Fashionably True

Fashion-breed @FTV: When it comes to fashion, we talk about elegant, stylish and chic fashion shows by the renowned (and sometimes budding) designers. You get to see super skinny models displaying latest labels of designer outfits (wearable and mostly unwearable) and the shows are organised across fashion capitals like Milan, Paris, London, New York, LA, Miami and in our very own Indian subcontinent. Similarly, no one is unaware of other Indian events like “Lakme Fashion Week” and the making of “Kingfisher Calendar” (is that still on after the Hawai-Jahaz thrashing...well not getting into that). But what has been amazingly new and innovative in its new avatar is that the renowned fashion designers from India as well as across the globe have turned to crowd-sourcing (don’t get confused, information about it is given below). Crowdsourcing: This platform of online medium termed as “fashion crowdsourcing” helps any individual who feels has potential & talent in them to participate in the competition of being associated with fashion designers. Interestingly these crowdsourcing platforms are also integrated with social networking platforms like Facebook & Twitter, where participants’ friends (enemies, strangers, celebrities too) can vote for them. Based on the highest votes and reviews by the designers, the lucky one gets the chance of creating various designer collections in collaboration with the renowned fashion designers. Not only this, he/she after the participation will be closely associated with these models (whom they have watched in TVs or got their glimpse in any fashion show) and would be globetrotting to participate in various shows being organised in the fashion capitals ( it is a great opportunity for those talented designers out there). Beyond designer clothes, various big labels in designer accessories, jewellery, art etc are using crowdsourcing platform. It is fashionably true that digital opportunity is immense and brings with it immense hope to Fashion Designers as well.

Bollywood Unlimited

1982 – Reel Bollywood:
While I had grown up as a kid, I was an ardent fan of Big B (off course I am still a big fan of him) but the scenario then was somewhat different. We were only delighted to see his performance on the silver screen and if we wished to see the same performance repeatedly, we had to book multiple tickets (then there was no option of Bookmyshow or Ticketplease to book tickets online and sometimes we had to pay double the amount). Post that, the era of VCP & VCR (Video Cassette Player & Video Cassette Recorder) emerged where TV used to be the so-called silver screen at home or in clubs. We also had the luxury of reading about our favourite stars in the dailies or magazines. Beyond this, the star connectivity was almost negligible.

2012 – Real Bollywood:
This era brought the real tinsel town from underneath and placed it on our platter; the digital connectivity age. Google tells you all you want to know about your favourite and your not-so-favourite stars. Where they are right now and doing what, Twitter updates you with everything, be it about their mood, what shoot location they are currently in, when they are taking the flight and which city restaurant they are visiting (and lots more, which I cannot put in this small space). Don’t miss the Facebook and the Youtube, where you will be able to find the fan pages to their latest videos (sometimes even the spoofs) and so many of us have been viewing them again and again without even counting how many times. Yes, the Stars love to connect with their fans / followers closely through this virtual world and why not, even they get to promote their latest ventures with the followers, who would eventually brew it as the next blog buster.

2042 – Really Bollywood:
The future will be the Real interaction with the Reel Stars digitally as well as three dimensionally. Gone will be those days where reporters would give away those personal interviews online or anecdotes about their coming project. You yourself can be the latest reporter and could do a one-to-one interaction with your favourite stars. Well it is not my only prediction; the stars predict and anticipate the same. Networking and socialising are the two transitional avenue that will reach to its peak in this era (hopefully the world survives the 2012 prediction). Well all I have to say is long live networking and long live Bollywood Unlimited.