Glitz and glamour rule TGIF Fashion Week Nepal

The shutterbugs went wild and Soaltee Crowne Plaza’s Megha Malhar hall was filled with blinding flashes. Matching their steps to the booming music well known national and international models strutted down the runway wearing some of the best designs of the year by talented, imaginative and creative designers of Nepal. The most awaited and anticipated day had come — The Himalayan Times TGIF Nepal Fashion Week (NFW) ’10 started on September 13. Day-1 of the fashion extravaganza was attended by the who’s-who of Kathmandu.
The collection Shaadi Mahal kicked off the show with elegant bridal saris in colours like green, orange, and unconventional black. Heavily embroidered glittering borders and interesting designs of blouses caught everyone’s attention.

 And as the elegant drapes left the ramp, flowing and frilled chic gowns representing Vintage, the first collection from Neelima Fashion Studio took over the ramp. Accessorised with hats and gloves, the collection in mostly nude colours and lots of pleats, layering, and flower accentuates and empire waist emoted the 40’s romantic feel.

Dominated by black and white the Casual — second collection from Neelima — celebrated 60’s style with polka dots and stripes. It had jumpers, rompers and short dresses. From 60’s the ramp went on to the disco 80s as Neelima’s Seqiun garments glittered on the ramp. This collection was followed by Saree-Kurta-Lehenaga by the same designer where anarkali-style kurta-salwar in vibrant colour combination and detailed hand work stood out.

After all the glam and glitter, it was time for some subtle and suave look for the guys with two collections by Monalisa. Shiny and shimmery suits and semi-casual jackets in prints and bold colours made their way to the ramp.

The Nepali touch came in the name of Dhaka Delights where garments in different lengths and innovative cuts with mix of different fabrics with Dhaka were seen in the designs.

Printed short dresses meant for cocktail parties didn’t present anything new. 

 

Bohemian cuts and retro prints with cool colours like blue, light pink celebrated Last Summer. Teen style shared the limelight with shorts, mini skirts, shirt dresses and dresses with interesting backs in mostly combination of printed fabrics with satin.

Though titled Prints, the last collection of the day didn’t go overboard with prints but rather incorporated floral and animal prints in interesting ways.
Asymmetrical cuts — be it on the neckline or the hem — and variety of trousers like Jodhpuri and harem pants were part of almost all the collections.

The celebrity quotient wasn’t missing as cricketer Paras Khadka, Miss Nepal 2010 Sadichha Shrestha and Miss India International 2010 Neha Hinge walked the ramp.

The Himalayan Times TGIF Nepal Fashion Week 2010 is organised by IEC in association with Chivas Regal and supported by San Miguel, Invenio Wines, Diva and Timex, with Kingfisher Airlines as the official carrier and Soaltee Crowne Plaza

as the hospitality partner. The creative partner is Echoad, and FHM and Andpersand are the magazine partner, with Mudra Max as brand alliance partner. Sound design and after parties are done by PartyNepal.

 

Glitz and glamour rule TGIF Fashion Week Nepal

Posted On 17 September 2010 | By Glamour Nepal

Biggest fashion week 2010

The time of the year when all you will hear people talk about is colour, fabrics, cuts and styles has arrived. It’s the time to get up and notice the fashion scene of Nepal, the creativity flow and make everything fashionable. Get ready to celebrate fashion and style as the biggest fashion extravaganza of the year — The Himalayan Times TGIF Fashion Week 10 is here.

 

With the same magic and opulence as last year there is something new and exciting for all those fans of fashion during the four-day-long glamorous event that will take place from September 13 to 16 at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza. While last year TGIF Fashion Week focused only on Pret-a-porter (ready to wear collection), this year the fashion week will be showcasing two collections Pret-a-porter and Diffusion (a mixture of ready to wear and haute couture). With the benchmark being raised higher one can expect precise cuts, exquisite materials, details on every finishing. 

