The Century of Pakistani Fashion

The country of Pakistan lies in the North-Western part of Indian Sub-continent. The traditional dresses were towards the formal side. They were large, looser, and elaborate. These well designed dresses dominated the fashion scene of South Asia, specially its far western parts for centuries.

With the advent of the British and machine-looms came with newer methods of making items of clothing, and new stitches. Influence of the British on the fashion changed throughout the decades based upon the local sympathies for the British Raj. Indo-British hybrid and distinctively British clothing came, disappeared and reappeared.

With the advent of an independent Pakistan, Pakistan parted way away from the Fabian clerical socialism of Nehru's India and adopted free market economy with religious, economic, and social freedoms which come along with that. Women adopted Sari as their formal dress and men adopted beautifully made conservative suits.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, praise him or criticize him, became the anchor point in the recent Pakistani history. By the time he took office the waves of Islamization were hitting the Muslim World. The Criminal Brotherhood caused this waves, and then by the time Bhutto was forced out of the office, Shah of Iran, once believed to be most powerful Muslim ruler fell! During this time when entire Muslim world was bowing to the waves of Political Islam, Bhutto stood straight and carefully managed the influence of fanatic religious Mullahs in the government.

He gave some concessions labeling it socialism, while continued with mostly a free market economy. One of the freest economies outside the western world!

Zia ul Haq's illegal actions against the people's government was justified in the name of religion. As the great Hafez al-Assad of Syria used to say, the lowest criminals of our world misuse religion to take legitimacy out of it as they have very little things to justify their existence at the helm of power, Zia did the same. The murder of Palestinians and bootlicker par excellence throughout his career suddenly became the knight of Islam overnight. Forced Islamization under him mocked the very basic tenants of Islam and its view on the state. He did not care, he cared more about his power than anything else.

PART 4: Pakistani society regressed a lot during his time. Darker and less vibrant colours became a norm in the fashion. Looking good and being fashionable was being looked down upon. Rather than actually being loyal wives, looking overly covered in dull dark cloths became a state sponsored priority for the women and men were made to look down about taking care of their looks and fashion.

Zia fell because of the same organization which gave him power, American CIA. After his murder Pakistan went through cycles of lawlessness and tyranny over and over again. Various sub-culture developed which influenced varying fashion trend in Pakistan of 90s-2000s.

Finally my country's people have learned that they can never count on its regime, and they have to come together as a nation, as brothers, and be better and stronger than ever before.

This artwork celebrates the struggle of the people of North-Western India, and show how they survived throughout the ages while keeping together their identity and dignity.

More power to our people!