Runaway Runway

Recently during the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) there was another minor case of wardrobe malfunction when Debbie, a Belgian model, tripped on the runway and one of her shoulder strap slipped. The press seized the opportunity, so we went around to see how the country as a whole feels about this monumental event in the history of Indian fashion industry. Here are some of the reactions across our mostly wardrobe free country.

Mr. K. R. Murthy, spokesman for the Indian ministry of culture: At time like this, we all have to remind ourselves that India is a repressive republic. Runway is no place for exposure in our culture. For that we have epics, classics texts, public temple, national magazines, pirated movies, and internet to name a few, and all the foreigners need to respect our tradition. They should not be allowed to sabotage our society by just one slip. Mind you, shoulder is a slippery slope: today it is just a strap; tomorrow it might be the national shame that would slip off our shoulder. If we do not act now it may be too late. What would this nation be without shame?

Ms. Ritu, 39 year old fashion designer: Event like this damages the dignity and seriousness of fashion show. People have to understand that fashion shows are about using women to sell clothes not the other way around. I am so upset everyone talking about the model not the strap. No one is asking how the strap felt. When would we grow up and realize a woman is nothing without a good designer dress.

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Ramesh Patel, 35 year old social commentator: This just jealousy of the ignorant people who hate rich and gorgeous women. You do not see people complain when poor do it. You can go to the slums of Mumbai any day and see woman in tattered clothes exposing more. You never hear a protest about those. What about the women bathing in Ganges? You can watch wardrobe malfunction every day. Trust me, I know. I go and observe these things regularly.

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Mrs. Laxmi Desai, 43 year old mom of two teenage daughters: Who let these foreigners into our country? All they do is come here and take away all the good boys. As is it is so hard to find a good boy for my daughters and now this. Once Indian men get a glimpse of these foreigners that is all they want. After that how can they look at our daughters and be happy. Our poor daughters have no chance.

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Suresh Rao, 21 year collage student from Delhi: This is so unfair. I spend 200 Rs. to watch this in movies and get less to see. The rich people get to see it for free. We live in a democracy or what? Everyone should have equal access to enjoy exposures.

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Madhubala, 73 year old grandmother from Varanasi: In our time woman are taught to be modest. My mother would not allow me to show my face. Even when I used to feed my babies in public, I covered my face. Time has surely changed. These days no one covers their face, but everyone is ashamed to feed their babies in public.

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Deepak Malhotra, 45 year old business man: I am so angry. In our youth you had to go to special places to watch this, and you had to be careful if anyone is watching you. Nowadays young men get to watch this sort of things openly. They are not even ashamed to talk about it. They do not even feel guilty. What is wrong with this generation?

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Niti Verma, 17 year old college student: Being fashionable is so hard. I know how she must feel. I had exactly the same experience. Only the other day, I was walking in the shopping mall and I tripped. The strap of my shoe came off and my feet were all exposed. It was so embarrassing. Thank god there were no photographers around.

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Mr. Bhatnagar, 69 year old retired school teacher: I thought that happens to men only. Now I hear this is happening to young women. What the country has come to.