Gauhar Ali

My collection was inspired by the tragedy of Karbala, 1400 hundred years ago, the Prophet Muhammad grandson, his family and followers were martyred during a war because they refused to give alligence to a corrupt degenerate person as the next caliph. The month of Muharram marks the beggining of the Islamic year and is when this tragedy took people. All over the muslim world, people observe (following symbolistic rituals) to commemarate and remember this event of our history. To this day the agony, pain and horror of those villainous deeds echoes in that hearts and minds. I am a Shia by faith and the supreme tragedy is personal. I played with rich fabrics like red velvet which represents the blood flowing from a thousand wounds. The black fabric and calligraphy prints/cuts personifies the mourning for those precious souls of which none were spared not even infants. As in most religious rituals develop to signify events such is in the case of Imam Hussain where his horse called the 'Zuljinah' who comes out in a procession covered with brocades, richly embroided fabrics, gold and other important jewels to signify his importance.
My modern day muse is Noor Tagouri, a journalist and activist like Imam Hussain who refuses to accept the ugly forces of evil and debauchery and is therefore spearheading a movement against sex and slave trafficking infact it is called the Noor effect (Noor means light). She dresses in sporty/casual clothes that are of a simple urban style including denim wear aswell. With the use of flowing velvet tailored brocades, rich calligraphy prints i try and create the opulence of the east and with the use of stressed denim and leather i endeavour to create urban chic.