Right before the walk on the runway, there’s a last look in the full-length mirror placed in the corridor. The Carol Gracias mishap is still fresh and both models and designers are overtly cautious. There are double checks to confirm if everything is pinned up and outfits are worn under bright lights to assess transparency.

“Even on the ramp, my mind is buzzing if everything is in place,” says model Anchal Kumar. The buzz about moral police in the audience is everywhere and maybe that’s the reason that even the small slip of a strap received the huge media coverage. “It wasn’t a malfunction. I’m tired of talking about that,” Manuel says.

Kumar says that they would much rather learn from other people’s mistakes. “In any case we want people to pay attention to the outfit and not what’s underneath,” she adds.

Most days end as late as 10 pm, after which they get home, wash out the chemicals from the hair and skin but it isn’t bedtime yet. If there’s a post-show party, many attend to get feedback and be up-to-date on the buzz. “If I get six hours of sleep and don’t drink at the parties, I can work well the next day,” says Manuel. Candice Pinto puts the stitch in place: “For this week even though life is nothing but work, we do miss it when it’s over.”