I recently attended London Fashion Week and needless to say, the experience for me was very intellectually arousing.
Four days filled with shows, events, presentations and lots of people to meet. My days started with 6am wake up calls, followed by hair styling and up-to four or five times change of clothes a day. I am privileged for the kind of experience I had, since I believe many people do not start at the level that I was given the opportunity to. Sitting at the Front Row at several fashion shows and mixing in with, who are to be known as some of the top music and fashion icons of the world, there was one main question in mind, which I had the idea of extending to these people that I was meeting. I asked them what they think about Pakistan and in particular scope of menswear in Pakistan. Their answers were not very shocking as according to them, they have not heard of any single fashion entity emerging, that has Pakistani roots, except I had to tell them that my roots were partially Pakistani.
Why has the world not seen a leading Pakistani fashion icon (male) attend a show or be invited by any of the fashion houses? The question is particularly in respect to LFW
They said they have never heard of anyone in particular from Pakistan especially when it comes to men’s fashion, attending fashion shows or to be sighted at any major event, whether it be London, Paris, Milan or New York.
The question now arises, why is this so?
Why has not the world seen a leading Pakistani fashion icon attending a show or being invited by any of the fashion houses? I believe I also potentially have the answer for this. To begin with, men are not to be seen caring about their clothes. It has become the factual masculinity of Pakistani men not to worry about their clothes because according to norm, it’s something only women do. If you do care about your clothes, chances are you will be bullied for it, by your fellow “masculine” friends. Moving on, the society believes that fashion and art are no professions. These two fields are, according to them, perhaps only for entertainment and are done by children of rich families only to waste their parents’ money. This approach is very upsetting and alarming at the same time. The level of skill it requires to become a recognisable artist or a great fashion icon is of utmost respect and is globally recognised.
Giving myself as an example, I have a diploma in social psychology and am almost finishing my degree in Law from London. Yet, here I am attending fashion week, socialising, wearing up-to five outfits a day and getting through with Law School which is regarded as one of the toughest degrees to obtain followed by medicine.
I’m not too sure about the impact my experience in writing will have, but I’m writing this in hopes of attracting attention of guys all over Pakistan to start taking themselves seriously. If you like something, do it. Believe in yourself; believe that you can be the biggest fashion icon, painter, singer or artist of any medium. Ask questions, ask for guidance. People like me are trying to get this message out, get in touch. Clear out the questions that you have. It’s time to represent Pakistan and show a more fashionable side of it as well.
The writer can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, Mach 1st 2019.