Top Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu and Esha Gupta will be walking the ramp for a special collection at the most extravagant celebration of 100 years of Indian Cinema in aid of Pratham, India’s largest education NGO working to improve learning levels amongst underprivileged children.
The event is set to be a star-studded affair with a host of British Asian celebrities such as Gurinder Chadha and Preeya Kalidas who have also confirmed their attendance.
Guests will experience a unique collection which is inspired by the three main eras of fashion in Indian Cinema, spanning from 1913 to 2013. They will be taken on a journey of mesmeric panache and distinctive style from every iconic period in Bollywood including a black & white, colour and a pattern era.
The event will also include a ‘jugalbandi as performance art’ from top Indian contemporary artist Manav Gupta (listed amongst the top ten in India by the FT) and widely regarded as a maverick genius. For the first time in London, he will be translating a Sarod performance by Pt. Wajahat Khan LIVE on canvas in front of the audience in stroke play that has no parallel.
Starting his career as a costume designer for films, Bollywood gave Malhotra a creative platform to revolutionise the Indian fashion industry. He has dressed the crème de la crème of Indian celebrities and his reputation also extends beyond the subcontinent with International celebrities including Demi Moore, Kylie Minogue, Reese Witherspoon, Karolina Kurkova, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell counting him as one of their favourite designers.
On lending his support to Pratham Malhotra said: “I am glad to be associated with Pratham, which helps educate underprivileged children in India, a cause which means a lot to me. September is the start of the Indian festive season and I’m excited to celebrate it in London with my 100 years of Indian Cinema fashion show. Bollywood and fashion are both very close to my heart, my journey as a costume designer to a couturier during the last 23 years has been an emotional experience and I’m happy to be sharing it on an International stage”.
Proceeds from ticket sales and an exclusive live auction will go towards the Pratham Institute which focuses on providing young people with the employability skills needed to address India’s growing need for skilled manpower. Between now and 2025, about 250 million young people are estimated to enter the Indian workforce, while only 5% of them aged 20-24 have obtained vocational skills through a formal training system.
Roy Martins, Board Director of Pratham UK said “Manish is an inspiring individual who has achieved success through sheer determination. We welcome his support and hope that his success will inspire the young minds that Pratham aim to ignite through the funds raised at this event”.
