“It’s time to put a stop to this overburdening tradition!”
Pakistani fashion designer Ali Xeeshan has unveiled a bridal couture collection that urges people to “say no to dowry”.
Xeeshan’s 2021 collection, titled NUMAISH, is gaining a lot of attention, and pictures of the designs have been going viral.
Pictures of the NUMAISH collection feature a young bride dressed in traditional wedding attire along with heavy jewellery.
The bride is also pulling a cart of dowry, while her groom sits on top.
Ali Xeeshan’s Instagram account is filled with pictures of his new collection and also includes a couture film.
The film sheds light on the burden of dowry that the bride and her parents must bear when it comes to her marriage.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK_GSR3lGoI/
The video is captioned:
“Shedding light on the epochal and alarming issue of families fretting over saving money for their daughters’ dowry (jahez) instead of their education that is far more important.
“It’s time to put a stop to this overburdening tradition!”
Many have taken to social media to praise Lahore designer Ali Xeeshan on his clear message against the age-old tradition.
UN Women Pakistan is also on board with Xeeshan’s initiative, and plan to support his stand against dowry.
They also urge people to join the Lahore-based designer’s pledge against the tradition.
UN Women Pakistan supports NUMAISH – a pledge against dowry by @ALIXEESHAN.
Share this powerful message and join us to #StopDowryMongering #NumaishNaLagao #JahezkhoriBandKaro@UN_Women @unwomenasia pic.twitter.com/4RCXWpkB9f— UN Women Pakistan (@unwomen_pak) February 7, 2021
In a tweet from Sunday, February 7, 2021, UN Women Pakistan said:
“UN Women Pakistan supports NUMAISH – a pledge against dowry by @ALIXEESHAN.”
“Share this powerful message and join us to #StopDowryMongering”
However, others could not help but see the irony in the designer’s campaign.
Although Ali Xeeshan’s anti-dowry message is clear, the designer’s bridalwear itself is very expensive, with one of his pieces set at a price of over £11,800.
Women’s rights activist Shad Begum has taken to Twitter to address the issue.
Although she stands with Xeeshan and UN Women Pakistan, Begum does not agree with the prices of Xeeshan’s collection.
A very powerful work by #UNWomen, partnering with fashion designer Ali Zeeshan about this brilliant concept.
We totally support the anti-dowry campaign but the fact that the designer who is giving out this message sells his bridals for millions of rupees is a bit contradictory. pic.twitter.com/AYfCiU8sJ8
— Shad Begum / ??????? (@ShadBegum) February 8, 2021
On Monday, February 8, 2021, Begum tweeted:
“A very powerful work by #UNWomen, partnering with fashion designer Ali Xeeshan about this brilliant concept.
“We totally support the anti-dowry campaign but the fact that the designer who is giving out this message sells his bridals for millions of rupees is a bit contradictory.”
Clearly, Ali Xeeshan’s new collection for 2021 has caused some controversy.
However, his anti-dowry message is a powerful step towards uprooting the outdated traditions of South Asian brides and their families.
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