LAHORE – Cricket or fashion? It’s no contest in Lahore – cricket has bowled all the model-maidens over. The second day of Pakistan Sunsilk Fashion Week was cancelled because of the Cricket World Cup semi-finals match between Pakistan and India.
The crucial game, nicknamed ‘clash of the titans’ struck a body-blow to the city’s premier fashion event. On the same day, six of Pakistan’s leading designers were due to present their luxury ready-to-wear collections on the Lahore catwalk. But all declined.
“No designers wanted their shows to be on the same day as the cricket” said a spokesman. “They knew there would be nobody in the audience; everyone in Pakistan is going to be watching the match. It’s history.” The schedule was hastily rearranged at an emergency meeting, and the six shows planned for Cricket Day were given alternative slots. The India versus Pakistan cricket match is not the only place the two countries find themselves at loggerheads.
Fashion officials in Lahore are congratulating themselves on the fact the majority of models appearing in their fashion week are from Pakistan, following claims of discrimination and prejudice by several top models in India, who have spoken out about their country’s apparent obsession with pale skin which they say dates back to British colonial rule.
“We’re quite proud of the fact that most of our designers prefer to use Pakistani models” said Mrs Sehyr Saigol, the chair person of the Pakistan Fashion Design Council’s executive committee. The Lahore fashion event features 25 female models, of whom at least 22 are Pakistani, and 10 male models, most of whom are from Lahore.
“Pakistani girls are amongst the beautiful in the world. Why would anyone want to use models from anywhere else” Mrs Saigol said.
