Paris Fashion Show Spotlights Pakistan’s Women’s Creative Work

APP
Islamabad: The Embassy of Pakistan in France organized a fashion show in Paris to celebrate the talent of Pakistani rural women artisans and showcase their creations.
Collaborating with renowned designer Omar Mansoor and the Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, the event aimed to promote the works of these artisans.
Ambassador of Pakistan Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, in his remarks, welcomed the guests and emphasized the significant contributions of rural women, including artisans and entrepreneurs, to national development in Pakistan. He highlighted Pakistan’s rich heritage of arts and crafts, describing the country as the ‘cradle of civilization.’
The fashion show, titled “Culture to Couture,” was introduced as a collaborative effort between the Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, which focuses on women’s empowerment, and Omar Mansoor, a London-based Pakistani fashion designer known for his couture occasion wear.
Ambassador Ahmad noted that Pakistani fashion seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, incorporating intricate handcrafted techniques such as embroidery, block printing, ajrak, phulkari work, chunri making, and ralli into contemporary designs.
He stressed the universal language of fashion, bringing cultures together, and highlighted the shared ties between France and Pakistan in the world of fashion. Notably, he mentioned how famous French designer Pierre Cardin designed the uniforms for Pakistan International Airlines’ air hostesses in 1966.
Omar Mansoor, renowned for his couture designs, showcased captivating creations, blending Pak-France art and culture. The fashion show, held in the Embassy’s hall, featured diverse designs and a universal appeal, bringing the dreamy creations to life.
Kaarvan Crafts Foundation, under the leadership of Danish Khan, has been empowering Pakistani rural women since 2004 by providing life skills. The foundation has positively impacted over 29,000 women in more than 1,000 villages across 26 districts in Pakistan.
The audience at the fashion show enjoyed a mesmerizing performance by opera singer Clara Bellon and witnessed a documentary featuring testimonials of female artisans supported by Kaarvan.
The event, attended by a diverse audience, including French officials, diplomats, fashion and business circles, students, and media, showcased the bond between the designer, models, and the exquisite creations, creating a spectacular blend of Pak-France art and culture.