 

 “We have higher expectation from the designers for this year’s TGIF Fashion Week,” says Shailaja Adhikari, Managing Director of IEC, which has been organising Nepal Fashion Week since 2004. “Unlike last time we have very varied themes and we have tried our best to move the focus of the designers and buyers from Indo-Western styles to more of Western trends,” she adds. To ensure the designs have expected touch of western style and fits two well-known designers Monika Agrawal from India and Maja Soerensen from Denmark have selected the designs, insists Adhikari. This year will be more precise western cuts and subtle style and accessories which will scream oomph and elegance at the same time.

Making this event more couture oriented was a conscious effort made by IEC as they have seen drastic growth in designer wear in past few years and another reason why couture is being introduced on the ramp is “the spectators”, “this year the show will only have invitees, which means most of our targeted customers will be checking out the designs so thus the couture is being stressed,” says Adhikari.


Along with some of the best students of IEC from Kathmandu, Dharan, Butwal and Pokhara, various boutiques will also participate in the fashion week. And a guest designer from Bangladesh, Ameela Haq will also be showcasing her creations to the delight of all fashionistas.

More than 20 Nepali and international models will be sashaying on the ramp wearing some of the best creations of the year. And like last year there will be celebrity showstoppers.As the hospitality partner Soaltee Crowne Plaza will be providing par excellence service as the name is known for. “We will be doing what we are known best for — providing world-class service and hospitality. From cocktail menus to comfort of every guest whether its venue or parking we will be paying attention to every small detail. Expected quality will be provided,” says Sony Chaudhary, Assistant Manager Marketing and Public Relations. The Himalayan Times TGIF Nepal Fashion Week 2010 is being organised by IEC in association with Chivas Regal and supported by San Miguel and Invenio Wines. The creative partner for the event is Echoad. The hospitality partner of the event is Soaltee Crowne Plaza while the official carrier is Kingfisher Airlines. Magazine partner is FHM and brand alliance partner is Mudra Max. Sound design is done by Party Nepal

.

Biggest fashion week 2010

Posted On 12 September 2010 | By Glamour Nepal

Beauty pageants and hidden treasures

By Nepali Keti
Last Wednesday, a major Indian corporate house crowned yet another pretty girl Miss Nepal for no other reason – as far as I can tell – than to have her grace the labels of their products –and to raise awareness about the environment on the side. Based on how very little I actually know about pageants, Dabur Hair Oil, I imagine, will now replace last year’s foxy Zenisha Moktan with this year’s cutey Sadichha Shrestha in its marketing ventures. Brilliant! 

Choosing a Miss “Nepal” from 18 middle-class-to-affluent city girls – shortlisted from 80 to 50 beforehand – makes me wonder how representative the contest really is – at least, get one from each zone, if not all the 75 districts in the name of Miss “Nepal” (while we wait for our federal states to be divvied out anyway). Because otherwise there is nothing “hidden” about these “treasures” – they were in the commercials and on the billboards of Kathmandu already.

Miss Nepal, I wouldn’t want to suggest, is a joke. Yes, “you are special,” and the way to “let the world know” is by dolling up, saying nice things and shaking your booty! This might explain why our former princesses sell real estate, and last year’s winner couldn’t receive the crown from her predecessor because Miss Nepal 2007 was too busy serving coffee on Emirates Airways. Talk about aiming high – personal and professional development at its best! 

So let’s forget how demeaning such a competition might be – for girls to prance on stage in revealing evening gowns, to be jeered at by the audience, and to be judged on the basis of their pearly whites and twinkling eyes.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m guilty of masking my face with makeup and opting for the most flattering dress I could afford. Except there is a slight difference between looking good for a dinner party and young girls complying to be scrutinized on stage. And Wikipedia (unreliable source or not) tells me a contestant can’t have given birth or be pregnant! Question: Is this 1956 and are we in a time warp?

I’m not enough of a traditional feminist to lament the nature of having said girls sway their hips and instructing them to smile despite the critical eyes examining the pores of their skin and texture of their hair. Or am I wrong to believe there is more to a girl than her looks?

I just saw the last five minutes of this year’s pageant on NTV (courtesy of load-shedding and the plain I-had-better-things-to-do), but I have enough of a heart to say if the girls want that, then let them have it. If they insist on flaunting their figures, being judged by graying middle-aged men and speaking English (ironically enough in a Miss Nepal pageant) – so be it.

