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KARACHI — Some women strode the catwalk in vicious spiked bracelets and body armor. Others had their heads covered, burqa-style, but with shoulders — and tattoos — exposed. Male models wore long, Islamic robes as well as shorts and sequined T-shirts.
As surging militant violence grabs headlines around the world, Pakistan's top designers and models are taking part in the country's first-ever fashion week. While the mix of couture and high-street fashions would not have been out of place in Milan or New York, many designers reflected the turmoil, contradictions and tensions coursing through the society.
The four-day event, which was postponed twice due to security fears and amid unease at hosting such a gathering amid an army offensive in the northwest, is aimed at showing the world there is more to Pakistan than violence and helping boost an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people, organizers said.
Many of the models, designers and well-heeled fashionistas packing out each night said the gathering was a symbolic blow to the Taliban and their vision of society, where women are largely confined to the house and must wear a sack-like covering known as a burqa.
"This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban," said Ayesha Tammy Haq, the CEO of Fashion Pakistan Week. "There is a terrible problem of militancy and political upheaval ... but that doesn't mean that the country shuts down. That doesn't mean that business comes to a halt."
The shows are taking place in Karachi, the country's largest and most cosmopolitan city, in a five-star hotel just next door to the American consulate, which was bombed by Islamist militants in 2002. It lies two hours flight from the northwest, the heartland of al-Qaida and the Taliban, and has largely been spared the violence sweeping the country over the last month.
"Unfortunately, it is the bad side of Pakistan that gets everybody's attention," said top Pakistani model Nadia Hussain as hairdressers and makeup artists fussed over her backstage. "It has never been this bad, I don't know what will happen," as fellow models chain-smoked cigarettes.
While many of the city's 12 million people live in slums, hip cafes and restaurants in wealthy neighborhoods draw sophisticated crowds of young men and women into the early hours, more often than not speaking English with each other and wearing Western dress.
While the shows in Karachi resembled other fashion weeks in other parts of the world, there were no foreign designers or buyers. The organizers decided not to invite them given the precarious security situation.
"Who is going to come here with such negative stuff going on?" said Tabassum Mughal, a young designer who employs about 30 people. "Those who are here already are leaving."
Textiles make up some 60 percent of Pakistan exports and are worth around US$12 billion dollars a year. The country's cotton and silks are among the finest in the world. But the industry has failed to grew in recent years amid political unrest, violence and chronic power shortages.
As if on cue, a power cut during the fashion week's opening evening left the hall in darkness for several minutes.
The fashion industry represents a tiny fraction of the country's textile exports.
"We are still doing the 30 dollar a dozen T-shirt business. There is no value added," said Haq. "We should be employing millions of people, not hundreds of thousands of them."
Designers presented a mix of clothes, some drawing on traditional Pakistani outfits and tribal motifs; others that had little or no sign of traditional aesthetics. In a culture where most all women dress modestly, many outfits were too racy for local tastes.
"This does not represent what we are as a people," designer Ayesha Tahir Masood said. "Only 0.001 percent of Pakistani women would wear these clothes, and then only in a controlled environment when drunk out of their minds."
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":10538002,"authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
To be honest, it may have just been a little too ahead of its time or a little too out of its element.
I mean, I honestly don't know many people in the West who like the fashions that get displayed at these kinds of events- but, we all know that is the entire point; to make people wonder, and shake their heads and, yes, in some cases even get a little upset- No one actually wears that stuff outside of the catwalks but, still, getting attention is how fashion designers get their names known.....
Now, as to whether or not the Middle East- or, really any other culture that isn't ours for that matter wants to embrace such a strange quirk or not....
Frankly? I think it's great that the designers are trying it out, but, I don't think that it should be strictly necessary for them to embrace it in order to be accepted by the rest of the world. Heck hone, if there's someone out there talented enough to make a burqa that some women somewhere can find alluring enough to wear- go ahead and go for that too sweeties!
In other words?
More power to ya dearhearts and keep trying out whatever you want but don't you DARE try to sell ANYTHING OF YOURSELF FOR ANY REASON!
{"commentId":10538002,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
#1 - Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:40 AM EST{"commentId":10538079,"authorDomain":"kshark"}
As surging militant violence grabs headlines around the world, Pakistan's top designers and models are taking part in the country's first-ever fashion week. While the mix of couture and high-street fashions would not have been out of place in Milan or New York, many designers reflected the turmoil, contradictions and tensions coursing through the society.
