Macho models discarded as WIFW auditions focus on lasses

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Male models are just not in demand these days. So much so that the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) decided not to hold auditions for men for the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW).

'If you look at the facts, you will realise that most of the designers design for females only. Hence, it was a wise decision to have the auditions only for the females,' FDCI's spokesperson told IANS at the auditions here Wednesday.

'Every time we used to call male models, but it was not fair on our part to make them wait for a long time with zero output. So this time, we decided not to waste their time as well as everyone's time and focus on female auditions as we need female models,' the official added.

The premier business-to-business event will take place March 18-23 at the Intercontinental Eros, Nehru Place.

The spokesperson also ruled out the possibility of any bias in the move and added that the FDCI would have a special audition for men depending on the requirement for the event.

'It is not that we are biased but you can say that we are realistic and have done something that should have been done earlier,' the spokesperson said.

Jury members for the auditions comprised designers Ashish Soni, Rahul Khanna and Varun Bahl, models Tinu Verghis and Ayesha Thapar and choreographers Aparna Bahl and Vidyun Singh.

Tinu seemed a bit disappointed with the models who had come for the audition.

'I must say that I'm very disappointed with all of them. Most of them have lied about their height, which is not at all acceptable. They are not at all prepared for this audition. Most of them have bad skin and zero presence,' Tinu told IANS.

'As a model you need to have style and most of them lacked it. They looked old because some of them are around 25-years-old. It you want to be a model, you should start working as early as you can,' she said.

'One must also have a good height because most of the garments are long and if you are short then it ruins whole attire. I guess we have to find some other way to get hold of really good models,' she added.

Designer Rahul Khanna too said that most of the models were of short, but added that he has shortlisted around 10 girls.

'Yes, most of the girls were of short but still there were many who matched the criteria,' Khanna said.