Mehta is one of a host of designers who turns to Mumbai every season for some good business. Like Abdul Haldar. The 26-year-old graduate from the Pearl Academy of Fashion shifted to Delhi from hometown Kolkata a couple of years ago, but instead of showing at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (LIFW), he is looking to show off at the LFW for a second season. “Ideally, I’d love to show in both Delhi and Mumbai. In fact, if all goes well, that should probably happen next season, but till then it is just Mumbai,” he says.

This year, eight of 15 in the Gen-Next and Emerging Designer categories at the LFW are from the NCR. Among established designers, apart from regulars like Vineet Bahl, Anupama Dayal and Sonam Dubal, veteran designer JJ Valaya too is set to show his Valaya Base line in Mumbai with an opening show for sponsor Gitanjali. “It’s a special-invitation show, so there’s no question of switching allegiance from Mumbai to Delhi,” Valaya is quick to add, “I am taking the first flight back after my show.”

While the WIFW is the place where business is at a premium for established designers, LFW holds out the same promise for designers still trying to carve a space for themselves in the Indian market. So, while the WIFW is stringent in their selection process, Mumbai is much more congenial to youngsters. “We have always maintained that it’s a platform for young and up-and-coming designers. So all our endeavours go in promoting them as best as we can,” says Vikram Raizada, head of IMG India, co-organiser of the LFW.