LESSON IN LOCAL "CULTURE' II

October 2007 marks the release of Vogue India, marking another step in the India’s climb to global prominence, assuming attaining global prominence includes filling half your publications with adds, mostly of foreigners and for foreign things. India will be the 17th country to join the ranks of Vogue’s (fashion) elite. I’d like to present several quotes from this premier issue:

“Today, India is enjoying a scintillating soiree with the world’s attention, and fashion is one of its brightest canvases for expression.”
-Editor’s note

“India is one of my favourite places, and so inspiring for my work! Now, with Vogue, India is even better”
-Valentino Garavani, Valentino

“What does Vogue, used as an adjective, mean? The Vogue woman—and she has been around for over 100 years—is someone for whom personal style expresses a love of life and a matchless sense of discrimination.”
-Sally Singer, Director of American Vogue

“The task is not to try to impose a Western aesthetic on Eastern women, but to try to mark out the magical common ground.”
-Sally Singer

“Indi-pop: (noun or adj.) A quirky mish-mash of Indian colour, chaos and humour in art and design, with a global outlook.”
-The Flavor of Fashion VERY VOGUE

“158 THE GREAT DEBATE The cocktail sari vs. the cocktail dress”
-Table of Contents

At a mere $2.50 an issue Vogue India has a good chance of succeeding, and I wouldn’t bet against it or what it stands for failing, no matter how much I’d like to.