Recently, a Pakistani fashion designer collaborated with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Pakistan on a hard-hitting campaign against the regressive tradition of dowry. And, this campaign has sparked a debate on social media.
According to the news website, Daily Pakistan, the fashion designer, Mr. Xeeshan highlighted the ugly reality of our modern society, which still promotes the age-old regressive practice of dowry. Through his latest collection ‘Numaish’, he has tried to urge people to take a pledge against it. The collection was presented at the ‘Pantene HUM Bridal Couture Week 2021’ and developed in collaboration with UN Women Pakistan.
While sharing the striking photos highlighting the burden of dowry, the organization tweeted:
“UN Women Pakistan supports NUMAISH – a pledge against dowry by @ALIXEESHAN,”
As per the reports, the fashion designed aimed to shed light on the ugly fact that families strive hard to save money for daughters’ dowry (Jahez) instead of their education.
UN Women Pakistan supports NUMAISH – a pledge against dowry by @ALIXEESHAN.
— UN Women Pakistan (@unwomen_pak) February 7, 2021
Share this powerful message and join us to #StopDowryMongering #NumaishNaLagao #JahezkhoriBandKaro@UN_Women @unwomenasia pic.twitter.com/4RCXWpkB9f
In this hard-hitting video, a lehenga-clad young woman is shown as pulling a cart with all her strength. The cart is stacked with a load of heavy things by the bride’s tired parents. When the camera zooms in, it shows the reality of women’s suffering. It shows tears rolling down her cheeks as the husband nonchalantly sits on the pile of dowry.
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A very powerful message!
— HASAN ANSARI (@TheHasanAnsari) February 8, 2021
It is about high time that the word dowry gets deleted from our dictionaries & life’s completely. Your wife-to-be & in laws should be treated with dignity & respect as you should always remember what goes around, comes around@MohsinDurrany @CitizenBoard
Accept her with Love, an Educated bride is a lot better than a billion currency.
— Sadia Khalid (@Warrior4Climate) February 10, 2021
NUMAISH –
Though the campaign is hard-hitting and beautiful. Some people found the campaign hypocritical as the fashion designer attempts to convey such an important social message while advertising for his expensive designer outfits. Sadly, the social pressure of buying such heavy and high-priced lehengas also adds to the financial stress families go through during their daughters’ marriages.
@ALIXEESHAN – Kudos! Proper use of the stage to share the message of forceful gifts.
Talking about his dresses costing lacs, that’s his trade for talent. U don’t need to buy his dresses if u don’t want to. He’ll not force you to buy.
Have a wedding that you want, not others.— Kamika Singh (@KamikaSingh) February 11, 2021
But what to say to the designer who initiated this campaign & sold bridal dresses starting from LACS…
— Adnan Hameed (@adnan6673) February 10, 2021
An innocent question
@ALIXEESHAN – Kudos! Proper use of the stage to share the message of forceful gifts.
— Kamika Singh (@KamikaSingh) February 11, 2021
Talking about his dresses costing lacs, that’s his trade for talent. U don’t need to buy his dresses if u don’t want to. He’ll not force you to buy.
Have a wedding that you want, not others.
Dowery is imposed while buying expensive dress is not imposed by this designer
— قدسیہ بانو (QB) (@DrQudsiyaBano) February 7, 2021
A lot of ppl missing the msg. Yes designers can charge whatever they want for a bridal dress but the point here is how awful the dowry culture is, any designer no matter what he charges has a right to point this out.
— Sanam (@lettersandtea) February 8, 2021
In a conversation with BBC, Xeeshan’s chief marketing officer Hafsa Babar remarked,
“Purchasing an expensive wedding ensemble is your own choice. There is no harm in buying one if you can afford it. And when we talk about Ali Xeeshan, then you need to acknowledge that everything he designs is to cater to the demands of a particular market. Every outfit is handmade, and it takes a lot of time and hard work to make even one such outfit. He does not compromise on the quality of the material used either.”
Do let us know what you think about it.