The Maoists claim the contest is an “attempt of multinational companies to use women as commodities in the name of beauty contests that ignore inner beauty and focus on external looks.” But, I am convinced there are more tangible means of promoting and protecting women than disturbing a little pageant.

This is a free country and you should do what suits your fancy. I’m just puzzled about how all of this is based on looks and smiles and locks of hair!

Of course, it’s not just Nepal. Quite a few Miss-es ran around in my alma mater. Not sure what it was about my small liberal arts school but we had Miss Boston, Miss Massachusetts, Miss Teen Massachusetts (from two years, no less), Miss New Hampshire, and I think Miss New York over the course of my academic tenure alone.

No doubt our Miss-es were pretty girls. But they weren’t exactly the kind of women that inspired the girls that weren’t bent on posing for magazines, soap commercials and becoming the next Miss Something. I mean, honestly, if you actually care about disappearing tigers or climate change or women’s issues, you couldn’t consider a more serious means of highlighting the cause? Then again, I wouldn’t know – I haven’t tried advocating for world peace in a mini-skirt and sequined top just yet.

I might have more lessons to learn still. What with the industry growing and girls giggling, we have more of the Miss Newar, Miss Magar, Miss Gurung, Miss Nepal HK, Miss and Miss Nepal UK to add to the list of social elites. In fact, why don’t we line up these princesses and have them compete to be the ultimate Miss Nepal?
And if we are going to continue watching girls wave on stage, let’s at least do it right.

We could probably do without the tacky stage and the not-exactly-subtle message that hidden treasure is, ironically enough, based on face value. And we could probably do with more organization (Oh! We’re looking for the first runner-up’s scootie keys?), a real gift for the second runner-up (Twenty-five thousand Rupees? That barely covers hair and makeup!) and support all around for the winner.

Reading last year’s account of Miss World by Zenisha Moktan made me (even me, the one rolling her eyes at the whole Miss Nepal fanfare) sympathetic. The minimal financial and technical support she received and the pride she still managed to scourge up for her country was tear-jerking.

So what’s the point of crowning a Miss Nepal and then leaving her to scamper on her own when she goes to “represent” us? Oh right, we need a new face to replace the hair oil ad. Silly me!

Beauty pageants and hidden treasures

Posted On 04 September 2010 | By Glamour Nepal

Miss Nepal 2010

Newly crowned Miss Nepal 2010 Sadichha Shrestha (Centre) in her moment of glory after winning the coveted title in the Army Officers Club, Kathmandu on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. She is flanked by first runner up Sahana Bajracharya (L) and second runner up Sanyukta Timsina (R).
 

Miss Nepal 2010

Posted On 01 September 2010 | By Glamour Nepal

Sadichha Shrestha wins Miss Nepal 2010

Miss Nepal 2010 Sadichha Shrestha

 19-year-old Sadichha Shrestha (Contestant No. 1) has been crowned Darbur Special Hidden Treasure Miss Nepal 2010 amid a special program organized at Tribhuwan Army Officers Club, Bhadrakali, Kathmandu on Wednesday. 
20-year-old Sahana Bajracharya (Contestant No. 12) was crowned first runner up while 19-year-old Sanyukta Timalsena (Contestant No. 9) as second runner up. 
The program was telecast live by Nepal Television.

Out of the 80 applicants, 50 were short listed and 18 have been chosen for the final.

The selected contestants were given six weeks training.

The theme for the beauty pageant this year is environmental change.

The winner of the title will also be a goodwill ambassador for Nepal Cancer Relief Society and World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Nepal. Besides she will also receive a Chery QQ3 car and a cash prize of Rs 50,000 while the first runner-up will be handed a 125 CC Mahindra Scooter and Rs 35,000 in cash prize.

