KARACHI:
Two weeks in the past in Karachi, vision-impaired acid burn survivors stepped onto a runway lined with white mild. Guided by choreographer Neera, they walked in Zubair Shah’s Summer time Bloom assortment at Runway Spring/Summer time ’25, drawing applause from the viewers.
The phase was a part of a collaboration with the Depilex Smileagain Basis (DSF). “On the Depilex Smileagain Basis, our mission has at all times been to revive dignity, confidence, and visibility to burn survivors, by way of medical and psychological assist, in addition to by amplifying their voices by way of highly effective storytelling and illustration,” mentioned Abdiya Shaheen, the Nationwide Coordinator & Outreach Supervisor for Depilex Smileagain Basis, in an interview with The Categorical Tribune, talking as a spokesperson for Massarat Misbah, the founder.
The tales behind these walks reveal how acid assaults in Pakistan disproportionately have an effect on ladies .It’s the case that 90% of the victims of acid assaults have already confronted a type of violence that led to the acid assault. Among the ladies had been attacked by rejected suitors; others have been youngsters when home accidents comparable to fuel cylinder explosions left them with life-altering accidents. “Acid and kerosene oil assaults stay a devastating actuality in Pakistan, significantly for girls who assert their independence inside deeply patriarchal environments,” she mentioned. The Pakistan Penal code’s part 336-B clearly states that perpetrators of acid assaults can face imprisonment for all times, alongside a minimal effective of 5 hundred thousand rupees. Nonetheless, regardless of this strict legislation it stays a difficulty. Official figures estimate round 200 reported instances yearly, however the true quantity is probably going far larger, hidden by stigma.
That’s the reason the thought of showing on a runway was not simply embraced. “After we first launched the thought, the reactions have been blended. Some have been hesitant, others cautiously hopeful. Many had by no means imagined themselves in entrance of a digital camera, not to mention styled in such a strong means. But, as the method unfolded, their confidence blossomed. I vividly recall one survivor saying, ‘For the primary time, I used to be seen not for my scars, however for my soul,’” she mentioned.
For Shah, the gathering itself was formed round their goal. “His artistic sensibility aligned seamlessly with our mission. He understood that this was by no means only a style photoshoot, it was an act of reclamation, a platform for burn survivors to precise their individuality, power, and sweetness on their very own phrases,” she mentioned.
The trouble displays a broader push to combine susceptible teams into public tradition. “Our partnership with Zubair Shah was solely the start. We intend to proceed working with artists, designers, filmmakers, and storytellers who share our imaginative and prescient of survivor-centered illustration,” she mentioned.
