Fashion with a difference

When young fashion designer Anusha Sheikh returned to Goa earlier this year after completing her fashion studies and launching her own label ‘Anusha's', she was pretty unhappy. "As compared to the world of fashion in Bangalore, the scene wasn't the same here especially in Curchorem where I live. I had nothing to do and kept complaining to my mother all the time," she recalls. 

Things changed however when her mother took her to see the students at Chetana Educational Society, Curchorem. "When I met these girls I realised that the life I have right now in Goa even without a job, was much better as compared to theirs and still I was complaining. These girls were visually impaired, hearing impaired and some had walking difficulties. Yet they seemed content," she says. Anusha came away humbled and inspired. While fashion and style has invaded almost every aspect of our lives today, these girls wern't even aware of this, she noted. "I decided to given them an opportunity to be a part of this world and let them walk the ramp as well. At the same time, I also decided to help them with commerical offers post this in whatever way I can," says Anusha, whose fashion line offers a diverse mix of experimental styles extending upto bridal couture.
And thus the idea of the fashion show ‘Runaway Inspiration' came about which will see special need children walking the ramp. The show will take place on January 21, at Zuri White Sands, Varca 7 pm onwards.
Putting the show together had a few challenges. "Some of these children can get violent and start screaming when in a crowd. Thus we had to choose only those who were approved by the doctor to face crowds," states Anusha. At the same time, communicating with these children was a bit of a problem. "The children hadn't even heard about modelling. When I told them that they would be heroines, you could see the excitement on their faces. But even then they were hesitant about it. These children had always kept hidden in the house,away from public eye that they had come to accept that as part of their life," says Anusha.
Convincing the parents too was not very easy as some of them had doubts that the children would be laughed at. " I told them that they needed to step up and stop discouraging the kids. After all the children are special in so many ways. While some parents have agreed, I am still waiting for confirmation from a few others," adds Anusha. Funds generated from the show will go for the all round development of these kids and provison of better education facilities and infrastructure.
Apart from the special needs children, the show will also see other youngsters and professional models walk the ramp. "The second section focuses on girls from different schools and colleges in Goa. But here appearance is not a criteria. I auditioned and chose 15 girls on the basis of how they carry themselves, their confidence, communication skills and how they displayed the outfit," she explains.
And training of all the participants have already begun. While the special needs children have begun yoga classes, the other youngsters are talking zumba classes. In January, a model coordinator will be working with the participants to train them on how to walk the ramp and carry the outfit, informs Anusha, who has had quite a journey as she forayed into fashion world.
Coming from a Muslim family, Anusha's parents wern't too much in favour of her pursuing this line in the beginning. However, after her grandmother managed to convince her parents to let her opt for fashion designing, she enrolled for B Sc in Fashion Designing in Bangalore, but had to return a month later as her family requested her to. Anusha then decided to enrol for a Bachelor in Commerce degree and although she managed to do well, she wasn't too happy about it.
Upon completion of a year, she sat down with her parents and told them that she was going to pursue fashion come what may. As her parents relented, she enrolled for a B Com in Bangalore and simultaneously began pursuring a diploma in fashion designing from Green Zone. "I used to attend my commerce classes from 8-3 and then head for fashion classes from 4-6.30. At 8 pm I used to then attend tutions. I spent three years this way," recalls Anusha. Even so, her parents continued to be reluctant. Today however, her parents are her strongest supporters.