New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) Members of the diplomatic corps from more than 20 nations will Saturday put their fashion signature on the ramp here in creations by top designers in aid of the girl child.
The show, ‘Ray of Hope’, a fund-raiser, is a joint initiative by the German Embassy and the Earth Foundation.
The fashion show will also launch the Earth Foundation’s campaign for ‘One million self-reliant under-privileged girls’ and coincides with two decades of its initiatives to improve the quality of life of the girl child.
The fund-raiser will award individuals who have done pioneering work for the girl child and the poor.
Members of the diplomatic community like Naghma Karim, Mahin Karim (Bangladesh), Stewart and Brenda Beck (Canada), Freddy Svane, Anna Svane, Lise Frederiksen (Denmark), Cord Meier Klodt, Gladys Abankwa-Meier-Klodt and Kyra Meier Klodt (Germany), Doulat Kuanyshev and Gulmira Mamytbayeva (Kazakhstan), Raoudha Laouani Azouz (Tunisia) and Diana Alipova (Russian) will be clothed by designers like Ashish Soni, Rohit Gandhi, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Namrata Joshipura, Nida Mahmood, Niki Mahajan, Satya Paul, Anjana Bhargava, Anju Modi, Poonam Bhagat, Pia Fleming, Varun Bahl, Shobhna & Vijay Arora, Ritu Kumar, Sonam Dubal, Rina Dhaka, Anu P.D., Satya Paul, Joseph Ribkoff, Shantanu and Nikhil.
Host Gladys Abankwa Meier-Klodt, the stately wife of Acting German Ambassador Cord Meier Klodt, will wear a chiffon sari dress teamed with a matching choli embelleshied with retro motifs for the show. The striking blue of the outfit, designed by Anu P.D. drapes the lean frame of Meier-Klodt, a native of Ghana, in a trim silhouette.
‘This is the first time I am wearing a sari in Delhi. I have taken part in diplomatic charity fashion shows before. In fact, I met my husband at a similar fashion show at the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Ghana 25 years ago. Both my parents were diplomats,’ Gladys Abankwa Meier-Klodt told IANS.
‘I have a complexion that can carry any bright colours… I think the sari is the most elegant garment that exists today. I had worn one in Russia a few years ago,’ she said.
Meier-Klodt said the ‘girl child should be given a chance for a life’. ‘Little drops do an ocean make,’ she said about the initiative.
Naghma Karim, the petite wife of Bangladesh ambassador Ahmad Tariq Karim, will wear a sari designed by Satya Paul. ‘It is in turquoise silk with lots of embellishments and bling. It is not my style, but it is a Satya Paul archive sari.
‘I have walked the ramp before for charity,’ Karim told IANS.
‘All girls, whether it is the grandmother, mother, wife or the daughter should be spoilt by the family,’ Karim said as she hugged her daughter Mahin, who will also walk the ramp.
‘I have two sons and a daughter. Both my sons pamper her,’ Karim said.
Diana Alipova, wife of the deputy chief of mission of the Russian Embassy, will wear a western style dress by Harmeet Bajaj though she ‘loves the sari and would like to wear a lehenga’.
Alipova said the Indian women doemstic helps in her home have given her an insight into the ‘plight of the Indian women from the social margins’.
‘When they are pregnant, they pray for a boy. The women are supposed to be strong and take care of their family. But I think every girl child should be given equal opportunity,’ Alipova said.
Lise S. Frederiksen, wife of the ambassador of Denamrk, Freddy Svane, will walk in a pink ensemble by designer Namrata Joshipura.
‘It is long beautiful dress amd pink I my favourite colour. It symbolises spring. The dress has elements of Denmark and India and I am wearing it to symbolise the friendship between India and Denmark,’ Frederiksen said. She will take part in the show as a family – with her husband and daughter.
Frederiksen said she did not know much about the plight of the girlchild in India and if she could something for them, she would love to.
The show will be choreographed by Harmeet Bajaj.
Geeti Bhagat of the Earth Foundation said: ‘The international community has come forward without hesitation for the project.’
‘The money raised from the event will be directed towards Earth Foundation and projects focusing on launching our programme for a million self-reliant girls,’ Bhagat added.
