The prestigious talent discovery program- INIFD presents GenNext has announced five winners who will be showcasing their collections at the upcoming FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week scheduled from 12-16 October in Mumbai.
GenNext is one of the most popular and credible platforms in the industry for upcoming designers and so far, has established more than 200 plus designers. For its 34th batch, the winners declared are Aseem Kapoor and Pooja Haldar (Aseem Kapoor), Ateev Anand (Re-), Somya Goyal (Somya Goyal), Arshna Raj (Stoique) and Ankur Verma (TIL).
Like every season, entries were invited for the GenNext programme. The shortlisted designers presented their collections to an expert jury comprising Mehernaaz Dhondy (Editor- Grazia), Aparna Badlani (Creative Director-AZA), Sumati Mattu Head of Innovations, Lakmé, Sabina Chopra GenNext Mentorand Jaspreet Chandok Head of RISE Fashion & Lifestyle.
The INIFD presents GenNext program has been recognized for identifying and providing young and talented designers an opportunity to enhance their skills and take centre stage in the fashion industry.
Announcing the latest batch of GenNext designers, Sumati Mattu, Head of Innovations, Lakmé said, “Discovery of new Talent has been a key pillar of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI. The Gen Next program is a testament to the platform’s longstanding commitment towards identifying, nurturing and promoting young designers who will define the face of tomorrow’s fashion. As we come back to Mumbai for the first time in two years & since the pandemic, we can’t wait to bring alive what the young GenNext designers showcase this season. As Lakmé celebrates an iconic seven decades of reinventing beauty this year, we look forward to seeing the GenNext winners elevate and reimagine contemporary beauty looks inspired by Lakmé’s trend-setting product statements.”
Talking about the GenNext programme Jaspreet Chandok, Head – RISE Fashion and Lifestyle said, “The GenNext programme gives some of the most exceptional young talent in the country an opportunity to showcase their work on a large platform like FDCI X Lakmé Fashion. Over more than a decade, the program has been responsible for introducing stellar designers, several of whom have gone on to make a mark in the Indian and global fashion industry. The winners have been chosen from a bunch of extremely promising entries and I welcome the 34th batch of GenNext designers and hope to see them flourish in the fashion world.”