The 4th edition of the FEF India Fashion Awards was held on the 7th & 8th, March ’24 at St. Regis, Mumbai. From artisans to fashion photographers, makeup artists, stylists, models and some of the most celebrated designers – Indian and international – they painted the fashion landscape with bright and sparkly hues.

Revolving around the theme ‘Fashion for Good’, the conclave began with an inaugural ceremony by Mr. Sa’ad Al Qaddumi, President, World Crafts Council-International, Dr. Darlie Koshy, Ex. Chairperson, NIFT, Creator, NDP, Fashion Designer, Celeb Stylist, Entrepreneur, Mr. Sanjay Nigam, Founder, FEF India Fashion Awards, Mr. Vinod Dugar, Co-promoter of RDB Group, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malawi, and Ms. Neeva Jain, Chief Public Relations Officer, FEF IFA. The conclave also included a panel ‘Fashion in Films’ with Bollywood personalities including Masaba Gupta, Tamanna Bhatia, and Rajeev Masand who directed their interaction towards Bollywood’s approach on sustainable fashion.

The award ceremony on March 8 sparkled with the presence of Bollywood’s style icons, including film Karan Johar, Sara Ali Khan, Dia Mirza, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Orry, Siddharth Malhotra, and Disha Patani, adding an extra dose of glamour to the event.

FEF India Fashion Awards, known for acknowledging diversity in the fashion industry, honored over 30 unique talents from the Indian fashion and craft space.

Under the category Outstanding performance in the field of Arts, Crafts and Textiles, Rita Das was awarded for water hyacinth craft, Anil Vangad, Rajeev Pulavar for leather puppet craft, Shailesh Pandit for ceramic work, Tejshi Dhana Marwada and son Hira Marwada for Tang making were honored. These local artisans were felicitated for their exceptional craftsmanship.

The contribution of the young and budding talents were acknowledged through the ‘New Wave’ categories. Former fashion editor Daniel Franklin won New Wave Fashion Photographer of the Year. Lakme New Wave Makeup Artist of the Year was awarded to Kiran Denzongpa. Sasha Jairam, renowned fashion photographer took home New Wave Fashion Photographer of the Year trophy. Show director Lokesh Sharma was awarded New Wave Show Director of the Year whereas the model category included Ujjwal Dhir and Mahieka Sharma for New Wave model of the year Male and New Wave model of the Year Female respectively. Model of the year (International Fame) went to Naman Narnolia, Pepsi Model Of The Year (Male) Shivam Dhar Dubey and Pepsi Model Of The Year (Female) Dayenna Errapa. Mayank, Ada Malik, Deepti Sadhwani, Aguo, Ishita Mangal, Glorious Luna stood in the spotlight receiving the ‘Dromen & Co FEF- IFA SPOTLIGHT’ trophy.

This time, the Fashion Writer of the Year trophy was awarded to The Hindu Sunday Magazine Editor, Rosella Stephen. Longform PR Agency owners Pareina Thapar and Neeta Raheja received the award for Fashion PR Representative of the year. Talent agency Inega won Mario Talent Management agency of the year.

The production heads took their deserved credits in the categories of Music Director of the Year Nishant Gadhok, Outstanding Performance in Light & Sound Becket, Backstage Manager Of The Year Pujan Kapoor Sharma, Mario Fashion Photographer Of The Year Tarun Vishwa and Show Director Of The Year Aparna & Anisha.

Many well acclaimed Indian designers, stylists and fashion personalities cheered by their fellow stalwarts for the following categories.

Indian designer Anita Dongre was awarded Wildstone code Fashion show of the year, Mitsubishi Hall of Fame Leena Singh, Mitsubishi Hall of Fame Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Mitsubishi Hall of Fame Mickey Contractor, Designer Of The Year Handlooms & Textiles Gaurang Shah, FEF Fashion Business Personality of the year Ananya Birla, Dormen & Co Fashion Stylist Of The Year Rahul Vijay, Lakme Makeup Artist Of The Year Daniel Bauer, BMW Experience club New Age Designer of the year Bloni, Accessory Designer Of the Year Outhouse, Mario Urban Label of the year No Grey area, Mario Fashion Label Of the Year Khanijo, Resort Wear Designer Of the Year Shivan & Narresh, Designer of the year- International Fame Gaurav Gupta, Designer Of The Year Couture Shantanu & Nikhil, Designer of the Year (Popular Choice) Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna, Designer Of The Year Men’s Wear Kunal Rawal, and Pepsi Designer Of The Year was presented to Manish Malhotra.

From Bollywood, the following icons were honored— Environmental Changemaker of the year Dia Mirza, Fashion ambassador of the year Sidharth Malhotra, Pepsi Fashion Trendsetter of the year Sara Ali Khan, Pepsi Influential Fashion Personality of the year Tania Shroff, Pepsi Unconventional Trailblazer Award Orry.

What Mumbai in fact witnessed was indeed a starry night. The fashion fraternity stood strong with their fellow nominees and friends from the industry.