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Aviation trackers would remember Bangalore-based wing commander Rajiv
Kothiyal as the first man to fly India's indigenously built Light
Combat Aircraft.
 Now
Kothiyal has been awarded the Iven Kincheloe trophy for the year 2001
by the California-based Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a kind of
Oscar in the lofty world of test piloting. (The award is named after an
American air force test pilot who died while testing the F-100 aircraft.)
"It's an honour for India more than me," says Kothiyal, touching
base. Expect a few more firsts.
 For
a few hours last Friday evening, Taj Hotel's discotheque, Beyond 1900,
in Mumbai became a college festival with a makeshift stage and excitable
teenagers as the Esprit Ambassador's party was on the roll. This included
some smart ramp modelling, play-acting and crooning from the 45 "brand
ambassadors" chosen by the watch company from among 8,000 applicants.
The overheated energy in the room made compere Manasi Scott and
ad-man Imam Siddique look worn out, despite their neon pants. But
there was serious message behind the festivity. One earnest participant
said, "We will now get a chance to work on a social cause like aids
awareness or an anti-drugs drive." And you thought brand ambassadors
just smiled at the camera.
 Delhi-based
model Ruchi Malhotra wanted to do something with clothes and travel
all the time. ("Modelling has spoilt me," she confesses.) So
she allied with designers Manish Arora, Aparna Chandra, Gitanjali Kashyap
and newcomer Jatin Varma and apparel chain Shoppers' Stop to form
a what she claims to be "genuine pret label called One.
Four other undisclosed designers will joining the foursome in a Mumbai
launch. Malhotra, seen in the picture above in a Kashyap's outfit, will
also be doing her own modelling, thus ensuring her continued presence
in a competitive ramp circuit.
Show Of French
 It
wasn't a surprise when the managers of Bacardi Limon, a zippy citrus rum,
resorted to the tried and tested practice of a promotional fashion show
at Taj President, Mumbai last weekend. They also gave the evening a smart
twist of sorts, calling it "Night in the Limelight" for which
model turned garment exporter Gautam Kapoor was roped in to present
the "Gomzi Active Wear" line.
 Amid
bright yellow fabrics festooned on the ceilings and yellow flower petals
carpeted on the floor, a bunch of rookie models paraded both garcon/l'homme
(boys/menswear) and fille/femme (girl/women's wear). (Adam, Kabir Bedi's
son and the only male model, attracted a fair share of attention with
sister Pooja and father cheering on). Later, Kapoor said that the
spandex, moleskin, wrap knits and mercerized weaves will be hitting Parisian
stores, hence the names. The post-show party attended by the likes of
Rahul Dev, Helen Brodie, Fleur Xavier, Tapur, Raell Padamsee and
VJ Peeya went on till dawn.
-Natasha Israni
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CURRENT
ISSUE NOV 26, 2001
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