Fashion in the time of turmoil
Madeeha Syed considers the disconnect between the fashion industry and Pakistan’s socio-political circumstances.
It took a while for me to figure out why the turnout at a recent fashion show at Karachi’s Pearl Continental Hotel wasn’t as high as one had anticipated: after all, some of the most established names in the industry were showing, including Khaadi Khaas, Hasan Shehryar Yasin, Maheen Khan and Nomi Ansari. One of the conclusions I came to was that people were scared.
Earlier in the day, before the show, Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani bazaar had been bombed. Just the day before, a bomb had also exploded in the office of Lahore’s Rescue 15 office. As a result, people seemed generally cautious about going to ‘public’ places.
In spite of the backdrop of country-wide turmoil, life moved on and culture seemed determined to thrive. Some might term it as indifference by several individuals belonging to the privileged class for choosing to host the show despite the above-mentioned events having occurred in the city, others might term it a determination by a section of the society to move forward despite the odds that threatened to impose upon them.
While there, I was asked by a television journalist what I thought the future held for the fashion industry in Pakistan. My response: it’s stable and bright. Predominantly because fashion (and television), in stark comparison to the music industry, remain largely unaffected by political and social instability. The fashion industry is limited to (at most) five per cent of the population that is actually interested in or invests in designer wear. Inflation or an economic recession does not affect their spending either. The fashion industry hosts closed-door events and they have control over who attends and who doesn’t and therefore the audience is limited and the venue secure as compared to that at a rock concert where the venue is larger and open to the public. ‘So don’t you worry,’ I smiled at the host, hoping to communicate my sarcasm, ‘the future of fashion is very bright.’
With the gloom-and-doom atmosphere shut outside the venue, the show opened with Omar Rahim’s choreography showing the life cycle of a butterfly. The conception, the cocoon, the growth, and the larvae’s struggle to break free from its bonds and become a butterfly were all depicted gracefully by some very flexible dancers – all of which were handpicked by Omar from different groups. The main lead was a local model, who collaborates with local dance groups and has danced at several fashion events.
While the show took to the ramp, ace photographer Rizwan-ul-Haq brought his team backstage to do a little fashion shoot hoping to capture some of the mayhem that occurs right before each designer’s showing. He didn’t get what he was looking for and was visibly frustrated after the show. According to him, local models can’t stop posing, whereas he was hoping to capture them being ‘real’ and natural.
While we were having this conversation, the model that danced the lead in the dance sequence came up to us and announced that she had decided to get ’serious’ about her work. ‘The glamour aspect, the novelty of it has worn down,’ she said looking meaningfully at both at Rizwan and myself. ‘I realized a couple of days ago that this is all I know how to do. With the halaat of the country as they are, I don’t think I have a choice.’
At the end of it all, considering the current socio-political conditions of the country, attending a fashion show and writing about it later on sometimes feels like perpetuating a state of denial. When presented with that statement, Nabeel Ashraf, a photographer friend responded, ‘Of course. Otherwise our daily lives would come to a standstill.’ He has a point.
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June 18th, 2009 at 13:04
I personally think that organizing such events during this time period is not right, considering the fact that there are millions of IDPs to look after, and watching models pose does not attract me much.
June 10th, 2009 at 17:06
Well i think the future of Pakistani Fashion Industry is very bright as the number of fashion designers are increasing day by day in Pakistan. I’m also a freak of fashion industry and i want to be fashion designer. But one problem with the pakistani fashion designers is that they don’t go for international branches. For pakistan, international is UAE, USA and UK. The main hub of fashion industry is Italy and France. All the big fashionistas are working there. So if pakistani designers want to go international then they must open boutiques in milan and paris to let other know that this is also the brand.
Pakistani Rocks!
June 10th, 2009 at 12:18
What is fashion?
June 10th, 2009 at 6:45
Aoa.As a Brit & FTV fan who works in the EU in PR.The only thing I’m humbled and filled with pride at being of Pak heritage is the Pak fashion industry.Whether couture,pret or lawn,the work is phenomenal.Blessed with genuine beauty & talent,their courage and creativity is inspiring-thank U.All that’s needed is some’ film wardrobe ‘ product placement. A femme-fatale version of Ocean’s Eleven for example.Inshalah.
