Spiraling through history, we’ve always boasted trendy, dedicated female figureheads; a Fatima Jinnah wielding political strategy in a crisp shalwar kameez or a Begum Liaquat Ali Khan resplendent in a traditional ghararawhile talking war strategies and meeting dignitaries.
Benazir Bhutto, the country’s first and only female prime minister cut a well-groomed figure and only recently, Maryam Nawaz spoke on the importance of women’s education in Washington, epitomising the Pakistani woman in an embroidered Maria B jora.
Moving away from politics and zoning in on the arts, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is currently winning international accolades for her latest venture, eloquently titled Song of Lahore.
And how can we forget Sharmeen bringing home an Oscar back in 2012, winning in the Best Documentary, Short Subject category? She had worn a bespoke design by Bunto Kazmi and a KFJ gold cuff with a dangling diamond-encrusted Pakistan flag on her wrist and earrings by Sheherzad Rahimtoola.
More than her designer wear, though, it had been her acceptance speech that had Pakistan cheering and the world taking notice: “All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you.”
From Malala Yousufzai to Bilquis Edhi, Maleeha Lodhi to Sheema Kirmani (and even Burka Avenger), an increasing number of Pakistani women are breaking away from traditional shackles and highlighting what is important to themselves or to their country. The fairer sex, certainly; but hardly the weaker.
Another case in point is Rabiya Javeri Agha who as Secretary to the Trade Development Authority Pakistan (TDAP) has lead quite a few delegations and organised Pakistani trade exhibits abroad.
Designer Maheen Khan, boasting a career where she has repetitively built her business through participation in international fairs and shows, mulls over the ignorance people often harbor regarding Pakistan.
“I am asked ‘How could you be from Pakistan?’” she says, “and I am happy to tell them about the many dimensions that define my country. At the same time, I find their ignorance bordering on arrogance — they don’t know about my country because they haven’t bothered to know about it."
"The world’s a global village and well-travelled, well-read people are generally aware of Pakistan’s burgeoning fashion fraternity and cultural strengths. The rest, hopefully, will get better informed with time.”
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