1st Runner-up: Sahana Bajracharya


2nd Runner-up: Sanyukta Timsina






Title-------------------Winners


Miss Photogenic: Sadichha Shrestha

Miss Beautiful Smile: Anita Acharya

Miss Smart Walk: Sadichha Shrestha

Miss Personality: Sadichha Shrestha

Miss Beautiful Complexion: Priya Rani Lama

Miss Friendship: Chandani Dewaju

Miss Talent: Kusumanjali KC

Miss Public Choice: Sanyukta Timsina

Sadichha Shrestha wins Miss Nepal 2010

Posted On | By Glamour Nepal

Miss Nepal 2010 Participant

Sadichha Shrestha

She has represented the country abroad in various youth summits. She is interested in working with the youths in order to create a new platform and launch new ideas. By the early age of 11 she was shooting Tv advertisement and has appeared in various adds including Fem the sponsor of Miss Nepal 2009 Pageant. She is among the VOWs Top 10 College Women and has participated in Miss Beautiful Lady 2005 Pageant. She loves to eat chopsuye, plays basketball, meeting new people, sharing ideas and likes traveling. Sadichha hopes to be a successful professional.

Barsha Shresth

Still a student, she feels that she has not been able to achieve any thing of significance yet. However her painting has made it to the school’s calendar. She has won a silver medal in story writing and a gold medal in badminton. In the future she hopes to join organization that specially deals with children and people who die of addiction. Barsha loves traveling to new places to gain experience, enjoys eating black forest cake. She definitely hopes to be a successful person in life 

Binita Thapa

As a staff nurse she feels that she is born to serve. She hopes to be Miss Nepal and would like to be involved in social fields such as working for childcare and cancer patients. Her priority also lies in caring for poor patients who lose their lives due to lack of money. She is currently working at Shahid Gangalal Heart Centre. She loves her mother’s home cooked food, loves singing, dancing and likes to participate in number of sports. Binita wants to be a good social worker and a nurse.

                               Binita Thapa

Isha Khadgi  

She believes such pageants not only enhance her beauty, but her talent and confidence as well. Currently she is working in a Himalayan Bank (Birgunj). She is passionate, happy and has immense confidence and determination to stand up and face society with a positive mindset, loves Nepali food, likes dancing, listening to music and plays badminton. Isha, being a positive thinker helps her to make right decision and wants to achieve perfection in whatever she does.

Sujata Swar

She has always been interested in social work. During her graduation days in New Delhi(India). She worked as a volunteer in an NGO named “HOPE”. She is confident of achieving success in whichever field she chooses. She loves children and wants to do something for the orphans, loves Nepali dishes, dancing and cooking. She was choosen as Ibibo I fresh Face 2010 for the month of February in New Delhi and feels that winning Miss Nepal 2010 crown will open opportunities which will assist her to work for the society and the nation. Sujata hopes to be a successful corporate executive.

Anita Acharya

She prefers to be called 'Miss Nepal'. She is of the opinion that people who believe in themselves are winners always and those persons possessing great enthusiasm, energy and passion will likely to take the No.1 position. She hopes to work in the social sector, serve people in need, and build a better and prosperous place where all people can live their own life with dignity and peace. She loves seafood likes to dance, cook, and play badminton. Anita's ambition is to be an airhostess.

Ajita Singh

 She is a god-fearing person and appreciates god’s creation, values life and human dignity. She has worked as a project manager for Group for Media Support, as a student member of faculty, research team Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) and as a group captain for marketing/organizational behaviour course (KCM). Recipient of Appreciation Letter for Demonstrating Exceptional Leadership (KCM), she is the winner of Miss College Ambassador 2009-2010. A vegetarian, she enjoys doing research work, to do Ph.D in economics, be a successful entrepreneur and hopes to be a political figure. Ajita aspires to help the conflict-hit population of Nepal.

Chandani Dhewaju

 She is an ardent sports lover and actively participates in various games like basketball and badminton and has won medals in these games. A black-belt trainee, she is also a recipient of Certificate of Appreciation for achieving excellence in sports (2003-2004) from Malpi International School. She likes to help people in difficulty and is a member of Rotract Club of Thamel. Winner of the best player in the school’s basketball tournament, loves Newari food, loves traveling. Chandani aspires to be a successful banker in the future.

