A tale of two cities

Although Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) and Maheen Kardar Ali’s (of Karma) much-awaited return to London came a month after the London Fashion Week, it not only brought about a change in the local weather but also served as a healthy reminder of what the duo is capable of delivering. Fresh off soaking in the Dubai Fashion Week applause, HSY, together with Karma, became part of a London fundraising event held at the Royal Court of Justice.

The event was held by Developments in Literacy (DIL) Trust UK as a launching pad of their vocational training aspect, – having been incharge of a girls’ school in Karachi. It consisted of various auctions before the studded models paraded in the sparkle that was A Tale of Two Cities (Karma’s collection) followed by HSY’s.

“For the event to be a huge success and for us to put our organisation on the map, we had to ensure a well-recognised presence from Pakistan, hence the choice of HSY and Karma,” Rubina Riaz, vice-president DIL Trust UK, said. “Also, since our motives are to promote education in women and to feature how a woman can equally be successful in the world, we had no better choice than inviting Maheen Kardar to display her work.”

The old-fashioned, high ceiling interior that is the Court and the imaginative mix of colour and shine that was A Tale of Two Cities blended majestically as the models ‘mingled’ with the seated guests, thus making for a more interesting evening, with HSY not too far behind.

And after the attendees parted generously with cash while bidding on the auctioned paintings – majority were by female artists thus adding to DIL’s aims of promoting female contribution to the world – it was left to HSY and Karma to remind one and all of their presence, attained via the selected group of Pakistani models – including the duo of Tooba Siddiqui and Zainab Qayoom – complemented by a group of local models.

An auction on a donated pair by the designers rounded off a classy evening – attended by former prime ministers and media tycoons – with much applause for the showcasing group as well as DIL members for a well-organised and unique fundraiser.

© Faras Ghani 2008
Published in Daily Times Oct 26, 2008