2nd Kasthamandap Fashion Show

FROM ISSUE # 69 (September 2001) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Just the thought of going to a fashion show makes some of us nostalgic. There were those glory days when every fashion show enjoyed an enthusiastic audience of the cream of Nepali society. And then there was a lull, fashion shows came to a standstill for various reasons including protests from women rights organisations. But the surprising factor is that there continues to be a boom in boutiques, concentrated in the Kupondole area after you cross the bagmati bridge. There's Durbar Marg too and a few in Lazimpat. So is there really a market for designer clothes? - is a question that might prop into a consumer's mind. Same questions arise about fashion shows and basically where the fashion industry is heading, as far as Nepali context is concerned. To keep the flame alive, which many started years ago is the Kasthamandap Fashion Show, the second of which took place on 4th of August in Yak n Yeti hotel. It was a commendable effort on Manish, the organizer's part to put up quite an impressive show, with an eco-friendly message attached to it, which went pretty well with the psyche of the audience as it received a loud applause.

A lot of new faces on the ramp but not too many seem promising. A lot of work still needs to be put in by the models if they really want to take modeling as a career and be able to bag contracts in the future. If it's just for the 'heck of it' then that's another story altogether. The notable figures in the judge panel were Niru Shrestha, ex-Miss Nepal and Mani Raj Lawot, model and choreographer. A few sequences were designed by Rashmi Singh, who wowed us with excessive creativity in putting up quite an incredible show focusing on recycled goods, in an event called Vision 2000, Environmental Awareness Night, organized by Kesang Sherpa, held in Radisson Hotel. She seems to be the hot favorite amongst organisers these days.

It was no surprise that there were male models than females and the title of being able to win the Best Female Model prize wasn't good enough to attract promising candidates. That itself goes to show how much work still needs to be put in - the formula is simple - good models=good sales=boom in the fashion industry. The Best Male Model was bagged by Raedeep Khan who was a favorite amongst the crowd and as you can see faired pretty well with the judges too. If he puts in more effort, dedication in this line, who knows, he might just make it. The boys that followed as the 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively, are Deepak Shahi and Rohit Thebe. Arpana Shrestha won the Best Female model with Puja Pradhan and Rabina Baidhya as 1st and 2nd Runner's Up, respectively.