WALKING THE TALK

As India finds new prominence in global fashion, we speak to talent on the highs and lows of walking international runways

- NIDA NAEEM

India is definitely going places on the global map of fashion. Dior’s Pre-Fall 2023 showcase at the Gateway Of India in Mumbai and Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre’s blockbuster opening weekend have had headlines in a chokehold, and talks of the country finally finding its place on the world’s fashion map have resurfaced. But rewind a bit from these spectacles of clothes and celebrity conviviality, and you might spot a lot of melanin on Fall 2023 runways.

Our country’s role within global fashion isn’t just limited to the craftsmen who work behind-the-scenes or an emerging audience of luxury consumers; increasingly, our talent is fundamentally involved in the very public exercise of making clothes covetable on the runway.

The pressing need for inclusivity has pushed designers and casting directors to cast Indian and Indian-origin talent on a scale that can resist allegations of tokenism. And truth be told, it’s about time.

FOOT IN THE DOOR

While the barrier to entry within the industry isn’t high, opportunities to get scouted are erratic, and often it all boils down to being seen at the right place by the right people. But social media is making it easier for scouts to find fresh faces, and for aspiring models to make their presence known.