By Tony Tharakan

NEW DELHI (Reuters Life!) - India's top designers and a troop of sashaying models will flaunt their wares at the country's premier fashion event from Wednesday, which for the first time will eschew swanky five-star hotels.

More than 40 designers will be showcasing their spring and summer collections for 2008 at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, vying to catch the attention of up to 80 international buyers during the five-day extravaganza.

In its eighth year, the event, which recently became biannual, is being staged at Pragati Maidan, a sprawling trade promotion complex in the heart of New Delhi, in a bid to shift up a gear and grab a larger piece of global fashion sales.

"We are emphasising the seriousness of the event by going into a trade venue. We want fashion to be seen as serious business," Rathi Vinay Jha, director-general of organisers the Fashion Design Council of India, said.

"This venue is very conducive to fashion shows and we don't have to compromise with small rooms and halls at hotels."

Fashion shows in India have provoked controversy as well as admiration. At one show last year police went undercover, scanning the ramps and observing models to check that no one intentionally displayed too much flesh.

Officers in plain clothes mingled with the cigar-chomping, crystal-clinking class at the Lakme Fashion Week, after busting zippers and slipping bustiers at the show's last edition sparked a morality debate.

More than 70 new and established designers will be unveiling their latest collections, and nearly a dozen new models will be taking part in this year's show.

While designer duo Paras and Shalini have put together a contemporary line combining "elegance and sophistication for the woman of today", leading designer Raghavendra Rathore said his collection would take a fresh look at the way Indians dress in everyday life.

"My clothes will have contemporary style but will be comfortable and suitable for Indian weather," Rathore said.

Top designer Rohit Bal will bring things to a close with a Turkish-inspired range to be presented at a grand finale.

Designer Varun Bahl, a regular at fashion events, will be participating despite substantial losses sustained during a burglary at his factory last month.

"Quite a lot of items worth between five to six million rupees ($120,000-$145,000) were stolen. It's a big loss but I have to put it aside for now and concentrate on my show," said Bahl.

This year's fashion week is dedicated to the late Rohit Khosla, one of India's most famous designers, with special displays commemorating Khosla's achievements.