Minsk, 27 January 2022 (TDI): The Ambassador of Pakistan to Belarus, Sajjad Haider Khan visited the National School of Beauty and met with the Director-General Ms. Bozhena Eremich. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Dmitry Vrublevsky and Ms. Elena Kulmachevskaya.
The Ambassador briefed the school management about the Fashion Design institutions and the emerging fashion industry in Pakistan. He particularly mentioned the contributions of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design, Lahore, graduates of which are currently setting new standards of cloth/costume designing within the country.
Furthermore, the parties discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the National School of Beauty and Pakistani fashion designers.
The Belarusian National School of Beauty was established in 1996 and has been effectively promoting the fashion scene in the country through training the youth and holding contests and fashion shows.
PAKISTAN FASHION THEN AND NOW
First, we find the shalwar kameez, which is worn by men and women, and is a long knee-length shirt (kameez, camise) over loose-fitting pants (shalwar); and is the most common traditional form of attire.
Each province has its style to wear, and the most famous are Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi, and Pashtun. The women wear it with different styles, colors, and designs decorated with different styles and embroidery designs.
Men wear a knee-length coat known as a sherwani or a kurta, and women wear a light shawl called a dupatta; as a formal overgarment. The Baloch wear long-sleeved Balochi turban. A Baloch wears a long jama such as a smoky frock up to the heels, a loose shalwar, a long chadar or scarf, a cotton cloth turban, and most of the shoes that float under the feet.
Furthermore, the Sindhi wear a traditional Sindhi hat and ajrak of local designs. Punjabi men wear simple shalwar kameez, shalwar, and dhoti Karta according to the climate. The Pashtun people usually wear traditional professional slippers and wear traditional Peshawari chappal.
Traditional Pashtun men’s clothing includes khet purtag and Peshawari shalwar. Men usually wear traditional headgear with a traditional forehead hat, turban. Most of the Pashtun women wear the shalwar kameez, the ones that live in rural areas wear firaq partug. In the Kalash region, women wear long embroidered shirts.
Most women cover their heads with a Dupatta or Chador outside, or according to religious traditions they use Scarf, Burqa, or Hijab.
Currently, western clothes are popular among the urban young, and also combinations of Western and Pakistani styles are present in the streets.
BELARUS FASHION THEN AND NOW
Moreover, in Belarus, every region of the country had its characteristic features in traditional clothes. Each of the different regions of the country has costumes certain distinct characteristics or designs. Furthermore, some researchers have identified more than 30 varieties of traditional robes.
As an example, in southern regions, the national apparel was more colorful and also decorated; while northern areas had darker folk costumes with fewer embellishments. In the eastern territories, women wore a garment called “saian” instead of the usual combination of a skirt, apron, and bodice. Saian is a dress- skirt, and top sewn together.
Belarusian citizens wore embroidered shirts in daily life. Furthermore, the traditional male costume is beautifully simple and consists of a shirt embroidered on the collar and bottom, pants, and vest.
They also wore coats made of sheepskin and fur coats whenever they went outside of their homes. Normal citizens used shoes called lapti, made from bark, willow bark, or hemp. The noble or people with higher economic means used leather boots.
There are four traditional variations of the women’s robes: a skirt and apron, apron and waistcoat (garsetom) with a skirt, which is sewn to the bodice, corset, with Panova, aprons, waistcoat (garsetom).
Another important aspect was the headgear, as traditionally it was possible to distinguish the marital status, age, and financial status of Belarusian women. This was also used for ceremonies and rituals, such as weddings; brides changed girlish headgear for women to symbolize growth and change.
Currently, Belarus and Pakistan have both joined fully or partially to the trends of fashion today but adapted to their climatic necessities; and their style to adapt to the customer profile.
BACKGROUND OF THE PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF FASHION DESIGN
The Institute was affiliated in 1994 with the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, developed by the French Federation of Fashion Designers in 1927. They held intensive consultations to draw a comprehensive four-year curriculum.
In 1994, the Institute started its operations in a rented campus in Lahore as a Project of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB); Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan. The Vice-Chairman EPB, late Mr. Abu Shamim M. Ariff started to think about the establishment of the first Fashion School in the country.
According to the Institute, that curriculum had the objective of preparing the students for the local demands and empowering them to meet global standards. The first Principal of the PSFD was Abbasi S. Akhtar. It was in 2001 when Professor Hina Tayyaba became the Principal.
In 2003, the Minister of Commerce Hamayun Akhtar Khan asked the Principal to devise a strategy to build a new campus. Furthermore, the Institute acquired the land in 2005, and with the support of Deputy Chairman; Planning Commission, Mr. Akram Sheikh, the PC-1 for construction of the new campus was approved.
Furthermore, in 2008, the Institute reached an agreement of partnership with the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS). That agreement was to provide the students with exposure to jewelry. During this year, the Institute renamed itself to be the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design.
BACKGROUND OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEAUTY
The Belarusian President ordered to create the National School of Beauty in 1996. The main missions of the school are further aesthetic and spiritual education of the younger generation and harmonious development of the individuals.
The school mentioned that today, they are a state educational institution that provides a range of educational services; and have several courses, among them one named School of image and style.
The School has been promoting successfully fashion in Belarus; because they train the youth, as they hold several contests and fashion shows.
