Pehchaan: Miss Universe | Blogs | Miss Universe
Pehchaan: Miss Universe Pakistan
This year, Pakistan marked its debut in the international realms of beauty and entertainment with the 72nd Miss Universe competition, held on the 18th of November in El Salvador. However, a distinctive feature of this year's event was the representation by Erica Robin, who created history by becoming the first-ever Miss Universe Pakistan to reach the semi-finals.
As a tribute to her homeland, Erica's National Costume, designed by Khaadi, aimed to celebrate the diverse identities within Pakistan by including various cultural elements into a single artistic creation. For the cultural round, Erica chose a proudly Pakistani look, showcasing the craftsmanship of artisans from Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, and the Frontier. Named "Pehchaan" (Identity), the Pakistani dress paid homage to both craft and tradition, embodying the essence exclusive to the nation.
The comprehensive costume is divided into three significant parts: the top, the ghagra (skirt), and the odhni (shawl). Additionally, it features an accessory in the form of a traditional handcrafted Sindhi pankha, designed with environmental and cultural consciousness in mind—an essential consideration for the extreme Pakistani climate. The embroidery and craftsmanship vividly display the vibrancy of folk artistry, incorporating bright pink motif detailing inspired by the Frontier and Punjabi Phulkari, a women-led communal art form.
A Pashtun Peplum and Baluchi Abho
Khaadi stepped up to the task by bringing all the ethnicities under one roof and it proved to be successful through the art of design. Let's delve into the distinctive top, a fusion of the Pashtun peplum dress and Baluchi Abho featuring broad sleeves. These flared sleeves symbolise a metaphorical ascension into the sky and encapsulating Pakistan's emergence into the world of art, culture, and entertainment.
This concept seamlessly integrates two distinct cultures within the national sphere, adorned with embellishments and embroideries that not only decorate but also amplify the artistic potential of our local artisans. Employing a single motif technique and appliqué, the top showcases a vibrant canvas in hues of pink, black, and silver. Glimmering coins, shells, mirror-work, and sequins, revered by our local craftswomen, collectively convey a profound meaning, representing different facets of the region that have harmoniously united to pay homage to the land.
Ghagra and Odhni: A Story
Another highlight of Erica's outfit was the black and silver ghagra, inspired by the Sindhi culture. Given the extreme climate conditions in Sindh, the bottom has been designed with excess volume to symbolise the weather-related difficulties face by the people in the province. The intricate patterns and embroidery spanning across the entire ghagra can be observed as well.
Another intriguing element of the costume is the Hyderabadi odhni, a six-yard shawl with one side entirely hand-woven with motifs. It celebrates indigenous crafts, adding grace to the entire outfit. The odhni also represents the true modest culture of Pakistan, where women cover themselves with a dupatta as part of their tradition. Alongside embellishments and handwork, the draping of the odhni pays homage to Hyderabadi culture and communal art.
Cultural Amalgamation: Pehchaan
Looking at Erica’s National Costume, one would not discern the dedication and attention to detail that enabled Khaadi to create such a special piece honouring Pakistan. Each element of her outfit represents our homeland, with the artists, designers and masterminds behind the costume sparing no opportunity to express the beautiful and diverse culture that spans across all the provinces in our country. It couldn't have been a better stage to showcase the indigenous crafts that find their way on to the dress.
This outfit is a blend of Pashtun, Baluchi, Sindhi and Punjabi culture showcasing their unique identities, known as Miss Universe. The way Erica Robin carried herself while wearing this dress on the stage won countless hearts worldwide, with people commending the hard work that these creative magicians invested in the costume. Khaadi believes that these artists infuse a part of their soul into everything they do and with Erica making her way to the semi-finals, the artists ability to create astounding pieces with found objects received the appreciation it truly deserves.