When the Pokemon bug caught couture

Pocket monsters on the runway? The Couture Week saw the game fever grip it, like it ensnared the rest of the world

You can only belong to two clubs: the players and the non-believers. So, you either chase Pokemons wherever you tread, or, you simply shun them out. Seems like at India Couture Week in the Capital, that concluded on Sunday, many belonged to the former category. While we spotted a few fashion enthusiasts trying to capture a Growlithe, others spoke about how the game, Pokémon GO, was a part of the fashion scene. Runway model Anand Vohra says he caught a few pocket monsters during the fashion week. “While we didn’t get a lot of time on our phones owing to rehearsals and fittings, whatever time I did get, I spent it adding to my Pokemon stash,” he says.

And all this, even before the game has been officially released in India.

Fashion blogger Aanchal Sukhija also tried capturing some monsters at the hotel venue: “In between shows, I managed to capture a few of them. There’s no denying that the phenomena is growing, so, why should fashion forwards not follow the trend?,” she asks. Even if they didn’t play, game talk went hand in hand with fashion chatter. “I heard many models discussing their Pokemon addiction in the green room. I still haven’t got my hands on it, but I think it’s time I should!” says model Sony Kaur who walked the ramp for many designers at the fashion week.

While the game’s fashion connect seemed to find many supporters, other say they’d rather stay away from the addiction. “My friends back in Bombay keep talking about it, and I am sure I’ll get addicted to it if I try it out. I can imagine people trying to capture a Pokemon on the runway...they’d obviously look like fools!” says actor Bhumi Pednekar who attended a show at the event. We wanted to ask FDCI president Sunil Sethi, but, he isn’t too fond of smartphones to start with!

Whatever time I got post rehearsals and fittings, I spent it on adding to my stash of pokemons ANAND VOHRA, MODEL I’ll get addicted to the game as soon as I download it.Can’t imagine the madness going on at fashion week too BHUMI PEDNEKAR, ACTOR

PHOTO: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/HT We tested the game out at the venue, and the monsters popped up in full force