Salaam Alaikum/Peace & Love,
I pray this reaches you all in the best of times god willing.
This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the Fashionista Networking Event hosted by Seema Sahin (Designer of Modern Mary), Farah Khan (Blogger at Greater lengths) and Hakeemah Cummings (Designer for CMB) on the 28th of March, 2014. This event was a chance to turn lemons into lemonade for our sister Fleuri Paramita, who travelled 28 hours to the U.S. from Indonesia to showcase her designs at the Islamic Modern Fashion Week event. Unfortunately, this event was abruptly cancelled at the last minute, leaving Fleuri (alongside many other vendors and designers) alone and penniless.
Alas, it didn’t deter her spirit or goals and sitting across the table from these exceptional women, truly brought to light that with hardship comes ease; the truest mercy. Although the events of IMFW left it’s own stains many of us were supremely ecstatic to come together and witness Fleuri’s wonderful designs (skirts, capes, dresses). As an aspiring designer and stylist looking to continue building your brand, it also reminded me that I must, first and foremost, be a sister to these women around me and today’s women.
It became an eye opener for us bloggers, mothers, wives, etc., as we discussed Fashion, designs and business rules, that this industry has a place for all of us as the night went on. We are the inspiration and there’s a platform for us to add something unique and special to this ever growing industry. We also had a chance to meet and converse with Ian William, a fashion designer and coordinator for Fashion shows in his own right. He explained the fashion show industry in greater detail and how to dodge fake shows by asking the right questions.
Fleuri’s explanation that her designs are a way to employ people in her country struggling to find jobs and her belief she feels a great responsibility to find an opportunity for them was the most poignant point that I took away from the entire session. As a woman who loves fashion, styling, fabrics and prints since the age of 5, I had to take a few nights to ponder on the best reasons why I want to create or be part of the creation of modest fashion. Maybe we should all take a step back and think about the reasons. The intentions behind our actions and our aspirations have tremendous repercussions.
Furthermore, we were all reminded of our duty to serve our art/hobby/love/business for fashion with responsibility and care. We have an audience and we have a responsibility to our audience to create, dress and act accordingly to our faith in Allah (GOD). In the end, this is all greater than numbers, facebook and instagram likes. This is a movement of modesty and empowerment in a crucial time where many on TV, Billboards and music strip women of their crowns.
Amazing food, conversations, designs but most of all sisterhood. If there was ever a reason to stay in the fashion industry, to support it and to fund it, it would truly be for the SISTERHOOD.
Thank you to the event coordinators for allowing this event to be open to everyone, may we all share space again, inside and outside of fashion soon.
With Love,
Fahima A
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