Sanykuta Timalsena

She has been working as a volunteer in Narconan Nepal(drug rehab center).She feels winning is not as important but taking part and giving your best is what counts. She draws inspiration from the smallest of things and feels that small things in life matter the most. She likes dal bhaat and Mexican food. Yoga, dancing, trekking and rock climbing are some of her interests and hobbies. She has taken part in karate, badminton and athletic events. Sanyukta wants to be a successful entrepreneur and help economic growth of the country by reducing poverty.

Priya Rani Lama

Despite of belonging to a new general of girls, she is curious of learning new and interesting ideas. She is religious and a peace loving person. She is into modeling, choreographs fashion shows, acts as MC and has acted in music videos. Likes to eat veg. momos while dancing and sports are her hobbies. She is the 1st runner up of Miss Purwanchal Talent Show 2010 and says her childhood dream is to win Miss Nepal and Miss World crown .Win or loose her participation will be a first step towards future success. Priya hopes to be a doctor and a social worker.

Supriya K.C

 Though a bit shy, she likes to make new friends, she wants to prove that everything boy can do a girl can also do. She believes any goal can be achieved through hard work, confidence, honesty and also prove that a girl from middle class family can also become successful in life. Currently working as an accountant in a private firm, she likes to eat momos, to sing, dance and play badminton. Supriya also had a stint as a V.J. and aims to excel life by setting example in her field of work.

Sahana Bajracharya

Her passion for photography speaks volumes. Culture for her is an asset and is proud of it. She feels that her family for her is a source of knowledge, support, energy, encouragement and the most prioritized part of her life. Vocal about her thoughts, opinions and she aspires to achieve more. Loves social work and advocacy, she is involved in programs generating awareness for HIV/AIDS for organization as FHI and UNFPA. Sahana is resolute on the course of her future roles as she intends to carry out awareness activities for the welfare of children and women especially through the use of mass media (television).

Samriddhi Rai

 She considers herself as a very balanced person and believes her family as being her greatest strength. Being a very humorous person she makes people laugh a lot without any effort. She is into writing and currently works as an editorial assistant ECS magazine. She prefers eating salads and fruit platters,is a national basketball player, a trained dancer, likes singing, playing cricket, volleyball and tennis. She believes participating in Miss Nepal Pageant makes her a better person. She is the 2nd runner up in Miss Teen Nepal 2006.Samriddhi aims to make her parents happy and proud.

Prina Maharjan

 She is a fun loving person and likes to visit new places and learn about different cultures. She loves adventure trekking and cooking. Winner of the Best Student award in grade 12, she was among the top five in Miss Teen College 2008, has appeared in number of adds, music videos and done Nepal Fashion Week show. She loves Newari food, pizzas likes dancing, making new friends, plays basketball and volleyball. Her dream is to win Miss Nepal Pageant 2010 crown and hope this will groom her with qualities to face life with self confidence and a positive mindset. Prina aims to be a successful person.

Kusumanjali KC

                                Kusumanjali KC

She is confident, hardworking, dedicated, yet easy going, down to earth and knows how to enjoy life and work. She has won several/dance, drama, debate and elocution contests. She has also worked as a Special Area Project and community services Director for Rotract Club of Kathmandu Midtown. Currently, she is working as a sales/marketing executive in a private company. She loves to eat, Mexican food and has taken part in athletic events. Kusumanjali aims for perfection and would like to be a source of inspiration to other women.

Rakshya Thapa

 She believes that she can be a superb model. In high school, Kalimpong (India), she had participated in the inter-house ramp walk contest. She has had six-month stint as an executive with the GMG Airlines (Bangladesh). She loves to eat sizzlers. Her talent and hobby include classical dancing, writing poem and ramp walking. She likes to watch games and plays basketball, tennis and volleyball. Rakshya's future plan is to be a model and to do something 'BIG' in life.

Chandani Ansari

She hails from a Muslim background and is the daughter of parents who are politicians. She feels good about life and says that her childhood dream is to be a good daughter, a good woman, a good human being and feels that till today she is satisfied that she has managed to achieve these goals. She hopes to be a responsible person. She loves chilly-momo, pizzas, dancing, music, playing basketball, traveling and painting. Currently is training to be an airhostess. Chandani aims to a responsible person.

