Photographs of models who will walk the ramp are pasted on a wall backstage during during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A makeup artist gives final touches to a model backstage during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Makeup artists give final touches to models backstage before the start of a show during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March. 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A designer checks an outfit on a model backstage during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March. 9, 2023. At the recently held Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI, India’s premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model applies oil on her arm backstage before the start of a catwalk during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model stretches while waiting for rehearsals backstage during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Makeup kits lie on a table backstage during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. At the recently held premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model makes a video call backstage during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. At the recently held premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Models wait for their turn to take part in rehearsals backstage during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. At the recently held premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A backstage manager guides models during rehearsals for the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March.9, 2023. At the recently held premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Models line up backstage before the start of a show during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. At the recently held premier fashion event, the backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and make-up artist to the stylist and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Models walk the ramp during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
People takes pictures of models during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
In this three pictures combination photo, models walk the ramp during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Bollywood actors Aditya Roy Kapur, left, and Ananya Panday, right, stand with designer Manish Malhotra during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Sunday, March 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Models rush for a quick change of outfit during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model looks in a mirror as she waits on backstage for the start of a show during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model takes a break backstage before the start of a show during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
A model is greeted by a friend at the end of a show during Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
Models leave after a show during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) 
In this combination photograph, makeup artists check last minute details before a show during the Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI in Mumbai, India, Thursday, March 9, 2023. From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
MUMBAI, India | From the front-row seats, fashion shows could be mistaken for a spectacular party with models sashaying down the ramp in stunning ensembles. But this confluence of fashion, designers, celebrities and buyers is hardly possible without an army of people furiously working behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly.
At Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI, India’s premier fashion event’s backstage was buzzing as everyone from the hair and makeup artists to the stylists and the designer raced to get that perfect look that would stand out on the catwalk. Clothes and makeup were strewn around as the models went through last-minute fittings of shoes, and their faces and bodies were adorned with jewelry and given finishing touches.
Organizing fashion weeks can be intense and chaotic, with months of preparation. Concept, styling, clothes — everything is scrutinized with a critical eye in the fiercely competitive Indian fashion industry.
With multiple shows lined up for each day of the production, there were frayed nerves and tense moments as models waited for their turn to go on stage.
The elaborately designed runway is where it all came together. Every sway of the garment is caught on the celebrity audience’s cellphone cameras and amplified through their social media posts.
“Fashion has long served as a window towards social change as it reflects and influences the cultural, economic, and political climate of the society,” Sunil Sethi, chief of the Fashion Design Council of India, said in a press statement.
This season’s Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI had a sharper focus on sustainability and circular fashion, with designers focusing on minimal waste generation through reusing and recycling materials during production. Many designers are also trying to bring back traditional Indian fabrics such as Khadi, a hand-woven cotton fabric.
Conversations around sustainability have dominated recent discourse in the industry, with growing awareness of environmental concerns within the fashion ecosystem and the need to revive artisanal textiles and craftsmanship techniques.
The popular biannual event brings together both established industry names and emerging talent, along with hundreds of brands and stakeholders. Among the fashion designers who presented their creations at the Lakme Fashion Week in March were Manish Malhotra, Namrata Joshipura, Rahul Mishra, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Ranna Gill, Rina Dhaka, JJ Valaya, Tanieya Khanuja and Varun Nidhika.