How Japan, Libya impact Delhi fashion ~ Life Stylzz

Even as Japan grapples with the combined impact of the tsunami and a nuclear disaster, Indian designers are worried about the consequences of the current global situation on their businesses.

Furthermore, the politically fragile situation in Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Libya has resulted in business being impacted for them. While speaking to us, many fashion designers say that they fear a dip in participation from Japanese buyers at the upcoming edition of the fashion week in Delhi, which is from April 6 to April 10. And for some, the unrest in the Middle East has already resulted in a decrease in the business coming from there this season.

Says designer Niki Mahajan, "Over 40% of my business comes from Japan, and though I am in regular touch with my clients there, the situation seems tense. People are being asked to save power and electricity, and have been advised not to leave their houses because of the radiation. So, one doesn't know what will happen and if the buyers will be able to come." Designer Namrata Joshipura too is in touch with her buyers. She says, "I've spoken to one of my buyers, and they are trying to make it here. The situation in Japan is quite grim. Things were a little slow in Paris too this year given the political crisis in the Middle East, buyers from there were slow on buying."

In fact, the Middle Eastern buyers spend heavily during the fashion week in Delhi too, so there's reason to worry. Says Niki, "Our Egyptian buyers who placed orders last season are having difficulties sending money to us as transfers are not taking place. Middle Eastern ones are cancelling orders as they don't know how the situation will turn out to be."

But some, like designer Gaurav Gupta, who've already received orders at other international fairs, are not apprehensive. "I don't think it'll be a problem because most of my buyers placed orders with me in Paris during the fashion week itself," says Gupta.

FDCI president Sunil Sethi says there's nothing to worry about. "We expect the same number of Japanese buyers that we have every season, or perhaps even more. Neha from our secretariat is constantly in touch with buyers from Japan, and even in this face of calamity, we haven't seen any cancellations. We have hired an agent on behalf of FDCI in Japan who'll help us with the business. We are expecting all our buyers, but one cannot be sure of how much buying they do eventually."