I like fashion shows more than I like fashion. It's full of theatre and drama and it gives us a chance to look through the eyes of a designer. Seeing a collection on the catwalk gives the individual items context and helps the designers to find an emotional connection-point with their buyers, media and the public.

Hence, I count myself lucky to be here at the Will India Fashion Week in Delhi, one of India's biggest fashion trade shows. What immediately strikes me is that India has a completely self-sustaining fashion industry, with the local market supporting the business fully. Textiles and clothes are deeply ingrained in Indian culture and they prefer to see at least a touch of tradition in designs.

Check out some stunning pics from day one of India's Fashion Week in our gallery!

The sari gets reinvented every month, which is how often fashion shows are held in India these days. So, why so many shows then?

"Well, that's how we sell our clothes," says a bunch of fashion students who are helping out at the stalls.

Things are running extremely smoothly here, the shows are seamlessly staged and people are confident. A quick chat with the designers of Ashima - Leena reveals that business is still good. So, if what they do is already much loved and profitable, the way forward is just to have fun, keep delighting the audiences, and stay ahead of the abundant competition in this hub.

Narendra Kumar's show is to me the most-memorable of the first day. He boldly sent his whole collection out onto the catwalk to complete silence and still managed to keep the audience spellbound. Called Introspection, his designs featured colours that mimic the roots of trees, fungus, darkness and finally, light - a stretchy little silver dress.

Tarun Tahilliani, the most theatrical of the day, featured flower chandeliers and sent the models out in glamorous Greek-goddess-like dresses, draped and tied flatteringly. Being a trade show the aim here is wearable clothing and it's great to see the drama in simple items that can be worn every day.

Ritu Beri, the first Indian designer to show at Paris Fashion Week made a surprise appearance after a long absence from the Indian Fashion Scene. Her designs included coquettish French tea-party hats and white dresses, combined with simple denims.

It all seems to come so easily, the ideas, the interest and the passion. I am thoroughly moved and inspired by the Indian fashion stage.

On page two: Lize de Kock describes the latest collections from Ashima Leena and Narendra Kumar…