The four-day event, which was postponed twice due to security fears and amid unease at hosting such a gathering amid an army offensive in the northwest, is aimed at showing the world there is more to Pakistan than violence and helping boost an industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people, organizers said.
Many of the models, designers and well-heeled fashionistas packing out each night said the gathering was a symbolic blow to the Taliban and their vision of society, where women are largely confined to the house and must wear a sack-like covering known as a burqa.
If they can start taking their power back, that is more power to them.
{"commentId":10538079,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"kshark"}
- 3 votes
#2 - Sat Nov 7, 2009 2:58 AM EST{"commentId":10538097,"authorDomain":"nel1944"}
I've considered neck to toe gowns...in fact, I sewed and wore such when my husband and I were members of the SCA....loose and comfortable...quite like a nun's robe. Can be done in very light linens/cotton in so many colors and patterns...and in layers. Cover your hair when you don't want to mess with it. Voila!!! Many lounging robes are very "concealing", yet feminine. In fact, that's how I use my ole SCA garb.
And, you are so right, Sick, only Hollywood types would wear some of the latest fashions...in public.
JMHO...NS.
{"commentId":10538097,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"nel1944"}
#3 - Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:03 AM EST{"commentId":10538217,"authorDomain":"nephthys"}
Its one thing to wear them by choice (which I admit, many women still do) but its another when you are forced to wear something like that.
Not all fashions are the runway are meant to be worn on the street (some are though) but many times the style is "downplayed" for the street.
Is this ahead of its time? Probably so... but doing stuff like this is how something like this eventually becomes acceptable.
{"commentId":10538217,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"nephthys"}
{"commentId":10538241,"authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
RPTFLMAO!! With both Kshark and nel....
Kshark- guess I'm too wordy by far- but I was also trying to point out that they should never think that anyone has to give up anything of who they were and where they came from in order to get that power- (but again, yours was far better phrased by far!).... :)
And, nel,
You know, to be honest nel, that was exactly what I was thinking!
I also used to be in the SCA and, later on in the ECS and those of us who were into belly-dancing and who weren't a double A with the body of a 10-year-old Eastern male (it's taken a looong time to realize that 130 lbs at 5'3" and a double D is NOT "fat"), did NOT feel comfortable wearing things that made us feel like we were waiting for the dollar bills!
Naturally, of course, the only dancing pieces that could be found were, indeed of that variety so...
Many of us came up with some layering systems in order to actually wear what we could find without having to A) show everything and B) feel comfortable enough to move...
Ironically enough?
By the time you got done trying to coordinate and yet cover everything important... It was, indeed pretty much a burqa-with-bells.
And you know what?
I think that's just part of being human- NO ONE FEELS SEXIER THEN WHEN THEY DANCE!!!!
And, last thought- I canNOT be the ONLY one with a story like that!
:)
{"commentId":10538241,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
#4 - Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:47 AM EST{"commentId":10539457,"authorDomain":"kshark"}
Kshark- guess I'm too wordy by far- but I was also trying to point out that they should never think that anyone has to give up anything of who they were and where they came from in order to get that power- (but again, yours was far better phrased by far!).... :)
Unfortunately try telling that to the Taliban that rules with an iron fist and a cache of explosives.
{"commentId":10539457,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"kshark"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":10545628,"authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
True enough!
Frankly? When it comes to faith and culture I honestly believe that there are always authoritative/fundamentalist personalities that are always out to take control of and ruin every idea and ideal. Everybody's culture has them- from the bible thumping hate spewing Christian- to the crystal-kissing Dianic who claims you can't be Wiccan unless you're a gay female- to, yes, the Taliban- who just hates women in general.
I've found the best philosophy is: Nil Illigitimus Carborundum.... Don't let the bastards wear you down.
Keep fighting when you have to and keep living the life you want when, where and however you can.
{"commentId":10545628,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"vmithgurther"}
{"commentId":10548069,"authorDomain":"kshark"}
Everybody's culture has them- from the bible thumping hate spewing Christian- to the crystal-kissing Dianic who claims you can't be Wiccan unless you're a gay female- to
Well they may speak words, but they are not exactly going to blow you up.
So I simply say keep going to the fashionistas.
Time to fight back somehow.
{"commentId":10548069,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"kshark"}
{"commentId":10538258,"authorDomain":"lovemyplanet"}
More power to these women! I admire their fortitude.
{"commentId":10538258,"threadId":"718903","contentId":"3470902","authorDomain":"lovemyplanet"}
#5 - Sat Nov 7, 2009 3:53 AM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"718903","isPrivate":false}
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