Fashion that unites

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Recently the capital witnessed a not-so-usual fashion event. For a change, there weren’t professional models walking down the ramp. Instead top diplomats from different countries, along with their spouses, took to the runway wearing creations by fashion designers from India and abroad.
The event, called “Rays Of Hope For The Girl Child 2013”, focused on the Earth Foundation’s campaign for one million self-reliant underprivileged girls, and celebrated two decades of diverse initiatives by the foundation to improve the quality of life for female children.
Speaking on the occasion, Turkish ambassador to India His Excellency Burak Akcapar said, “A wise man once said educating a girl means educating the whole society. When women finally attain their rightful place in our societies, the world will be a better place.”
Talking about his experience of walking down the ramp, the ambassador who wore Rajesh Pratap Singh’s creation quipped, “Diplomacy is much easier than walking the ramp. I tried to put in my best efforts and I believe my wife’s confidence and radiance made us look decent enough on the ramp.”
The show also witnessed President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha sashaying down the ramp in a Ritu Kumar red sari and the renowned Sufi philosopher Rumi’s 22nd generation descendent Esin Celebi Bayru.
Burak Akcapar, his wife Sebnem and their son Onat were dressed by designers Anju Modi and Rajesh Pratap Singh, while Natalie Maria Daaldar, the wife of Australia’s high commissioner, wore a Gaurav Gupta gown.
Suneet Verma, one of the participating designers, said, “My creation, a light and elegant sari with heavy zardosi border, was worn with great panache by Madame Naghma Karim of Bangladesh. I believe when dignitaries walk down the ramp, it is a different sort of eye-candy for all of us. There was a certain amount of energy, ethos and intelligence added to the show by the educated lot.”
Yukie Premoze, wife of Ambassador of Slovenia said, “I love the outfit that Poonam Bhagat designed for me, a little white dress. I have walked the ramp in the previous editions of the event as well. I really love catwalking.”
Designer Anju Modi, who designed a sari for Sebnem Akcapar, wife of the Turkish ambassador shared, “When Sebnem approached me, I asked for her preference and she suggested a sari. So I designed a very light and graceful chiffon sari to suit her personality. She diligently learnt how to drape the sari and walked the ramp with so much poise and elegance and exuded great confidence.”