While fashion weeks continue to push the cause for style, charity organisations in Pakistan use style to push for funds. In this streak Concern for Children (CFC), a non-profit organisation, recently held a fashion show titled Glitz and Glamour to raise funds for the underprivileged children of Machhar Colony, Karachi.
Fashion designers Kamiar Rokni, Amir Adnan, Zaheer Abbas, Munib Nawaz, Feeha Jamshed, Rizwanullah and Nida Azwer showcased new and some collections one had seen at the PFDC-Sunsilk fashion week recently.
Originally scheduled to take place in September, the show was postponed due to the devastating floods since all charity was channeling towards the rehabilitation of flood victims at the time.
While fashion shows vis-à-vis fashion weeks have become a bit too frequent, the purpose behind the benefit was noble and timely, therefore acceptable.
The evening would have begun like any other high-voltage glamour event if it weren’t for the humbling images that framed the red carpet. Huge collages were constructed using heart-wrenching pictures of children from Machhar Colony and the appalling conditions they live in. It was an overwhelming sight. By the time the guests took to their seats, they were well aware of their reason to be there that night — fundraising and not entertainment.
Zaheer Abbas presented a western winter collection that comprised chic coats, capes and an array of tops with exaggerated collars and hoods that are in vogue this fall. This collection would have been more appropriate for Lahore where winter sets in thickly. That said, his silhouettes were well-suited to the party season anywhere. If only the colours had been a bit brighter.Rizwanullah exhibited a new collection, Love Story, inspired by the works of Rumi. Associated with theatrics, the designer created a high moment for himself at the beginning when Faeyzah Ansari literally personified Rumi’s verse: “The bird of vision is flying towards you with the wings of desire.”
With wings, fur, headgear, bare legs and midriff, Ansari flapped her wings as she strutted down to the end of the ramp, wrapping them around herself and glaring right into the cameras. There was as much shock as surprise in the audience.Coming back to the collection, Rizwanullah’s western silhouettes emerged as flirty and fun. The designer took the colourful patchwork fabric that can be bought at the popular Sunday Bazaar and incorporated it with blouses, dresses, skirts and dhotis in basic shades of black and white. His segment may not have been practical in the retail sense but it was entertaining.
The evening’s menswear quotient was contributed by Amir Adnan and Munib Nawaz, who showed similar collections. Known for his predominantly contemporary style, Nawaz wanted his fall/winter 2010 collection to “speak for itself” but unfortunately what we saw did not say much. Models walked out in black kurtas and sherwanis with minimal embroidery, paired with bright red and violet churidaar pajamas. Other than the eastern wear, Nawaz extended into western formal suiting by pairing vibrant jamavar shirts and scarves with raw silk and velvet cloaks and suits.
Amir Adnan’s collection was confusing as the designer was not present and Sara Anees (apparently an in-house designer) was introduced with his label. The collection titled Urban Chic was yet another concoction of kurtas and sherwanis. Emphasising on cuffs and collars in contrasting shades on a black base, it carried dead weight in terms of style, especially groomwear.
Another designer who likes to play it safe is Nida Azwer. She showed her new collection, a glimpse at eastern couture that included a piece from the Jamdani Collection that she exhibited last Eid. With unchanged cuts and silhouettes in hues of red, green and blue, the collection was uninspiring.
Feeha Jamshed presented her fashion week collection Evolution which well-deserved an encore as did Kamiar Rokni’s Folkistan, which returned to the runway after fashion week.
With round tables surrounding a high ramp in the centre of the marquee, the décor looked grand. On the contrary, the distracting image of curtains flowing at the beginning of the ramp made the models’ entry no less than awkward. The event was managed by 021 Productions, while the show was choreographed by Imran Kureishi with styling by Saba Ansari of Sabs.
Post-fashion show, gift hampers were given to the models of the evening. No prizes for guessing that Faeyzah Ansari was awarded with the title of best female model. However, it was the male model award that was given to newcomer Yousuf, in the indomitable presence of Iffy, that raised eyebrows. The prize distribution was followed by Ayesha Tammy Haq, Board Member, CFC, gracing the runway to auction watches donated by Tissot and a Nida Azwer outfit. The proceeds from the event will be directed towards CFC’s education initiative, Project Kitab, that will facilitate three schools in Machhar Colony.
Fashion in the name of charity is an attractive proposal in terms of raising donations, but conversely, it should aim to serve a purpose. For example internationally, The Heart Truth event, which kicks off the New York fashion week each year, is a celebrity fashion show which is marked by the red ball gown, and intended on spreading the critical message that heart disease is the number one killer of women.
Coming back to Pakistan, one feels that such events have little raison d’être and therefore do not create the desired impact. Our organisers need to coordinate in terms of the theme, a cohesive collection and celebrity selection by following a standard foreign model or creating one locally. The latter seems too far fetched so we should settle at pursuing an international model of charity and aspire for excellence, not mediocrity.