‘Don’t Take Dowry’ Says Fashion Designer Through His Bridal Collection

Pakistani fashion designer Ali Xeeshan’s new bridal couture collection aimed at making a statement against the tradition of dowry has stirred up a hornet’s nest on social media.

Pictures of Xeeshan’s collection titled ‘Numaish’ that have been going viral feature a young bride, draped in a traditional wedding ensemble and heavy jewellery, pulling a cart of dowry with the groom sitting on top.

The designer also released a couture film on Instagram, which dramatises how the bride and her parents have to bear the burden of dowry.

“Shedding light on the epochal and alarming issue of families fretting over saving money for their daughters’ dowry (jahez) instead of their education that is far more important. It’s time to put a stop to this overburdening tradition!” Xeeshan’s official Instagram page captioned the video.

“Accept her with love, an educated bride is a lot better than a billion currency,” another picture was captioned.

While a lot of people have supported the initiative calling it brilliant, the designer has come in for harsh criticism for his ‘double standards’ of espousing the cause of dowryless marriages but selling a lehenga for Rs 12 lakh himself.