Lakme India Fashion Week, represented by Fashion Design Council of India, kicks off in New Delhi today, March 20. The 61 designers, who will participate in India's largest and most important B-2-B fashion event, will showcase their Pret-a-Porter and Diffusion (a line between ready-to-wear and couture) collections in Indian, Indo-Western and Western categories.

 "It gives me great pride in presenting to you another edition of Lakme India Fashion Week," said Ms. Rathi Vinay Jha, Director-General of FDCI, while announcing the names of the designers. "The event has moved from strength to strength each year with contributions from each one of us present here today. LIFW has played a key role in popularizing the concept of designer prêt and in the corporatisation of the fashion design industry in India, which is the way forward to take this industry to the next level. The credit of this unprecedented success goes to all - designers, buyers, media and sponsors. Participation from major international buyers like Saks and Browns for the first time at LIFW 2004 is indicative of a bright future for the fashion design industry in India. Excise sops provided by the Union government and a booming economy have provided further impetus for designers to explore the tremendous potential of the domestic market.”

In 2003, FDCI gave upcoming models an opportunity to demonstrate their talent to the best in the fashion design industry through the process of auditions.

Lakme India Fashion Week originated in 2000, with participation of 33 designers, as a controversial, first ever fashion business event.

The first day of this year's fashion week will feature shows by designers Ritu Kumar, Rina Dhaka, Abhishek Gupta and Nandita Basu, Payal Jain, Aparna and Norden and Rocky S.