ES. You have over 16 years of experience in the exhibition industry with Fashionista, Educationista, and now Dream Dwell. Could you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to enter this field?
Yukti Shankar. 16 years ago, I was looking at opportunities to utilize my skills as a fashion designer. During this time, I happened to visit a small city & realized how slowly trends spread to smaller cities. Recognizing this as an opportunity, I founded Fashionista. Albeit the inspiration behind Fashionista was to bridge the fashion gap between metros & B-cities by bringing the best of Fashion to these cities, what followed was nothing short of historic!
ES. What were some of the challenges you faced when starting Fashionista Exhibition back in 2008, and how did you overcome them?
Yukti Shankar. In 2008, we introduced Fashionista in the humble city of Nagpur. The biggest challenge was to persuade designers to exhibit, as they were unsure their collections would resonate with the local audience. I took it upon myself to persuade designers of the aspirational levels present in B-cities. Additionally, I arranged a small trial exhibition before the official launch. The event exceeded everyone’s expectations, further confirming my belief in the venture’s potential.
ES. You’ve announced a Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle Exhibition in Delhi. What motivated you to focus on sustainability, and why do you think it’s essential for the fashion industry today?
Yukti Shankar. Ltd. Edition Delhi was our 10th edition. From all our previous editions in Mumbai & Pune, we’ve learned that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world. Fashion has a huge environmental footprint,
including water consumption and pollution, the usage of toxic chemicals, and the development of textile waste. By supporting sustainable techniques, we hope to mitigate these negative effects and inspire a more responsible approach to fashion production and consumption. Sustainability in fashion is critical for reducing environmental effects, ensuring ethical labor practices, meeting customer demand for responsible products, and promoting innovation. It promotes long-term industry viability by addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.
ES. How do you see the role of exhibitions like LTD Edition in educating consumers and promoting sustainable choices in their daily lives?
Yukti Shankar. The fundamental purpose of exhibitions such as LTD. Edition is to educate the public about sustainability, as many may have heard of the concept but do not fully understand it. In all our 10 editions, we saw exhibitors from all over India present environmentally friendly goods and provide interactive experiences that increase the relatability and accessibility to sustainability. These events provide guidance on incorporating sustainable practices and increase awareness through interactive displays. Additionally, they provide beneficial networking opportunities that encourage a more sustainable future and the wider acceptance of eco-friendly decisions.
ES. In your experience, how has consumer demand for sustainable products evolved over the years, and how are brands responding to this shift?
Yukti Shankar. Growing consumer consciousness of environmental issues and a desire for responsible consumption have resulted in a recent spike in the demand for sustainable products. As a result, designers and brands are experimenting with new eco-friendly materials and products, improving supply chain transparency, and implementing more sustainable practices.
ES. Could you please let us know about Dream Dwell? What are your plans for expanding Dream Dwell’s reach and impactin the coming years?
Yukti Shankar. Dream Dwell is the latest addition to the Fashionista Group of Exhibitions. It’s a Real Estate Venture for International & Domestic Developers, and Mandate Firms. As with our prior exhibitions, we’ve seen that when supply is limited, the demand is exponentially high. As a result, we’ll be taking renowned International & Indian Developers to these aspirational Indian cities while also offering buyers a comprehensive selection of competitive choices, all in one place. Moreover, we have a strong presence in 46 Indian cities, and hence the plan is to take leading developers to most of these ambitious Indian cities.
ES. How do you measure the success of an exhibition, and what key performance indicators do you consider mostimportant?
Yukti Shankar. As an event-organizing company, we want both- exhibitors & customers to benefit from the exhibition. We believe this is achieved through high footfall, active engagement, repeated inquiries from the city, and, most importantly, positive responses from attendees.
ES. What role do you believe consumer education plays in driving demand for sustainable fashion, and how can exhibitions contribute to this?
Yukti Shankar. Consumer education is vital in driving demand for sustainable fashion. Informed consumers make more conscious choices & prioritize sustainability, consequentially pressuring brands to adopt ethical practices, ultimately promoting a more sustainable fashion industry. Exhibitions play a crucial role as they offer an immersive experience to the visitors, where they can see, touch and feel products firsthand. This hands-on approach not only excites fashion enthusiasts but also promotes up-and-coming homegrown designers.
