For supermodels Lakshmi Rana, Candice Pinto and Deepti Gujral, trend reveals imply backstage frenzy with a swarm of designers, make-up artists and hairdressers, strolling the ramp in a brand new ensemble to cheering trend connoisseurs, influencers, celebrities and flashbulbs popping. “These memories are etched forever,” say the trio who will make a brand new starting with digital Lakme Fashion Week 2020 from October 20-25. The fashions share their preparations, challenges and the way they miss the dwell motion within the post-pandemic trend world.

Relieved to be again

“Media buzz, around 30 photographers taking pictures from the front row and a cheering audience are the norm at any fashion show. A digital show is much quieter; it’s sans audience and with only the crew,” says Lakshmi Rana who walks for designers Pankaj & Nidhi and Rimzim Dadu. She provides, “The live buzz is missing but everyone’s grateful to see the efforts to get the fashion industry back in order and give people work. Shoots in a digital format may not be as exciting as a live show, but it is a relief to be back.”

Lakme Fashion Week shoots had been executed within the first week of October and post-production work was accomplished in the previous couple of days.

Modalities concerned

So how does a digital present work? A digital camera crew captures fashions strolling on a ramp, showcasing the dsigns; a number of pictures of various digital camera angles are then edited and introduced in a grand manner.

In modern trend reveals, fashions should work quick since they showcase a number of outfits in a single present. In distinction, digital reveals take extra time resulting from re-takes to make sure the staff will get the right shot. “The camera zooms in on designs and models need patience to follow instructions to suit the camera,” says Candice Pinto, who has modelled for 20 years. She calls the cheering viewers in a dwell present ‘an extra boost’. “We do miss that element but after having done fashion shows for so many years, it doesn’t affect us.”

In her first digital present, Candice showcases designs by Manish Malhotra, Gaurang (Gaurang Gupta), JADE by Monica & Karishma and Abraham & Thakore. Admitting she was hesitant, she says, “Being from Mumbai, the worst-hit city, safety was the the first thing that crossed my mind. The protocol of testing us one week before isolating us in a hotel made us agree to the show. We were excited but also scared of the situation.”

Lakshmi, who had additionally participated in Digital India Couture Week 2020 provides, “It was amazing to see camera capturing even intricate details in a virtual display. I am also eager to see how the production team uses the shots in front of a green screen. There were just eight of us (models) shooting between shows.”

Deepti Gujral strolling in her first digital trend week for Gaurang, Manish Malhotra, Bemberg Presents Hemang Agrawal says, “There is so much happening in the country, not just the pandemic but even the economy is low. It is a big thing if amid all this, we are able to keep the industry alive with a virtual show.”

The fashions would begin by 10 am and wrap by 6 pm. According to Deepti, the perfect a part of a digital present is its re-shoots and modifying scenes however the reveals too have a time restrict. “There is an equal amount of pressure and hard work. One can definitely take more shots but with four shows in a day, one cannot spend time re-shooting. Models have to be versatile to give good shots so that one can move on to the next shot to save time.”

Lakshmi considers her Rohit Bal’s present for Lakme Fashion Week Finale executed 4 years in the past at St Stephen’s College as her favorite. “The entire building was lit up, creating an amazing imagery; The show for Amit Agarwal at the iconic Mukesh Mills in Colaba was also special.”

She provides, “ Keeping the pandemic scenario in mind, I feel a sense of gratitude. However, I hope things will normalise by next year. I don’t think this is the only pandemic we are facing and there could be things which may go wrong later. People have discovered many positive points in a virtual format and I feel it is the future.”