LAHORE: Maavia and the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) made Pakistani fashion history on Friday, with the transgender model closing out the runway for designer Hamza Bokhari’s capsule craft collection.
A few days before the official start of the 11th edition of the PFDC’s Sunsilk Fashion Week (SFW), the council issued a press release for the curated concept show that would pave the way for the spring/summer fashion week.
Paired with jewelry by Reama Malik, the designers were tasked with producing ensembles that weaved within them Pakistani craftsmanship.
One of the designers was Bokhari, creative director of the label Jeem, who cast Maavia as his showstopper — the model who walks out the final look of a collection.
She made an impact in Pakistan’s fashion industry last year when she was shot for the first fashion editorial to feature a trans model.
Bokhari provided the clothing for the shoot, which was shot by students of Lahore Grammar School for a final project. That collaboration led to Maavia closing out his show.
The trans population in Pakistan is a visible and present minority. There have been gains, albeit slow, in terms of rights and recognition, but there is a long way to go.
Representation has been a dominating conversation across entertainment, the corporate world and fashion for some time, and in a country such as Pakistan, these steps toward inclusion can change the thread of a society’s fabric.
“The transgender community has expressed how happy they are about this, and some are even jealous,” said Maavia, laughing.
Bokhari told Arab News: “It was like a dream come true for me to see Maavia representing and providing diversity on our country’s biggest fashion platform.”
Fashion week began the day after International Women’s Day, and a day after the Aurat March (women’s march), whose participants demanded women’s rights, including for trans women.
“I want all diverse people to lead us to a place filled with love, divinity and empathy,” said Bokhari.
“Google trend data shows that people are searching gender equality more than ever. I hope we continue to support trans people in all walks of life.”
Trans model makes Pakistani fashion history
Trans model makes Pakistani fashion history
Mini op-ed: We need a ‘potluck’ culture of reading
DUBAI: The number of times we hear, “My kids don’t read,” “I don’t have the time,” or “Do people even read anymore?” is alarming.
With newspapers declared dead and YouTube summaries or ChatGPT reviews becoming the main course of words, I often wonder: have those asking these questions considered the role they play?
Each of us — school representatives, librarians, parents, educators, children, and even occasional readers — must ask whether we are helping create a culture where reaching for a book feels as natural as reaching for a smartphone.
Even the smallest effort counts. I think of a reading culture as a potluck where everyone brings something small, and together it becomes a wholesome meal. If you do not know where to begin, look around.
The UAE is rich in public libraries including in Sharjah and Dubai, such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which is proof that access is not the issue.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is embedding reading into its national identity under Vision 2030 through digital libraries, major book fairs, and daily school reading.
Not a reader? Events such as the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature or the Sharjah International Book Fair offer easy entry points for conversation, community and curiosity.
They are built on cultural blocks that subtly encourage even non-readers into reading spaces. You could even start a reading club. I run one in Dubai called The Reading Village and have seen its quiet magic.
Culture is built by saying yes. And no to pirated PDFs on WhatsApp, as well as unchecked screen habits.
Tiny habits can help build an environment where reading becomes as much a part of our lives as scrolling on Netflix to decide what to binge-watch next.
Purva Grover is an author, poet, playwright, stage director, TEDx speaker, and creative entrepreneur. She is the founder of The Reading Village, a Dubai-based community.
