The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) was established in 1998 for the development of the Indian Fashion Industry. The Council commenced with the vision of promoting ready to wear and Diffusion markets in India. In 2000, FDCI, organised their first Fashion event- India Fashion Week which became the platform for the Business of Fashion to facilitate interaction between designers and buyers in India and abroad. Gradually as the years passed, the event turned out as the biggest fashion extravaganza of the country, generating unprecedented business opportunities for the Fashion Design industry in domestic and international markets. This fashion week paved way to get international recognition and space for Indian designer wear all over the world.

The last six years since its inception, Lakme, a leading cosmetics brand participated as the title sponsor of India Fashion Week and the event was known as Lakme India Fashion week. But in 2006, FDCI found a new title sponsor in the ITC group . The ITC-sponsored event was named 'Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week' (WLIFW), and was organized in Delhi during April. It covered the two seasonal market segments – Autumn-Winter and Spring-Summer. Around 75 of India’s best designers presented their Spring-Summer Prêt (ready to wear) and Diffusion collections to the most prominent names among buyers, media and fashionists, both Indian and International. This event also served as a launching pad for several new designers and models in India. Designers like Sabyasachi, Aki Narula, Varun Bahl, Anshu Arora Sen, Shantanu Goenka, Shane & Falguni Peacock, Gauri & Nainika are few names that were unveiled to the fashion industry by the IFW.

Apart from the Fashion week, FDCI also organises some other events such as Mega designer sale, Fashion Machine etc. regularly.