Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 10: The fashion show in Gulmarg which is claimed to have hurt the sentiments of the people in the holy month of “Ramadan” rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday even as organisers apologised and the chief minister Omar Abdullah promised to take action against the offenders.
The fashion show, which was held at a ski resort in Gulmarg, sparked an uproar after pictures of models wearing skimpy clothes went viral. The Omar Abdullah government was criticised and the Chief Minister responded that it would take action.
The organisers of the fashion show have apologised after pictures from the event sparked a massive row and drew strong political reactions from key players in the Union Territory. Shivan and Narresh, a luxury brand that specialises in holiday wear, said in a statement that it deeply regretted the hurt caused by the event in Gulmarg.
“We deeply regret any hurt caused by our recent presentation in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramadan. Our sole intention was to celebrate creativity and the ski & apres-ski lifestyle, without any desire to offend anyone or any religious sentiments,” it said.
“Respect for all cultures and traditions is at our heart, and we acknowledge the concerns raised. We sincerely apologise for any unintended discomfort and appreciate the feedback from our community. We remain committed to being more mindful and respectful,” the organisers said.
On March 7, Shivan & Narresh organised a fashion show at a renowned ski resort of Gulmarg to mark the 15th anniversary of the brand in the fashion industry. The show was held under the open sky and presented their designer skiwear range. The ensemble collection included art prints from the archives of the brand, which included statement ski separates, winter layers, sculptural ski suits and uid après-ski dresses for women and men. After the controversy, Elle India removed the reel of the fashion show which was earlier uploaded on Instagram.
The issue was raised in the Assembly by the opposition members including the BJP, PDP and Independents dubbing the fashion show to be “obscene” alleging it hurt the sentiments during Ramadan. An advocate also issued a legal notice to the commissioner, secretary of Tourism, and submitted it to the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, requesting it be considered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). He demanded action against officials and participants for allegedly organizing a “nude fashion” show in Gulmarg.
Reacting to the controversy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the House that, as per the preliminary information, the show was held by a private party on March 7. He also said that his government would never have given permission to conduct such an event in any month or time of the year.
“We have already ordered an inquiry into it, but preliminary facts revealed that it was a private four-day event organised by a private party in a private hotel. The fashion show was held on March 7, and certain things have come to the fore, which hurt the sentiments of the people who are not wrong,” the chief minister said in the Assembly. Abdullah said that the government had no role in the organisation of the event.
He said his government has given Instructions that if anything against the law has happened, action should be taken.” He said he “totally understood” the shock and anger of the people. “The shock and anger are totally understandable. The images I have seen show a complete disregard for local sensitivities and that too during this holy month,” he said.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said labelling the fashion show as a “private” event was not enough. “Deeply troubling to witness vulgar images from the recent fashion show in Gulmarg. The fact that such an event which descended into an indecent spectacle took place during the sacred month of Ramadan is nothing short of shocking. It is deplorable that private hoteliers are allowed to promote such vulgarity through these events, which blatantly contradict our cultural values,” said the PDP leader.
“The government cannot simply absolve itself of responsibility by labelling this a private affair. Shrugging off accountability could pave the way for more such events, ultimately inflicting severe damage on our culture and society,” she added in a social media post.
Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, BJP’s Sunil Sharma, accused the Chief Minister of lying. “Omar Abdullah lies both inside the Assembly House and outside as well. How is it possible? Such a big function was happening in your relatives’ hotel, and you had no idea? I feel you only must have organized this programme,” Mr Sharma said. He said Mr Abdullah was trying to distance himself from the event after it sparked a row. “Today, since people raised this issue, you are saying in the Assembly House that you will conduct an inquiry. Conduct the inquiry of your family members and relatives…he should accept the truth instead of lying.”
Kashmir’s chief priest and a separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said obscenity in the name of promotion of tourism would not be tolerated. “Outrageous! That in the holy month of Ramadan, an obscene fashion show is organised in #Gulmarg, pictures and videos from which have gone viral sparking shock and anger among people. How could it be tolerated in the valley known for its Sufi, saint culture and the deeply religious outlook of its people?” he posted on X.
The designers, Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja, are well-established fashion designers who run the fashion label “Shivan & Narresh.” Shivan Bhatiya completed his Bachelor of Design degree from NIFT, Delhi and earned a master’s degree from Istituto Europeo di Design. Co-founder Narresh Kukreja completed his schooling at Modern School. He is also a graduate of NIFT, Delhi and earned a Master in Luxury and Marketing degree from Istituto Europeo di Design.
As per their Instagram profiles, they have nearly 2.29 lakh followers on their Instagram account. The fashion label was launched in 2010 with Lakme Fashion Week and the brand specialises in beach, resort, cruise, swimwear, accessories and holiday wear.
According to LinkedIn, Shivan & Narresh is the first luxury holiday brand in India, which was launched in Cannes. It also claims to be the first brand which got the opportunity to showcase at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2012 in Miami and take part in the Swimwear Association of Florida’s SwimShow 2012. The brand has also been worn by various Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Dita Von Teese, Nicki Minaj, Padma Lakshmi, Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor, and Shilpa Shetty.
