Indian fashion is a housewives’ operation

He is not one to flaunt it, but designer Ravi Bajaj is one of the heavyweights of the Indian fashion industry. His reputation as a shy and recluse designer precedes him.
Ask him about the same and the effervescent designer quickly defends himself counter-questioning, ���Who told you I���m a recluse?��� I rephrase my question asking him why one doesn���t see him participating in the various fashion weeks held in India and Ravi says, ���I don���t know if I am made for them.��� Explaining his stand he says that for him, a fashion week is equivalent to a trade event.���But the way they are conducted here, it���s absolutely chaotic ��� the whole process, stalls included, is utter chaos and I cannot handle that.���
Veering to the longstanding Bombay-Delhi fashion divide debate, I ask Ravi about his take on India having five fashion weeks, and he says, ���One has time to indulge in this kind of petty politics only when they don���t have work to do. My cash register is ringing and I am busy counting my money. I don���t have time to waste trying to figure out who���s doing what and which camp they are joining.��� He adds that most of this petty infighting and bickering is the result of the evergrowing number of Indian designers fishing for a very small market share.
So what is it exactly that���s plaguing the Indian fashion industry? He opines that there is a problem through out the system. ���Neither are the designers organised nor are the retailers.��� According to him, while many designers are lax when it comes to deadlines, the biggest problem that stores in India face is the lack of professional merchandiser. ���Indian fashion is run by housewives and that���s the reality,��� Ravi says without batting an eyelid. He adds, ���If business has to really improve and flourish, we needs good and professional retailers, especially mid-level or boutique level retailing.���
As for the solution, Ravi quite emphatically says, ���A lot of people who are in it have no business being in the fashion business, they need to get out of it. That will simplify things. Currently, everybody has an opinion on fashion. But all this will change. It���s going to get completely professionalised with bigger stores, bigger people and bigger players coming in.���
Ravi is one of the fistful of Indian designers who is as ��� if not more ��� reputed for his men���s wear as his women���s clothing lines. He says, ���Men���s fashion will be the things to watch out for, especially in India.��� He adds that though the going is slightly tough right now, this is one market with plenty of potential. ���That is why I continue to do it even though it���s investment heavy and gives limited returns. I almost think that it���s my responsibility to carry on doing men���s wear,��� Ravi concludes.