respect for my work.?


Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan, Zayed Khan and Ayesha Takia are expected to attend Bollywood stylist Vikram Phadnis? show (who?s missing Manish Malhotra now?) ?But I want to keep it serious. This show will have the highest production values I?ve ever done,? Phadnis adds.


Then there is the glamorous triumvirate of Nandita Mahtani, Surily Goel and Seema Khan. If not yet for sartorial skills, these sirens? social connections will ensure the most glamorous guest list. ?I like to keep my shows like me, simple and straightforward,? says Mahtani. And chic? ?Hopefully that too,? she laughs. Mumbai?s pretty socialites Queenie Dhody, Anju Taraporvala, Laila Lamba, Ramona Narang and Avanti Birla will be there.


Goel?s debut show last season was dotted with the more film stars than in Filmcity on an average day. And Khan bahu Seema?s fashion week debut this Friday will not only have sister-in-law Malaika on the runway, but Sohail, Arbaaz , Helen and even Salman.


The newbies aren?t to be left behind either. Abhishek Datta promises Leander Paes and Rhea Pillai, while Hyderabad?s Ananda Kabra?s hoping Diya Mirza, Sania Mirza, Nagesh Kukunoor and Tabu show up. There are parties galore.


Last night saw the opening soiree at the Taj President, while the finale do is being hosted at the stylish new Japanese restaurant Tetsuma. The South African Tourism Board?s also having one on Wednesday at the chic bar, Taxi, where brand ambassador Anil Kapoor is scheduled to attend.





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