'India is nowhere on the global fashion map': Puneet Nanda

It's a view not many of his peers will endorse or be happy reading about, but Satya Paul's head designer Puneet Nanda is not afraid to say it as he sees it. "India is nowhere on the global fashion map. As far as I'm concerned, only if you've made it in Paris, you've made it, and sadly there's nobody from India who is somebody in Paris yet," he states candidly.

He continues, "This is why, recession or no recession, it is stupid for the Indian fashion frat to divide itself." He is, of course, responding to a question on what the industry should do to combat the economic meltdown.

Like most design houses, Satya Paul, known best for its art-inspired saris, has also tightened its purse strings on all expenses, but as he says, "The market is down, but not out by any standards. There will definitely be growth, though it may not be as much as we had planned."

He, however, insists as far as design is concerned the brand is not making any compromises. "We are in fact in the process of making our signature series (available only at Emporio in Delhi) even more exclusive and expensive," he adds.

Delhi-based Puneet, however, has more meaningful plans for the brand, one of which involves holding a special celeb-studded fashion show on Women's Day (March 8) in Mumbai. The brand is currently in talks with two NGOs — Global March for the girl child and Saheli for the working class woman — as well potential sponsors. "We are extremely keen to make this happen mainly to spread awareness about the plight of the girl child and underprivileged women in general. Finding a sponsor though is proving to be tough," he informs.