Models representing India stride down a long, pearly-white and polished runway wearing colorful and carefully beaded traditional dress. Each outfit that sashayed down the catwalk shimmered when it caught the light.
Each side of the stage has two large boards with the writing “LA India Fashion Week.”
Just three days before the world-famous LA Fashion Week, LA India Fashion Week was ready to showcase the beautiful ethnic wear for the second consecutive year at Holiday Inn’s Grand Ballroom in Buena Park, California.
Hosted by Nellie Christine, author of the blog FoodeCall, the event showcased seven designers with their extravagant clothing from India and the United States.
The event also featured more than 30 vendors from India and the United States and displayed everything from jewelry, clothing and shoes for purchase.
Celebrity designer and TV mogul Rohit Verma’s collection, inspired by Gods and Angels, is from Lucknow, India.
“Voila,” by Roma Bhalla, presented their hand embroidered traditional collection, popular Indian wear stores Sari Palace, Frontier Heritage and debuted their collection’s local clothing designers such as B.H. Kazimov and Harshi’s appeared in the show.
Designers and vendors from across the globe came to participate in this celebration of Indian culture.
Simran Singh, part of Benerose, came all the way from Bombay, India, to display clothing and jewelry.
“We are so excited to be here and this is a special event for us,” Singh said.
Smita Vasant is the founder and main organizer for the event. This is her second year coordinating LA India Fashion Week.
“Basically, our goal is to promote Indian fashion and Indian designers,” Vasant said. “We have so many of those here in Southern California, but for this exhibition we have many that have come from different states and some from India as well.”
Sarees, lehenga cholis, shalwars and dresses were not the only designs on the runway, Indian jewelry was also a part of the show to give a touch of sparkle to the outfits. Hand embroidered and unique fabrics decorated with beads, pearls and sequins came to life on the runway.
With outfits, jewelry and shoes for all occasions under one roof, LA Indian Fashion Week was more than just clothes, it was about facilitating a cultural experience.
An organizing team of more than 35 models and an elaborate makeup team dedicated their whole day to working the event.
Sweta Shah, a model at the LA India Fashion Week, was excited to participate in the show.
“I’ve always been here, it is always a once a year event,” Shah said. “It’s pretty fascinating, beyond India, we have something here in LA. I love it.”