Pakistan has made history this week, as the first ever Pakistan Fashion Week ends today. The show is being held in Karachi, and is quite different from many other fashion shows in many respects. One of this is the fact that the security is very tight, making the show more like a gathering of leaders of nations. More so, the country has never experienced such a show.
The organisers say they hope to show a different side of Pakistan than the usual images of suicide bombings. The event had been postponed after threats to security which kept foreign models and designers away, but the fashion world in Pakistan was determined to stage its shows.
“After many, many years, fashion in Pakistan is being taken seriously,” said leading Pakistani designer, Rizwan Beyg, who has designed for international jet-setters, including the late Princess Diana.
So what kinds of clothing and styles were shown during the fashion week? Believe it or not, the designs worn by the models on the catwalk included those that show bellies and midriffs. Not only that, but even cleavages were exposed! This may seem such a small deal to some, but in that part of the world, this is such a big step. More than furthering the world of fashion in Pakistan, the event also presents a different view of the country and the culture to the whole world. We can expect a lot more to come from Pakistani designers and artists in the future, I suspect.
Photo courtesy of BBC