New Delhi

Rohit Gandhi - Rahul Khanna & Monisha Jaising to create
Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line

• Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line to be retailed nationally through Wills Lifestyle stores

• To be showcased at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Grand Finale

In a landmark initiative to deepen its association with the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, ITC's Wills Lifestyle today announced a partnership with designer duo of Delhi, Rohit Gandhi - Rahul Khanna and Mumbai based designer Monisha Jaising to create the first edition of the exclusive Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line.

The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line will be first showcased at the Grand Finale and subsequently retailed at Wills Lifestyle stores across the country.

The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Grand Finale, scheduled for April 9, 2006 will be woven around Wills Lifestyle's central theme bringing alive the magic of desire. The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Line created by Rohit Gandhi - Rahul Khanna and Monisha Jaising will express different facets of desire- showcasing a progression from soft & pure romance to the edgy, intense & passionate dimension.

Announcing this at the Wills Lifestyle store, South Extension New Delhi, Atul Chand, General Manager, Marketing & Retail, ITC's Lifestyle Retailing Business, said, "The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week is a unique lifestyle platform. We are committed to support and grow it thru various initiatives including partnering with members of the designer fraternity.

The launch of the 'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week exclusive line' enables the creation of a high-end diffusion range that leverages the creative energies of the fashion fraternity.

With the range being retailed from our stores, we are truly taking the celebration of the event to consumers."

Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna said, "The Indian fashion industry being at a very nascent stage requires support from corporates such as ITC to grow, and it is great to see Wills Lifestyle collaborating with the fashion fraternity.

As forerunners of a structured and constructed look, it has been a challenge for us to merge our mode with the romantic feel this collection exudes. An unprecedented emphasis on detailing and embellishment has made it a competition with ourselves. Textured and especially created fabrics, with new materials and Digital prints add to our quest for merging the Feminine with the Constructed to create a look which is Romantic, yet edgy and glamorous".

Monisha Jaising said, "My collection has been designed for the global Indian women. The collection draws from multi cultural influences to create a modern yet romantic look and feel".

In an exciting sneak preview, well-known models Upen Patel, Sapna Kumar, Vidisha Pavate & Nina Manuel showcased the exclusive line.

About Wills Lifestyle

ITC's Wills Lifestyle has been established as a vibrant fashion brand for the premium consumer. Wills Lifestyle offers a complete lifestyle wardrobe for the premium consumer, incorporating the latest fashion trends, comprising - Wills Classic work wear, Wills Sport relaxed wear, Wills Clublife evening wear, Essenza di Wills range of fine fragrances, bath & body care products and fashion accessories for both men and women. Specially showcased is a range of high-end offerings such as Luxurious shirts & trousers, Formal Jackets, Cashmere and Evening dresses.

A nationwide chain of exclusive specialty stores provides the Indian consumer a truly 'International Shopping Experience' through world-class ambience, customer facilitation and clearly differentiated product presentation. Unique CRM initiatives lay emphasis on a high degree of personalization, and with Club Wills, the loyalty programme that is positioned around fine fashion & fine living; Wills Lifestyle enjoys a strong bonding with its consumers.

Currently there are 40 Wills Lifestyle stores in 30 cities across the country, and the brand is making rapid strides in terms of expansion - doubling the number of stores over the next three years. Wills Lifestyle has received wide recognition within the fashion industry including "Most Admired Exclusive Retail Chain of the Year". For details visit www.willslifestyle.com

About Rohit Gandhi - Rahul Khanna

Rohit Gandhi, after graduating worked with a New York based buying house for five years. He launched the exclusive menswear brand H2O in 1997, which was one of the first prêt labels in the country specializing in men's shirts.

Post graduation, Rahul Khanna did apparel merchandising at NIFT after which he worked as a freelance designer and stylist in various leading export houses for a period of two years.

The year 1998 saw the launch of 'CUE' in Delhi which specialized in women's western wear and men's formal wear. Since then, Cue & H2O have dressed various leading personalities. A favored brand of most celebrities, Cue at its inception filled the gap created by the then increasing demand for chic men's and women's wear in an otherwise ethnic filled fashion market.

CUE & H2O are now available at four stand-alone stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, apart from retailing in Japan, Hong Kong, Turkey, Dubai, Greece, South Africa and London.

About Monisha Jaising

Graduated with a bachelor's degree in fashion design from the American college for applied arts London, then studied history of art at the Royal College of Art London. Began working as a designer cum manufacturer in 1989 mainly exporting a handicraft prêt line to Europe and U.S.A. and selling her design line at Ensemble in Mumbai. Known as the "princess of bohemian luxe", her styling has always used Indian handicrafts from block printing to hand embroideries to suit the European customer. The famous kurti/kaftan that she re-invented in her collection in spring/ summer 2000 became a style statement adopted world wide and was soon stocked by leading stores such as Selfridges in London and Scoop in Network and Miami. Today she also retails from Harrods in London, Lane Crawford and Tabla in Honkong, Mumbai-Se in Singapore, Ensemble in Mumbai and Delhi.

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