Mumbai, June 29 (IANS): After giving the Indian fashion industry creative names like Rahul Mishra, Nachiket Barve and Masaba Gupta, the Lakme Fashion Week on Monday announced the shortlist of seven names who will be part of the 20th batch of Gen Next category at the fashion event.

Their designs will be seen in the Winter/Festive 2015 edition of the gala, which will start from August 26 at Hotel Palladium here.

"LFW Gen Next is a unique initiative on a global level in fashion industry today. It seeks to reinvent fashion by discovering high potential talent in fashion and textile design and mentor them for a prestigious launch in the industry," Saket Dhankar, vice president and head - Fashion, IMG Reliance Limited, said in a statement.

The seven shortlisted names are Ajay Kumar, Charchit Bafna, Kriti Tula, Jebin Johny, Ishita Mangal, Shivangi Sahni and Siddhartha Bansal.

They will be mentored by the country’s leading fashion consultant and entrepreneur Sabina Chopra.

“The Gen Next designer programme at LFW continues to be a great nurturing platform that helps the new talent showcase their fresh and original ideas to the world. I look forward to an exciting and mutually enriching journey,” said Chopra.