The majority of women in Islamabad, Pakistan are fully covered when they appear in public, which makes such fashion-centered events very difficult to carryout. Just the talk of an event as "radical" as fashion week has previously resulted in threats of fundamentalist attacks — which caused last year's attempt to fall short of success.
Despite Pakistan's well-known traditional designs, like the burqa and salwar kameez , the vast majority of the population is religious, poor, and illiterate — and, therefore, cannot afford to wear the latest fashion. It is believed that, due to the struggling economy, the country took a giant leap forward in this second (and much more successful) attempt at a fashion week to boost its textile industry.
Islamabad's fashion week was held in a hotel basement, which was also considered to be a bomb shelter. Tariq Amin — the individual who brought fashion to Pakistan — was the event organizer and the go-to style guru. While he was roaming around backstage, Amin described fashion week as very "Paka Paka," which translates to "prim and proper." Such an event should definitely be highlighted by the media — as it is not only a major movement for fashion, but also for the women and culture of Pakistan.
Text Brittney Schering
Image courtesy of Rewaj
