PRET PERFECT: Models display NIFT creations at last year's fashion confluence

It's an eventful month for India's fash frat. And all the action is happening in Delhi. The students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi, are holding their annual fashion show from May 15 to 24. The "final fashion show", called Confluence, bringing together the best of talent from all nift centres, will be held at Siri Fort Auditorium at 7 p.m. on May 22. On display the day before will be outfits from the knitwear design collection. The ongoing New Delhi International Fashion Week 2002 (till May 15) at Hotel Grand Intercontinental has a plethora of Indian and foreign designers from as many as nine countries converging during the five-day fashion spread. Among them, names like Daniel Herman, who made his debut at the London Fashion Week 2001, and Fang Ying, who was listed one of "Top 10 Designers in China" in the years 1998 and 2002, figure. Among the high priests of fashion at the show from the subcontinent are design gurus Rohit Bal and Monapali. The schedule also includes a special show by students of Delhi's JD Institute of Fashion Technology.

SHELF LIFE
Art for All: It's Vinyasa Art Gallery's yearly show. Called the Annual Affordable Art Show, on till June 25, there's "art for all" at prices that surprise. Pick paintings, sculptures and drawings from Rs 335 to Rs 5,000. On display are works of over 110 Indian artists. Names like Alok Bhattacharya, Milind Nayak, Achuthan Kudallur figure. So do M.F. Husain and Raja Ravi Varma prints. At The Music Academy premises, T.T.K. Road, Chennai. Call: (044) 811-5073.

Sparklers: Estelle of Normak Fashions, a women's jewellery major, has just launched Radiance, its mid-summer designer line. Includes light, delicate jewels for the young. Necklaces, bracelets and drops in gold, silver and crystal come in smooth curves and floral designs. Call: (040) 720-7882 (Hyderabad).
Lots in Store: Shoppers' Stop's ongoing summer festival, called 'Dad and Me', on till June 2, promises to be a complete treat for the the family. There's lots in store, including events and contests. Any purchase of Rs 1,500 entitles you for a lucky draw. Each winning Daddy will be gifted Rs 4.5 lakh as insurance for his child's education. In outlets across leading cities. Call: (011) 627-6169/71.

BAZAAR NEWS
Designer Deluge: The spate of summer shows continues in the capital. The ramp has hotted up like never before. Over the past two weeks, Delhi designers Monisha Bajaj and Ashima Leena Singh had separate shows to launch their new summer lines. Trendy Delhi designer Aparna Chandra had her second show in two weeks at the French Embassy. Bajaj's fashion cum cultural show was dedicated to the Olympic spirit. So lots of Greek-inspired classical designs that ruled the runway. Ashish Soni, yet another designer, showed his "menswear summer collection 2002" at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium at Janpath. From the looks of it, there's more in line. Watch this space.

TREND SPEAK
The look for 2002 is a fair amount of tradition with oodles of contemporary glamour, glimmer and chic. As far as diamonds and platinum go, less is more.
J.J. Valaya, fashion designer