Tartan and turbans unite at St Andrews

Friday 17 April 2009

 A unique fusion of tartan, golfwear and traditional Asian clothing will be showcased by students at the University of St Andrews this weekend (Saturday 18 April 2009).

To the sound of bagpipes and Indian drums, East will meet West at the annual charity fashion show organised by the University’s Asian Society.  Diya, launched last year, is the only student run Asian fashion show in Scotland.

Named after a traditional Indian candle, the event aims to celebrate the diversity of student life in St Andrews.  This year’s show will celebrate links between Asia and St Andrews, fusing Sikh tartan turbans with golf wear.

Fashion Show Director, Anji Sewpaul said, “Diya will feature models in Indian saris, Japanese kimonos, and Kurta tops strutting down the catwalk fused with tartan turbans, bagpipes, and Adidas golfwear. Not only is this a fashion show first, but it is a show of spiced up, exotic acting, dancing, and designing talents of students from the University and abroad.”

Last year’s inaugural cross-cultural approach to fashion featured kimonos alongside kilts, fusing traditional Asian designs with western fashion.

This year, traditional Scottish and Indian clothing will be on display alongside creations by St Andrews student designers and sportswear.

Designers include Rupali, Enigma clothing, Neo Couture, Ness, Adidas and ‘Toy Soldiers’, an Asian army fatigue line by Rajkiran Burmy. Student designers are Kristy Giles, Hazel Keel-Watts, Max Dubiel’s Hi-Dee Jeans, Raisin Cake Apparel and Sidra Khan, the Vice President of the Asian Society.

The show will feature a Bollywood celebrity storyline, with traditional and Asian infused hip hop dance sequences to the sound of dhols (large Indian drums).  A nod to St Andrews’ place as the ‘home of golf’ will feature a section based at the Dunhill Links championships.

21 students from across the University are involved in the organising of the show.   The Asian Society, established in 2002, is a growing student society consisting of both Asian and non-Asian students.  Over 450 members represent countries from all over the world, including India, Pakistan, Japan, China, America, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia and Britain.  The Society hosts regular Bollywood movie nights and three club nights (Bindi’s) a year, which attract sellout crowds of up to 500 students.

This year’s fashion show is being dedicated to the memory of former Asian Society member and student Richard Meredith who died tragically late last year.  All profits will go to the Ashraya Initiative, the charity for Indian street children that Richard had hoped to work for this summer.

“Diya is about recognising the importance of celebrating other cultures and more importantly about how they can co-exist.  This year the show is even more important to us as it is dedicated to our dear friend Richard Meredith who modelled for us last year,” Anji commented.

Diya 2009 will take place at 7pm at the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews on Saturday 18 April.  Tickets, priced from £12, are available at the door. The show will be followed by a Bindi after party at the St Andrews Aquarium.

ENDS


NOTE TO EDITORS:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON DIYA contact Anji Sewpaul on 07914 945896 or email [email protected]

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE SHOW PLEASE CONTACT ANJI BEFORE 12PM FRIDAY 17 APRIL 2009.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews

Contact Gayle Cook, Senior Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected]

Ref:  tartan and turbans 150409
View the latest University press releases at www.st-andrews.ac.uk


Category Student experience

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