WORLD VIBES

HINDUSTAN TIMES NEW DELHI, JUNE 28, 2001

Early this month (June 5, to be precise), five of India's top designers hit New York: Thrun Thhiliani, Rohit Bal, Rina Dhaka, Vivek Narang and Raghuvendra Rathore. The Trunk show, put together and promoted by Jacqueline Lundquist and Bianca Jagger was held at the home of Meera and Vikram Gandhi of; Morgan Stanley.

There was much excitement when Uma Thurman walked in and bought six outfits from Vivek Narang and two from Rohit Bal. This was then followed by a bevy of New York socialites like Susan Fales- HiII, Harolyn Blackwell and Lisa Woodward. Also in attendance were Marvin Traub, past chairman of Bloomingdale's with his wife, and designer Victor Costa. From amchi Mumbai, there was Rita Mehta and her beautiful daughter Farah who helped model the clothes. Mohan and Gunni Murjani, who also hosted a party the night before at their home, were there for a large part of the day. Sam Bada, who manages the Radisson - home to many Mumo baikars - and his wife strolled in towards the end of the evening with Sushil and Lata Malhotra of the Indian restaurant, Dawat.

The designers had told Meera Gandhi that she could donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity of her choice and she has chosen the American India Fund for victims of the Gujarat Earthquake.

The show was a super success and attended by about 300 people.

The Indo-American community turned out in tull swing. Anita Trehan, Swati Pandit, Martha Sud and Pallavi among others.

MTV's house of style was on hand to capture the event and host Molly Simms looked ravishing in Rina Dhaka's sari. Good luck as Indian designers hit the American markets in the remaining cities of Washington, LA and San Francisco.