Fashion designers, models and industry insiders will gather in Moscow for the Mercedez Benz Fashion Week later this months. The event, which is by-invitation-only, will last from May 18 through 22 and will showcase the works of designers around the world. Indian designer Ravi Bajaj will share the catwalk with Emanuel Ungaro. "There's going to be Ungaro and me, and one designer from the US and another from Malaysia," he told the Indo-Asian News Service. "The great thing about the whole event is that I am on the same platform as Ungaro, who is a legend by any standard. That's really fascinating."

"The reason why they called designers from around the world is because they want to see the different design sensibilities and not the same Western aesthetics," said Bajaj, who is determined to promote traditional Indian style. The designer, whose sleek, tasteful and unfussy style brought him national acclaim in his native India, and also the first in his home country to come up with a ready-to-wear line, will showcase his collection on May 20.

The event, that will feature designers like Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, Bernard Chandran, Victoria Ardiayanova and Denis Simachev is set to take place in Vasiliev Theater and a number of other locations. The collection by Emanuel Ungaro will open the Moscow edition of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Photo: Ravi Bajaj Collection