Indian Spices on the Design Fashion Plates

Indian Spices on the Design Fashion Plates
India's fashion designers may not yet have worldwide recognition but their fresh ideas - and the country's booming economy - are turning the heads of foreign buyers.

"It's an exciting time to be here. There's a serious buzz about India.

The wealth here is growing. It's the same for fashion," said Patrick Hanly, commercial director for British style emporium Harvey Nichols.

Mr Hanly is one of dozens of buyers from the world's top department stores in New Delhi last week for the Indian capital's seventh fashion week, at which nearly 80 designers unveiled their autumn-winter 2006-07 collections.

"India is a big buzz right now. It needs to be investigated," said Chantal Rousseau, who works for U.S. chain Bloomingdales.