The Federation Of Indian Chambers Of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) Lifestyle Forum had a high-powered launch in the capital, with an all-day seminar titled ‘India – A Future Manufacturing Hub for Global Fashion and Luxury Lifestyle Goods’. Forum chairman Ness Wadia kickstarted the initial proceedings, while dapper Minster of State for Commerce and Industry, Ashwani Kumar, regaled the audience with his observations on style, aesthetics as well as anecdotes about how he almost got recruited by Dior during his student days in Europe. FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra, Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali Lifestyle, and French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont were some of the other speakers at the launch, which also saw the release of the FICCI-Yes Bank study on the growth of the Indian luxury market.

There was a frank exchange of ideas at the two power-packed panels, which featured designers like Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri and Hemant Sagar, retailers like Vispi Patel (LVMH India), Pradeep Hirani (Kimaya) and Sanjay Kapur (Genesis Luxury), and consultants like Neelesh Hundekari (AT Kearnney) and Karan Ahluwalia (Yes Bank). Issues like the need for ‘industry’ status, further support from the government and the improvement of infrastructure available for luxury brands were raised and fiercely debated. All conference attendees received goodie bags with the latest issue of Verve, and the animated conversation continued to flow during session breaks over giant bowls of Fantasie chocolates at the Verve-sponsored hospitality lounge, called Verve Stop.

Following the event, Verve celebrated an early Friendship Day in the capital with a luncheon at The Manor. Arriving guests were welcomed by Parmesh Shahani, Editorial Director, Verve and Rohit Khattar, whose Old World Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. has recently taken over the management of this exclusive Friends Colony luxury boutique hotel, which was earlier an Aman Resort.