Dedicated to eco-fashion, 3rd Marie Claire Fashion Awards in Delhi today

Stage is set for the third edition of Marie Claire Fashion Awards, which is being held in Delhi on December 17, 2010. NDTV Good Times is the television partner for the awards, while Hindustan Times (HT City) is the print partner. ‘Marie Claire’ magazine, from Group Marie Claire of France and under the aegis of Outlook Group, is also celebrating its 4th anniversary in India this year.

Speaking on the eve of the Awards, Suresh Selvaraj, President, Outlook Group and Marie Claire, remarked, “This year, the Awards are dedicated to ‘Eco-Fashion’, fashion that is sensible and sustainable. The Eco-Fashion collection will be shown during the event and ‘Best Designer for Eco-Fashion’ will get recognised. Apart from some special categories, Awards will be given in 12 categories.”

The term ‘Eco-Fashion’ refers to stylised clothing that uses environmentally sensitive fabrics and responsible production techniques. The group has specially put together a list of ‘eco designers’ who have pushed boundaries with their collections, these include Rahul Mishra, Digvijay Singh, Anita Dongre, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Aneeth Arora, James Ferreira, Wendell Rodricks and Anupamaa Dayal. Pieces showcased will then be retailed at luxury designer store Ensemble in early January 2011 and a percentage of the profits will go to an NGO that helps the eco-fashion cause.

When asked how on-ground had activities helped the magazine brand to strengthen its presence, Selvaraj replied, “Apart from fashion awards, we do 5-6 on-ground activities in a year, which help in engaging readers with the brand. As consciousness about fashion is growing in the country, the readership of fashion magazines is also growing. Several big international brands are eying the Indian market, which is why we are upbeat about the future of fashion magazines in India.”

Marie Claire Fashion Awards recognises Indian designers and Indian crafts. The Marie Claire Fashion Awards were instituted in 2008 in a bid to place Indian heritage of craft and rich costuming tradition at the centrestage.

Today, ‘Marie Claire’ claims to reach over 21 million readers worldwide in five continents with 37 editions. In India, the magazine claims to reach over 300,000 readers. A strong resource for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, global features and social awareness, ‘Marie Claire’ is targeted at women in the core age group of 25-35 years.