Media V/S Fashion Trial

Many feel that after Cricket and Bollywood, Fashion is the third largest content driver in the country today. You may choose your preferences here and play a quick rating game, yet it would all hardly matter if the Press would show no interest in covering any of this. People often complain that media today is about 'sensationalism' and not 'journalism'. Perhaps it's an accusation that finds us more guilty than innocent. But then we are simply reporting the fast multiplying fashion weeks and the earth shattering splits! Let's just hold an out of court Media v/s Fashion trial and try to reach verdict. The most common peeve of designers, especially the younger ones, is that the media gives a runway show its due only when there is a celeb show stopper. "There was a time when I had left concentrating on my collection to run from pillar to post in order to find a celeb because the PR agency warned me that I would not be covered only if I have some biggie walking the ramp" cries designer Rahul Mishra. Even a veteran like Neeta Lulla complained that her 'eco friendly' bamboo shoot collection went unnoticed for want of a showstopper as against the collection where Sushmita Sentook to the ramp.

The answer is pretty simple- the average Indian is not yet as fashion conscious as a serious viewer in the West. To grab his attention, we have to infuse some 'masala', after all the media has bills to pay too. The solution lies in intelligently positioning one's collection so that it intrigues the media as well the viewer enough to drive the message home. It doesn't obviously matter to a Stylekandy. Comsince we cover fashion as a segment and not as lip sympathy! Another incorrigible complaint is that people reporting fashion are not well equipped with the correct savior faire. Again, this may be too much of a generalization. There are serious media reporters who do it for a passion as much as for a living. I believe the organizers of fashion weeks can also play a major role in filtering the 'wanted' from the 'surplus'. Fashion may still be in a nascent stage here, but people itching around the Parliament all day to get a glimpse of the PM should not be allowed at a fashion week only for building relations by public offerings of sponsored food and booze!

The means of self grooming and procuring professional grounding in fashion are far better reaching than ever before. And if one still chooses to remain ignorant, it´s only prudent on our part to part with him. Nari a stalwart in the design fraternity, was disappointed because, "no one noticed or reported that the show had a structured silhouette juxtaposed with a flowy one." This is not acceptable. Any amount of Sufi mumbo-jumbo will do no good if one can't report what he can see… or furthermore, can't even notice what is shown! Models in the industry feel that they are constantly put under the microscope and the media is ruthless and relentless in their pursuit to pin them down at the sight of the slightest mishap. Here, I am sorry to say, but I hardly identify with them. It's like you spend half your life trying to get famous and then waste the other half complaining about the perks that come with it. As a model, one is expected to remain sartorially perfect at all times, and even an iota of sub-standard attribute will draw unwanted attention. Yes, media should give them a break every now and then. I have to mention what Shahid Kapooronce said to me, "how would you like it if people followed you in the bath room?" I said, "I wouldn't like it since they don´t want to see me naked. They want to see you!"

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