June 5th, 2009 at 20:18
well lets see both the scenarios in perspective:
one that we postpone or cancel these kind of show
second we carry on with our lives
in the first scenario we postpone or cancel these shows and let the terrorist know that we will be scared of them and they can go ahead and accomplish what they r here for in our country.
in the second scenario we carry on with our lives and show them that we r not scared of them and we will do whatever it takes to stop them from accomplishing what they want to do and not only that we r a free nation and all these elements cannot take our freedom.
think about it and if u agrre with me then please let these shows go on as this will not harm us instead they will prosper us and our nation.
thankyou for reading
June 5th, 2009 at 18:26
and az….as someone who was there…leme tell u that the reason y ‘many’ ddint turn up wa sthat ‘many’ werent even invited
check b4 u talk….the seats were all occupied with many having to stand up for lack of!
June 5th, 2009 at 18:12
I would like to congratulate M/s Syed and organisors of the show for showing defiance against those who support Taleban and their outdated ideology. Sania Mirza, a muslim who is the tennis star of India received a fatwa against wearing shorts while playing, which she politely refused and whole Indian media also came to her support and those who issued fatwa had to bite the dust. The masses as well as media in Pakistan too have to fight jointly against the opressive ideology and defeat it decisively as being done by your armed forces in Swat.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:10
lol @ complete disagreement’s post
but yes at least state wat it was he meant when uv started the thought
June 5th, 2009 at 17:59
point of ur friend taken….but wat was urs? besides stating the obvious?huh?
June 5th, 2009 at 17:58
irresponsible journalism at its best!we cannot give in to the gloom!we must not!
June 5th, 2009 at 11:30
I’d heard of similar ‘rumors’ till now about a not so healthy turn out at the said event. This confirms them all now and yes, I think your premise about the ‘fear-factor’ playing a pivotal role in influencing attendance is quite valid. Granted that the fashion industry might not be directly affected by the ongoing security hoola hoo in the country but it is indeed closely aligned to music and other forms of entertainment that are a target.
Is it a matter of time before something unpleasant happens? I sincerely hope not!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:40
Cycle of the life and its activities are remain continue whatever the conditions. It is upto the massess what to do? So you cant stop the cycle if stop the life is finished. So take it easy and everybody has to do its job positively. It is the best. Extremism is not good. Avoid it. Think broadly. See it Pakistan First.
June 4th, 2009 at 19:42
The regressive and brutal elements are out there in full force trying to push back the wheel of cultural march.
They ought to be confronted and told that shows like this would not stop despite their abhorring activities.
Kudos to the organisers of the fashion show.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:57
This shows the indiffernce of the fashion industry towards their country. With consecutive incidents of blasts occuring in the country the show could have been postponed or cancelled. Its an ugly truth that life is moving on and it does but the little they could do was to show concern by altering the dates of the fashion show. No wonder not many turned up for the event. Well deserved!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 12:08
in times of a recession the luxury industry is the first to get hit, that is correct as a “principle”.
but practically speaking (being closely connected to the industry myself) in a country like pakistan, that has yet to take effect. repeat: IT HAS YET TO TAKE EFFECT.
June 3rd, 2009 at 22:49
great, intelligent piece madeeha. congratulations
June 3rd, 2009 at 22:18
If ‘stable and bright’ is even a remote possibility for any industry these days, and if one has the luxury to be ‘able’ to move on while others are dying trying, it’s almost a sin to let the opportunity pass. Don’t you think?!!?!
June 3rd, 2009 at 19:17
hmmmmmmmmm nice….
June 3rd, 2009 at 19:16
What do you know about the connect or disconnect between economic recession and luxury industries, case in point, fashion? Do you know that luxury industries like fashion are the first ones to get affected in times of recession? Please get your facts right before you actually write!
June 3rd, 2009 at 18:39
he does have a point….but YOU dont!
June 3rd, 2009 at 18:16
Madeeha, you have touched the chord here. The truth is that heart seems to have stopped yearning for celebrating anything, especially when bleeding, suffering, displacement and fear is all around you.
Ghazala from http://www.pakspectator.com
regards
June 3rd, 2009 at 18:09
Very well enunciated madam!
June 3rd, 2009 at 17:55
interesting read..