This event, organised by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), is now in its eighth year, and this year promises to be its biggest yet. There are 82 designers holding shows and on Day 1 the FDCI registered and issued passes to over 60 foreign buyers, who are scouting for design talent from India.

“We have 150 domestic and foreign buyers this year, of whom 30 are first timers,” said Rathi Vinay Jha, chairman, FDCI. The atmosphere is upbeat and positive, despite minor glitches like shows starting half an hour late.

The Buyers Lounge and the stall area for international buyers to check out the designer wear were buzzing with activity throughout the day. “I have had three meetings already, and have tied up with a shop in Bahrain and Sanskrit in Hong Kong,” says Manav Gangwani, a designer, whose show is slated for March 15.

Designer Manish Arora, who could be seen persuading a Japanese buyer to wear his clothes, is enthusiastic about responses to the event. “It is early to say anything yet, since it is just the first day but we are spending time at our stalls talking to buyers,” said Arora.

Rina Shah of the high-end shoe brand, Rinaldi, is participating in an Indian fashion week for the first time, though she has been part of shoe trade fairs in Las Vegas and Milan. “The problem in the Indian market is stores are not willing to buy outright, like how they do in the West. There is still very little focus on accessories which are an integral part of fashion,” says Shah.

While the motive of the designers might be business, there were several interesting sidelights on Day One. Designers cribbed about socialites and customers demanding front row seats and wondered how to tackle the very complicated question of who sits where. “I have a simple policy. The client who spends the most at my shop gets the best seat,” declared Gangwani.