Zill e huma – There is a contrast but still a connection

It is a period of reflection and relates to aesthetics, taking place before considering the restraints of production. Intw Zill e huma

My experience of moving to New York as a 30-year old Pakistani woman, while navigating the clash of these two distinct cultures, has massively shaped my understanding around sexuality, freedom and desire. I have committed explore and observe these themes through real people, characters and actual places. Both cultures have left a lasting impression on me that I aim to translate through my thesis collection.

I am constantly overwhelmed by the intensity of the iconic New York City tall Industrial buildings, their concrete sprawl, and the hustle of the subway system. It was so different from the village I grew up in that was rich in community, textures, crafts, and familiarity. I was suddenly questioning everything I knew and felt up until that moment. I courageously studied everything; how people dressed, the details of their clothes, different styles, occupations, lifestyle, habits, even language. It was a new world, a fantasy to explore. As I began interacting and conversing with various “New York Women” from different walks of life, it made me feel more confident. Fear turned to excitement as I began to contextualize their different opinions and perspectives. We learned a lot from each other. We explored the differences and similarities around the concepts of freedom, sexuality and desire. This body of work is a reflection of my nostalgic memories from childhood juxtaposed with three unique women that I befriended during my NY journey: a police officer, an exotic dancer and a writer.

As a complete surprise to myself, I now feel more at home in a city so far away from what was familiar for a majority of my life. Through this body of work, I hope to create a new dialogue that empowers women from diverse cultural backgrounds, without the burden of assimilating to societal expectations. I am excited to have discovered a community beyond our nationality, ethnicity, or appearance. I studied MFA Fashion Design & Society from Parsons 8^th generation. I came to NYC with a layered “idea” of western culture, that was projected to me through the lens of Pakistani society. My interactions throughout the program, in this melting pot of nationalities, have instilled in me the courage to balance, persevere and negotiate my complex identity without any one-dimensional compromises. “There is a contrast but still a connection.”