FASHION X DFW : SOUTH ASIA

On Saturday October 13, 2018, Fashion X hosted its 5^th annual fashion show at Sixty Five Hundred in Dallas entitled Fashion X DFW: South Asia and it was exactly what we needed.

Inclusion is a word we hear often, however we do not truly understand the impact of this term until we experience it firsthand. I was born & raised in Dallas, however my parents were born in India and that culture is very much a part of my daily life and identity. After working in both the South Asian and greater Dallas fashion space for almost a decade, it was refreshing to see my two worlds meet on one runway. It was more than refreshing — it felt like progress. It felt inclusive.

Dallas [Intuitive] has been hustling to make a space for South Asian style & sensibility in the Dallas fashion scene since its inception. The foundation of this platform is to explore the issues and voices of the diaspora and make sense of both American and Indian heritage through the lens of fashion & style. As a child of immigrants, the art, culture, and fashion of India became my way of connecting to a culture I only understood through my parents and our trips to India. The more I submerged myself into the fashion, the more Indian I felt, and I began to appreciate the complexity of South Asian fashion. South Asian fashion is so much more than glitzy Bollywood lehengas. There is a deep sense of tradition in fabrics and embroidery, however we are also seeing a shift towards more modern silhouettes as South Asian identity becomes more globalized.

Fashion X DFW: South Asia celebrated the diversity of fashion and explored both the traditional & modern ends of the spectrum. The “East meets West” fete welcomed four designers from across the globe: Rana Noman (Pakistan), Varun Bahl (India), Maryam Khizer (Pakistan), and Erum Khan (Pakistan). Other local South Asian designers who showcased were: Silk Threads by Ruby Bhandari (Indian – Dallas-based), Nava by Ayesha Qasim (Pakistan – Dallas-based), and Jaya Shukla of Bridal Motif (India – Austin-based). Retailers and designers House of Dasha, Miles David by David Peck, Valerie Garmino, Shusi, House of Cynthia, and Abi Ferrin also showcased their collections.

The event was an enriching experience and provided a space for fashion enthusiasts like myself who grew up needing to see people and clothes I could relate to on the runway. I am thrilled that it is finally happening in Dallas. Not only were the collections inspiring, but the evening brought together creatives from all over to celebrate fashion, culture, and diversity. Check out some of my favorite looks from the show!