Q. Do you see an Issey Miyake emerging out of the Indian fashion scene?
A. Yes, yes, yes, of course yes! But, it will be different because when Japan emerged in the '50s, they had no fashion at all - they had only three-dimensional costume. Issey Miyake had been an assistant of Givenchy in Paris, so he knew how to cut, besides having his Oriental sensibility. The Japanese brought something to the industry which was fantastic. What India will bring will not be the same.

Q. What will India's long-time fashion contribution be?
A. Each time that a country emerges so strongly onto the scene, it changes fashion forever. India comes with a very clear message of peace, of femininity and of colour. Very few people realise that there is an expression of fashion which can only come from India but is not necessarily Indian.

Q. Indian women?
A. In people's minds, in Europe, the image of India comes through a woman. We have known it since we were babies - the eyes, the hair, the sari, the type of jewellery - it is familiar. It is really amazing that Indian personalities, their secretness, are so familiar. Therefore, Indian culture merging into the world imagination is very quick. It is a plus that India is so pacific and so costumed.