India Couture Week Day 1

HDIL india couture week an event people were fervently awaiting; and when it arrived, those present were nothing less than inundated. Though people were a bit apprehensive as it was raining cats and dogs on day 1 of the HDIL India Couture Week, the event couldn't have had a better start than an opulent Ritu Kumar show. It evident that, Kumar had geared up to enchant the audience by her collection, come rain or shine.

Indian diva of fashion designing, Ritu Kumar, marked her 40 years in the Indian fashion fraternity by opening the country's first ever indigenous 'Couture Week' on September 16 at Grand Hyatt, Mumba Opening the couture week with a bang, the ace designer put together a retrospective anniversary collection with a blend of classical designs and modern twists. A beauty beyond praise, Priyanka Chopra was dressed in a red 24 kali ornate lehenga with intricate embroidery and an emerald green short sweetheart neckline choli with churi sleeves made up of net.

An exquisite work of traditional embroidery in the front and back epitomized this unique oh-so-sexy choli with a curve-hugging fit. Hemline was beautifully done with tassels (ghunghru). Fully sequined dupatta enhanced the look of the dress. She stole the heart immediately with her typical bollwood jhatka matka style like kajra-re hairstyle and a teeka. Ritu also had Neha Dhupia in traditional look trying to cash her Julie look, the big bindi, cleavage-showing choli and purple dupatta. It seemed that Ritu was very much inspired by the traditional Indian paisley and prominent use of brocade. Riya Sen's golden choli with deep neckline and Raima Sen's tunic with Rajasthan-inspired motif was an astonishing creation of Ritu Kumar.

Models such as Carol Gracious, Jesse Randhawa, Nayonika Chatterjee, Shamita Singh, Dipannita Sharma, Tapur Chatterjee and Miss India World 2008- Parvathy Omanakuttan, Miss India Earth 2008- Tannic Vyas, Miss India Universe 2008- Simran Kaur Mundi and Miss India Earth 2006- Amruta Patki strutted down the ramp wearing kutchi gathered coats worn over divided loose pants, ghararas, khara dupattas with intricate embellishments, interspersed with a line of antique textiles like kalamkari and jaamdaani. Ritu Kumar's collection perfectly bridged the gap between traditionalism and modernity.

Ritu Kumar, a gem of a fashion designer, has developed a unique style of her own, reflecting the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship in a contemporary vocabulary. Ritu Kumar's understanding of ancient designs and the innovative use of traditional crafts has created a new classicism. Ritu holds the status of a revivalist in the Indian Fashion Industry

Hot Young Models – Their Key Role in Product Marketing Today

Hot young models play a key role in product marketing today.  Just have a glance through the columns of fashion and lifestyle magazines, or TV commercials, other print media advertisements and field publicity campaigns today, and you will find that most of the products are endorsed by young models in hot or sexy costumes, postures and poses.  

Inevitable it seems that for virtually any mass campaign as part of any commercial operation or otherwise, featuring of some hot young model has become the generally followed norm.  In product marketing, the presentation of some theme incorporating some hot young model has become common trend.   For instance, you just have a glance through the plethora of advertisement materials passing off to popularize major consumer product brands.  Whether it is cosmetics, contraceptives, soaps and detergents, laptops, mobile phones, cars, motorbikes, mopeds, computers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, diary products, skin care, healthcare, residential units, sanitary wares or sanitary napkins, you will find the major presence of this sort of models.

As aforesaid, hot young models play a key role in product marketing today.  In consequence, modeling industry generally and young models particularly has acquired greater significance today than ever before.  This phenomenon is directly ascribable to growing consumerism the world over, especially in the growing markets of Asia and Africa.  

Among Asian countries, India and China are the major growing markets of the world today and models form these regions play a significant role in consumer product marketing today.  This is part of the systematic marketing strategy adopted by major consumer product brands.  Among the hot young models who are featured in these advertisements, the majority belongs to the filmdom.  Hence, in the Indian market we can find popular film actresses such as Aiswarya Ray, Susmita Sen, Priyanka Chopra, Asin, Shilpa Shetty, Karishma Kapoor, etc. featured in many of the commercials for product marketing.

The key role of hot young models in product marketing today is very much a debated topic.  It is widely assailed as a syndrome attributed to the consumerist culture.  As most of these models are the popular film celebrities, they are the preferred role models for the young generation.  Hence, the products and services endorsed by them are often easily accepted by the targeted segment.  An international study conducted by a leading marketing consultancy firm to identify consumer preference index shows that above 68% of purchases of majority of product brands endorsed by these hot young models are not based on any real needs.  It is out of fancy value created by these popular models that a sizable segment of the targeted consumers buy these products.