Ashmita Ghimire

She has high regards for the Lumle Agriculture Research Station situated in Lumle,Kaski. The Station helps in enriching Nepali farmers’ well being and also promotes agro-tourism while creating income generation. She has participated in various quiz contests and other development programs. She loves momo, dancing, reading books and plays badminton. She is of the opinion that The Hidden Treasure (organizer) and Dabur Nepal(sponsor) by engaging in such events help towards developing one’s confidence and personality. Ashmita hopes to be a good social worker and work in a bank, NGO or an INGO.

Miss Nepal 2010 Participant

Posted On | By Glamour Nepal

Miss Nepal 2010 contest today

The Miss Nepal beauty pageant of this year is being organised on Wednesday.

The contest organised by Hidden Treasures and promoted by Dabur Nepal is taking place at Tribhuvan Army Club at Bhadrakali, the organiser informed.

Following a six-week long training, 18 participants are contesting for the event which be aired live from the state-owned Nepal Television.

The winner of the title will also be a goodwill ambassador for Nepal Cancer Relief Society and World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Nepal, the organisers said.

Miss Nepal 2010 would be offered a Chery QQ3 car along with cash prize of Rs 50,000. Similarly, the first runner-up would get a 125 CC Mahindra scooter and cash prize of Rs 35,000.

Miss Nepal 2010 contest today

Posted On | By Glamour Nepal

Miss Nepal faces acid test

By Sudeshna Sarkar

Kathmandu, Sep 1 (IANS) As 18 young women wait for the curtain to go up and the Miss Nepal 2010 pageant to start at the Tribhuvan Army Officers' Club in Kathmandu Wednesday evening, it's a tense time for all concerned - the participants, the organisers and the main sponsor, Dabur Nepal.

Nepal's oldest and most popular beauty pageant is under siege.

Since 2006, when the Maoist guerrillas signed a peace accord and returned from their bunkers in the jungles, the contest has been facing opposition by the women's organisation of the former rebels.

In 2008, when the Maoists came to power after winning the elections, Miss Nepal was the first casualty with the All Nepal Women's Federation (Revolutionary) lobbying the council of ministers and preventing the pageant from being held.

Though the women MPs from the party say they are opposing the contest because it reduces women to commodities and is a blind aping of western cultures, the fact remains that they have allowed dozens of other beauty contests to be held without any fuss.

Also, ironically, the country that inspired the Maoist movement in Nepal - northern neighbour China - is today one of the biggest promoters of beauty pageants.

The Miss World 2010 show returns to China in December after Vietnam backed out of an agreement to host the event.

The Maoists’ main opposition to Miss Nepal stems from the fact that its chief sponsor is Indian ayurvedic company Dabur India's Nepal venture, Dabur Nepal.

In the course of their 10-year war, the Maoists have frequently targeted Indian ventures and joint ventures in Nepal. Despite the peace pact pledging not to target industries, the Maoist trade union has been arm-twisting Indian companies into hiking pay and perks.

This year, besides the Maoist animosity, Dabur Nepal also faces a media campaign against it, begun several weeks ago by a section of the media that has not been receiving any advertisements from the company.

From Tuesday, the campaign has also spread to Miss Nepal, highlighting an interaction in the capital where Maoists spoke out against Miss Nepal.

The 16-year-old pageant was floundering seven years ago when Indian companies came forward to sponsor it and gave it a fresh lease of life.

Since then, the winners have been able to represent Nepal in contests abroad, like Miss World and Miss Earth.

Dabur Nepal says the pageant is an appropriate vehicle to project its cosmetic products. However, it also says that if the opposition becomes shrill, it is ready to withdraw as the main sponsor.

The Hidden Treasure, the event management company that is also the franchisee of Miss Nepal, remains tense about the future.

Should Dabur Nepal dissociate itself from Miss Nepal, it would be an uphill task for them to keep the pageant going.

Miss Nepal faces acid test

Posted On | By Glamour Nepal