A special event, ‘Feminism and Fashion – Navigating a Knotty Terrain’ held by Lakmé Fashion Week on Friday, saw a perfect blend of opinion and fashion.

Lakmé Fashion Week, together with Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej India Culture Lab, curated this interactive panel discussion with leading women achievers on ‘Feminism and Fashion’.

The panel had on board the Editor of Ladies Finger, Nisha Susan, eminent poet, Sharanya Manivannan, Fashion Powerhouse, Anita Dongre, comedian and actor, Mallika Dua and craft revivalist and social worker, Laila Tyabji.

Preceding the discussion, Fashion stylist and blogger, Pallavi Dutta, showcased an art exhibit that reimagines strong women characters from Premchand’s writings, and Sharanya Manivannan, presented a poem on expressing oneself through fashion.

The special event held on 19^th August, in Mumbai, was dedicated to celebrate art, performances with a power-packed panel discussion, where a plethora of questions entailing feminism and fashion were discussed.

In-depth discussion on— Body positivity versus body shaming, Self-esteem, Fashion today, reflecting on woman’s needs and wants, appreciation of handcrafted Indian fabric, and sustainable fashion— saw the participants put forward their views.

Purnima Lamba, Head of Innovation, Lakmé said, “My sense of feminism allows me the freedom to make my own decisions. Good, bad or ugly. Allowing a woman the freedom to wear what she pleases is just one aspect of this choice. And fashion must be diverse enough to allow it.”

Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej India Culture Lab, said, “We are proud to continue our collaboration with Lakmé Fashion Week for this season. Our Feminism and Fashion debate was a complete intellectual eye-opener. Over 500 people in the audience enjoyed the discussions. The Fashion Funda conversation has now travelled all the way from the Lakmé Fashion Week headquarters to the Godrej India Culture Lab.”

Mallika Dua, Comedian & Actor said, “I am honoured to be part of an esteemed panel with such accomplished women. Fashion is how we as feminists express ourselves. Fashion and Feminism are interlinked; while the first is the freedom to wear what you want to wear, the latter is the freedom to be what you want to be.”

Anita Dongre, Chief Creative Officer, House of Anita Dongre, said, “It was a lovely evening with interesting conversations with the panel and all the women who attended the LFW, event at Godrej India Culture Lab.”