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The design envoy
From Harappa to Gandhara to the Mughals, the rich civilisations of present-day Pakistan came to life before an appreciative audience with a unique venture called The Cradle of Civilisation by designer Shaiyanne Malik. Visiting Colombo on an invitation by the president of Sri Lanka, she found the perfect platform to flaunt Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage.
With hubby Sohail Malik narrating the subsequent events and the history of each era, the stage was set for an exclusive lesson in Pakistan’s history. The show was divided into six segments, each depicting an era with distinctive features of its culture. Model Murad made a dramatic entrance as River Indus, the lifeline from where the entire story begins. The civilizations of Harappa and Gandhara were portrayed next with the female models dressed in shades of grey and silver dancing to a classical tune.
The Buddhist era followed with male models wrapped in saffron cloth and wooden beads around their necks and female models in scintillating outfits. The scene became all the more authentic when these models began performing around the statue of Buddha while the audience was swept in the sheer kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. A battle raged high as Alexander’s men made the entrance in the next segment, which depicted the Hellenic invasion in the subcontinent. Among the thundering hooves resonated Malik’s voice, as he explained how many battle-weary soldiers settled in this part of world near the banks of River Indus and eventually married into the locals, which explains the interesting features that are generally found in the northern areas of Pakistan.
The splendour of the Mughals was up next with their regality reflected in elaborate lehngas. The voices of supposedly Mumtaz Mahal and Noor Jehan resonated in the background as two beauties enthralled all those present. They were followed by their male counterparts, looking equally majestic in plush silks.
As the Mughals gradually faded into the background, it was time for the sun to rise on the British empire. And from it emerged present-day Pakistan, as the models strode down the ramp in modern wear, bringing the history lesson to a satisfactory end. The Pakistani models did a commendable job and held their ground in the likes of present and former Miss Lanka. Huma from Saima’s salon did some deft work with the make-up to give an authentic look to all the models. With gold and kundan jewellery that worked wonders with the designer’s traditional designs of colourful farshi ghararas, lehngas, chooridars and saris mingling with modern skirts, trousers and tops, the show, sponsored by the Pakistan International Airlines as part of promoting the soft image of Pakistan, was indeed a memorable event.
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