It was a time of high fashion and glamour in Mumbai mid August. While the rain gods were showering their blessings on the parched city, the who’s who in the fashion and entertainment industry were pouring in at a posh suburban hotel in central Mumbai and designers across the length and breadth of the country congregated to showcase their autumn winter collection at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014.
If you are wondering by now, why are we talking to you about a fashion event when we should really be telling you about finance, here’s why.
Even a high fashion event like the Lakme Fashion Week (see the full coverage, HERE) can teach you a thing or two about money matters as well! Intrigued? Then read on to find out more!
It's time to renew your faith in the India story
Image: Sushmita Sen in an Amit Aggarwal creation
Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com
If there is one trend that came out strongly in the Lakme Fashion week, it was the use of Indian handlooms. Of course, there were fantastic twists to the originals, but one could not help but notice the trademark Indian sequins, prints and vivid colours. Just as the India story shone bright on the ramp stealing hearts and leaving the audience clapping in admiration, so is the time for Indian investors to believe that there was never a better time than now to believe in the India growth story! Why? The reasons are aplenty!
Firstly, there is a stable Government at the Centre, one that seems committed towards boosting growth by implementing key policy changes in sectors like infrastructure that is the backbone of the economy. Then, there is the fact that there is a revival in the consumption cycle and capital expansion plans by industries are being renewed. The best part is that even though the markets are at its peak now, the mood is still cautious and there are no signs of valuations being sky high!
So as an investor, you really never had it so good like you have it now!
Seize the day when you are young
Image: Shriya Saran strikes a pose
Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com
Lakme Fashion Week has always been proud to associate and promote young upcoming talent who get global recognition at later stages.
Take for instance Sabyasachi Mukherjee who has Lakme Fashion Week to thank for being his launch pad. It was no different this time as well. The grand event opened with showcasing the works of young, talented designers such as Masaba Gupta and Amit Agarwal, who stunned the audience with the themes of retro inspired Goan costumes and garments that showed the influence of tribal fusion.
This too carries a lesson for young investors. If you have age on your side and have a well diversified portfolio, you can experiment with small cap and mid cap stocks based on your risk appetite.
In fact small cap and mid cap stocks are pretty much stealing the show in the current stock market rally. While the benchmark 30 share index has risen 18 per cent in the year so far, the BSE mid cap index and the BSE small cap index have registered a rise of 34 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.
If you feel that you do not have the expertise or the time to research on these stocks, invest in a top performing mid cap themed mutual fund and much like Sabyasachi you may just have a big winner in your hands some years down the line!
You can’t go wrong with the bluechips!
Image: Kareena Kapoor and Manish Malhotra at the grand finale
Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com
As expected, the grand finish of the glitzy event was reserved for the master couturier, Manish Malhotra and he did not disappoint as the lovely Kareena Kapoor literally lit up the ramp as she looked resplendent in glittering black kurta over a panelled lehenga, standing in for the nouveau Indian bride who is not afraid to mould the tradition slightly to project a modern look.
This grand finale by Manish Malhotra tells you that experiment as much as you will given your income or risk appetite, but in the end do have solid blue chips in your portfolio that are either in the form of individual stocks or large cap funds that will help you meet your retirement goals.
With such stocks or funds in your kitty you can be assured that your plans will see fruition at the end of the timeline you have set for them, just like the who’s who of Bollywood came out to support Manish Malhotra as the curtains came down on Lakme Fashion Week.
Thus, as you can see, even if you have nothing to do with the fashion industry, or couldn’t care less for latest trends in garments, you could still apply some lessons learnt from the recently concluded Lakme Fashion week to see your investments grow.
The author is a credit expert with 10 years of experience in personal finance and consumer banking industry and another 7 years in credit bureau sector. Rajiv was instrumental in setting up India's first credit bureau, Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL). He has also worked with Citibank, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank and Experian in various capacities.
The author is Director & Co-founder, Creditvidya.com
