Off-site fashion is the newest trend that I see catching up very soon in India. On being asked by one of the publications recently, as to the reason we don’t see it happening around us is mainly because people are still scared to experiment on such a drastic format where you are taking fashion on an unknown and totally unexplored arena (unexplored at least in India).

Things take time to trickle down and be accepted here.

For me art and fashion are very intertwined and I see art seeping into fashion and vice versa. When we talk of off-site fashion showings I would imagine it to be a very artistically formatted event. When I say artistically formatted, I mean bringing out the essence of what is being showcased because in such a scenario, the surroundings are chosen very carefully to suit the garments.

Especially in this situation, the space for the show is specifically chosen with a higher sense of fine aesthetic. For example, someone like me, who draws inspiration from simpler and mundane things of life, would perhaps choose a spot like an unfinished flyover or the top of an old bus to use as the runway.

I saw a lot of off-site guerilla fashion in New York and streets of London this summer. Walking through the streets, one felt inspired looking at the beautiful interpretations of fashion and art.

I feel, with so many fashion weeks cropping up in India, the logical direction is evolution of fashion. And this evolution should ideally be in a newer and more experimental format. This format can easily be something like off-site fashion shows. I definitely see a dramatic change in the coming times.

Fashion will become a larger and more expansive canvas for off-site fashion.

People will soon start looking for something more than just a regular showcasing or garments.

In my opinion, a fashion show is more about the experience you take back with you. Not undermining the business angle, in the same breath, I will say that today, the experience is what changes the entire picture. It is the whole package that matters as opposed to just one or two elements.

Hence very soon we will find ourselves yearning for a lot more.

Coming back to the fact that we have fashion weeks coming up by the dozens, we have so much fashion around us to soak in. Ideally, we would see a leap wherein fashion and art will find room for each other and the canvas of expression and possibilities will increase multi-fold. This would be an ideal situation but unfortunately, we still seem to have a lot of convincing to do.

Aesthetics is not one of the best tools we, as a race, are armed with today. Although culturally we have proved beyond doubt how advanced our aesthetics have been, the biggest example being the sari, I think it is the most beautiful silhouette one can boast ownership to.

Coming back to the point, despite so much fashion around us, we take little in. Our first step to making a difference would be to educate ourselves towards knowing that fashion is not as frivolous as it is made to be. Presentation of the self is of supreme importance. Having understood this, we can work towards the finer nuances and chisel our skills for a better understanding of the all-encompassing word - Fashion.