Wills Lifestyle supports new designers

Wills Lifestyle has taken forward its search for promising talent with the fourth edition of "The Debut', a distinctive platform that recognises India's young fashion talent. The contest was initiated three years ago in 2007.

This year the contest received an overwhelming response through more than 320 entries from all over India, including students from country's prestigious fashion institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID) and Pearl Academy of Fashion. Out of 200 portfolios received, the creative team of the abovementioned institutes further short listed the entries to 45 potential candidates, who presented their creations in front of an eminent jury at the regional rounds held at Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai. After the regional rounds, 14 potential candidates were short listed who presented their collection today in New Delhi at the finale.

For this edition of "The Debut', the students were given a theme to draw inspiration for the creations - "Sunhera Kal : For all our tomorrows". The criteria for selection required the garments to signify continuous existence, societal, development, product & technology innovations which promote sustainable lifestyle and sustainability of life.

Selected from the shortlisted participants, the winner of The Debut 2010 is Sanjit Rath of NID (National Institute of Design) Ahmedabad, who received a trophy besides an all expenses paid trip to an International Fashion Fair and an opportunity to work with ITC Ltd. He will also be felicitated at the forthcoming edition of WIFW AW'10 being held in New Delhi from March 24-28,

The Finale was judged by an eminent panel comprising of designer members of FDCI ' Rina Dhaka and Payal Jain, Banhi Jha, Dean ' NIFT Delhi and Rinku Kaicker, Head of Design, ITC's Lifestyle Retailing.

Mr. Atul Chand, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC's Lifestyle Retailing Business Divison said, "Wills Lifestyle's "The Debut' reflects our commitment towards wider engagement with the fashion fraternity through recognizing and promoting new talent. We are encouraged by the very enthusiastic response that the fourth edition of this annual initiative has received. We are sure the initiative will go from strength to strength in the years to come."

"The Debut has already added a new dimension to our engagement with various constituents of the fashion fraternity including designers, students of fashion and models," he adds.

List of finalists:

-National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi ' 4 students

-National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad ' 1 student

-Pearl Academy Of Fashion- 4 students

Sanjit Rath, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Niyati Amlani, NIFT, Mumbai

Pranita Mujgelwar, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Esha Naryanan, NIFT, Mumbai

Rakhi Anand, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Anjan Singh, Pearl Academy of Fashion

Misti Subhan, NIFT, Hyderabad

Vineeta Khanna, Pearl Academy of Fashion

Fazal Mahmood, NIFT, New Delhi

Akash Malhotra, Pearl Academy of Fashion

Kriti Tula, Pearl Academy of Fashion

Sonu Ranjan, NIFT, New Delhi

Aneesha Chisti, NIFT, New Delhi

Pooja Rajgariha, NIFT, New Delhi