Fashion show promotes Pakistan rural women artisans

ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Pakistan in France held a fashion show in Paris to honour the Pakistani rural women artisans and promote their works.

The fashion show was held in collaboration with renowned designer Omar Mansoor and Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, according to an embassy’s press release received on Wednesday.

In his remarks, Ambassador of Pakistan Asim Iftikhar Ahmad welcomed the guests and highlighted the contribution of rural women including artisans-entrepreneurs towards national development and shaping the hopes and dreams of millions in Pakistan, the official news agency reported.

The ambassador noted that known as the ‘cradle of civilisation’, Pakistan had a lot to offer to the world when it comes to colourful, versatile and mystique arts and crafts.

Giving an insight into how the journey of the fashion show ‘Culture to Couture’ took shape, the ambassador introduced the two partners behind the event and said that he was extremely delighted to see the way Kaarvan Crafts Foundation Pakistan promoted women empowerment, while Omar Mansoor has taken up the task of transforming the vision and work of the young generation through creative designing and sustainable quality.

Fashion in Pakistan has always been a captivating fusion of tradition and modernity, noted the ambassador, apprising the guests of Pakistan’s rich heritage of handcrafted clothing and textiles: intricate embroideries, block printing, ajrak, phulkari work, chunri making, ralli and so on.

Fashion designers are incorporating these artisanal techniques into contemporary designs, giving them a fresh and modern twist.

The ambassador said that fashion was an instant language that could help communicate among different cultures.

He said that France and Pakistan shared ties in fashion – as one is the couture capital of the world while the latter is a producer of fine garments for world-renowned brands.

For the interest of all, he recalled, that it was famous French designer Pierre Cardin who designed in 1966 the outfit carried by the air hostesses of Pakistan International Airlines.

Omar Mansoor, whose designs captivated the Parisian audience, is a London-based Pakistani fashion designer and is best known for his couture occasion wear.

He was the first Pakistani to showcase at London Fashion Week in 2008 and has been credited with re-introducing fusion clothing into modern fashion.

Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, led by Danish Khan, was established in 2004 and it provides life skills to Pakistani rural women.

To date, Kaarvan has mobilised, trained and capacitated more than 29,000 women in over 1,000 of villages of 26 different districts across Pakistan. With its ‘Theory of Change’ revolving around education, enablement and empowerment of women’s economic capacities – Kaarvan places women at the heart of development.

The fashion show held at the embassy’s beautiful hall enthralled the audience with a diversity of designs and universal appeal. The bond between the designer and the gorgeous models made the dreamy creations come to life appearing even more spectacular.

In a mix of Pak-France art and culture, the audience was also captivated by a mesmerising performance by the ever-vivacious opera singer Clara Bellon with her fascinating voice.

A documentary featuring testimonials of female artisans-at-work facilitated by Kaarvan was also displayed. Guests were treated with traditional Pakistani cuisine.

A large number of people from different walks of life including French officials and friends, diplomats, fashion and business circles, students and media attended the fashion show.