Manish Arora at Paris Fashion Week

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New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) Acclaimed designer Manish Arora will be the first Indian designer to showcase his collection at the Paris Fashion Week late this year, the announcement of which came hours before the culmination of the much-talked-about Wills India Fashion Week (WLIFW) tonight, thereby pouring cold water on the stimulus of the grand finale by designer of repute Rajesh Pratap Singh.

Manish, the member designer of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), got the opportunity after his successful showcase at the WLIFW yesterday. The Paris Fashion Week is to be held from September 30 to October 7 this year.

He was selected by President Federation Francaise de la Couture Du Prte-a-Porter des Couturiers et des Createurs de Mode, Didier Grumbach and Owner and buyer of Maria Luisa Chain, one of the most reputed stores in Paris, Maria Luisa.

Besides, six other FDCI member-designers were selected to be a part of the Festival International des Arts de la Mode et de la Photographie (International Fashion and Photography Festival) at Hyeres in the south of France from April 28-30 this year.

The offer has come as a ''morale booster'' for the Fashion Design Council of India, the organisers of the event, as it explores its association with international fashion councils.

The making of designer Rajesh Pratap Singh's 'Deeper Love' on day five marked the end of the WLIFW. The collection interpreted the designer's portrayal of intense love for the event. An inspiration from one of the most sublime human emotions, 'Deeper Love' was a magnificent portrayal of intense love was a mix of 1940 and 1920.

The collection emphasised on-shoulder construction and low-waisted shapes and 1920 lingerie creation. Silk and wool dominated the show.

Noted Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah did a prelude for Rajesh's show, which was somewhat a subdued affair.

Meera and Muzaffar Ali's 'Kotwara' hit the ramp just before the Grand Finale. Kotwara, which came into being nearly two decades ago, was aimed at reviving the traditional craft, upgrading its design content and creating a modern relevance in its application. Weaving, embroidery in chickan, zardozi, kaamdani, stitching techniques of tutri and daraz were the main showings of the collection.

The final day of the event also witnessed varied collections from designers Jatin Varma in a joint-show with Mynah-Renu Tandon, Aparna and Nordan Wangdi, among others.

Jatin's collection revolved around women's beauty, displaying slinky gowns and short cocktail dresses.

Renu came up with 'Boroque Passion', a creation influenced by the past with pallets ranging from brown, bronze, white with bits of red. It was followed by Aparna and Norden Wangdi's 'As You Like It' collection, a Shakespeare-inspired creation. The duo showcased blouses and skirts designed in 34 different styles along with trousers, dresses, corsets and jackets.