Fashion enthusiasts were eagerly waiting for the comeback of Fashion TV in Pakistan (the channel made its way to Pakistan a few years ago but wrapped up) but it seems that the second run of the channel is as jinxed as the first. The intended launch on Friday, at least, turned out to be a huge disappointment. It didn’t take place.
The fashion event, scheduled to mark the grand relaunch of FTV in Pakistan,was stopped mid-way with models walking out last minute.
Fashion enthusiasts were eagerly waiting for the comeback of Fashion TV in Pakistan (the channel made its way to Pakistan a few years ago but wrapped up) but it seems that the second run of the channel is as jinxed as the first. The intended launch on Friday, at least, turned out to be a huge disappointment. It didn’t take place.
Fashion District Week, a two-day fashion extravaganza (that was later turned into a one-night ‘grand’ event) was to set pace for the return of FTV in Pakistan on Friday night with designers like Maheen Khan, Honey Waqar, Amir Adnan, Nickie Nina and others taking to the runway to show their collections. Miss UAE, Sabah Zaman, was publicized as the official showstopper for the event and DJ Jolly was meant to bring the party to life. It looked like an exciting fashion soiree, on paper, especially because Fashion District Week is a phenomenon across international fashion capitals like New York and Tokyo. Unfortunately, the event planned at the Royal Palm Golf & Country Club (Lahore) turned out to be a royal disaster marked by mismanagement, unexpected delays and missing designers.
“I was supposed to do the grand finale for the show and even though I didn’t really have a collection ready at the time they approached me, I made a commitment because they came over to my place and literally forced me to do the show,” designer Honey Waqar revealed, speaking to Instep. “They sent all the paper work in but every time we would call them for the model line-up and model sizes, they’d disappear on us and cancel things out. There was a panel of 12 people and every single time, we’d get a call from a different person telling us that ‘now I am the director and you would be reporting to me’. It all appeared so shady and disorganized that we backed out. I didn’t want to associate myself with such a show and be criticized on an international scale for their mismanagement.”
Over the years, credible fashion weeks in Pakistan have evolved as a product of hard work, patience and proper supervision by a team of experienced individuals and fashion councils. Yet, once in a while, there comes an event of dubious nature that puts a bad name to the industry – more so because some of the known designers actually agree to participate in them. A designer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has revealed that designers were asked to pay $5000 to participate in the show. That, along with travel and accommodation expenses, was a lot of money wasted.
“It was disappointing and there was a lot of miscommunication as well. I came all the way from Islamabad, booked a hotel and spent about six to seven lakhs on the trip that have just gone down the drain,” said Islamabad-based designer Nasia Zafar Koreshi. “Also the outfits that you display on the runway are not really made to be sold but it appears that it also wasn’t their fault because there was a security threat.”
Security threat is the only reasonable explanation being given, as of now, for the last minute blunder. Ever since the attacks in Charsadda, the government has put a stop to large gatherings and even though the organizers had an NOC, security officials showed up to bring the event to an unexpected halt.
“Initially, authorities at the Royal Palm and people from the agencies said that there was a massive security threat and they turned off the lights to show as if everything had wrapped up. Some people at the Royal Palm even asked for money however, I am not sure about that,” PR representative Minahil disclosed. “By the time the organizers sorted everything out, it was too late and the models got irritated and walked out. Right now we have no idea what’s going to happen next and if a different date will be announced.”
The way in which the launch was handled (or rather mishandled) puts a big question mark on the credibility and future of FTV in Pakistan. The organizers were unapproachable when this report went to print.
