September 30th, 2010

By Zehra Ali and Neha Kamran

Bonnie Jean, America’s well-loved brand, is available at US department stores like Macy’s. Ladylike yet affordable, the brand has been worn by celebrities including young Sasha Obama at her father’s inaugural event.

Very recently Laaleen Khan, an entrepreneur with a diversified media background, decided to undertake the initiative of distributing this brand of apparel in Pakistan. Born in Lahore, she was university-educated in Massachusetts and is interested in bringing the best that the world has to offer to Pakistan

Bonnie Jeans offers girls’ clothing sizes from newborn up to 16 years.

Ink paid a visit to Bonnie Jean’s exhibition and got in touch with the woman in charge, who made it all happen.

How was the turnout for the exhibition?

Even though it was the tail end of Eid, we had a great turnout. Our target clientele was determined to make it to the exhibition. We had fashion-conscious mothers and their equally fashion-conscious young daughters, stylish professionals with their nieces and everyone who gets invited to friends’ baby showers in attendance.

How long will the exhibition last?

This occasion marked the launch of our brand, Bonnie Jean of NYC, at Kingson, Gulberg Main Boulevard, Lahore. In keeping with the demands of our Pakistani fan-base, our plans include stocking Bonnie Jean apparel at tasteful retail locations across the city as well as across the country. We held a test exhibition in Islamabad in early September, where we had a phenomenally positive response and our fans in Karachi are impatient for our arrival as well. Our fan-base grows daily and includes women from as far as Gilgit! India and the UAE are also next on our agenda.

What sort of clothes do you generally display?

Our current Fall/Winter 2010-11 Collection is in stock at our store in Kingson, as well as online, and includes an exciting array of party dresses, tea dresses, preppy daytime outfits, sweater-dresses and ladylike winter coat and dress sets. From November, our Holiday/Xmas Collection will be displayed and will include sumptuous fabrics and velvets in an array of wintery outfits including sparkly party dresses and classic hounds-tooth coat and dress sets.

Within what price ranges are these clothes available?

Generally, our prices range from Rs. 1,800 to Rs. 6,000+. Our aim is that they remain quite affordable, though of course it’s a challenge whenever the rupee weakens against the dollar.

Where will the store be opened?

* LAHORE: Retailing now @S.A. Accessories store, Kingson, Ground Floor, Gulberg Main Boulevard, (between Empire Center & Men’s Store) 0423-5788675

* KARACHI: Nov 12th & 13th Launch & Exhibition @Grandeur Gallery, 15-C, Zamzama Blvd 0213-5435744 & 5360774

* ISLAMABAD: Nov 5th & 6th Exhibition @L’Atelier, One Kohistan Rd near St. 2, F-8/3 051-2287055

* DUBAI: By appointment only- wajihatareen@gmail.com

* INQUIRIES: delishnyc.brands@gmail.com

* ONLINE CATALOG:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pakistan/Bonnie-Jean-Of-NYCs-Online-Catalog/105825609479368?ref=search

You can also find info & clients’ quotes from our facebook group page:

Search Bonnie + Jean + NYC (“Bonnie Jean of NYC: Affordable Couture for Little Ladies- Newborn to 16”)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110108092348184&v=wall

By Seemal Jamshed

In a very surprising move, renowned New York Times Pakistani documentary film maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won an International Emmy Award in the Current Affairs category at the Frederick P. Rose Hall of Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York for her documentary “Pakistan – Children of the Taliban”. In the documentary she had revealed how the Pakistani Taliban are recruiting increasingly younger fighters from small madrassas in poor neighbourhoods to carry out deadly suicide attacks both inside and outside Pakistan.

The controversial video brought to the forefront some very touching issues and at times exposed some sensitive people to an extent that there are restrictions on the video preventing it to be screened in Pakistan due to the sheer threat it can pose to the people Sharmeen had interviewed during her documentary

The day before, her father died of cancer in the UK where he was undergoing chemotherapy. In Her message, on facebook, following her victory she dedicated her emmy to her father by saying “Tonight’s Emmy win is dedicated to you aba…”

We can only be supportive to her as a nation, mindful of the mixed emotions which she must be going through at this very emotional moment. Sharmeen, may this also inspire us all to go forth despite all the odd with the achievements you achieve one after another. Thank you for making Pakistan so proud.

By Zehra Ali

After seven weeks of sold out shows in Indian cinema, Ali Zafar’s Bollywood debut film is making its presence felt in the United States of America. This comedy hit of summer 2010 has amused the mainstream American audience as the opening film at the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival in New York which started on 23rd of September, 2010.

The Friars Club is an institution since its founding in 1904, and its membership has included entertainment icons from the Marx Brothers, Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball to Billy Crystal and Jerry Seinfeld.

Another interesting happening at the club festival is its annual ‘roasts’ of iconic celebrities. This year Samuel Jackson will ‘roast’ Quentin Tarantino at the festival. In addition, a lifetime achievement award will be presented to Jerry Lewis.

The Friar’s club comedy annual film festival boasts the funniest films from Sundance and other festivals. The opening of this festival by an Indian comedy and that too with a Pakistani lead actor would be a rare event at Friar’s.

The press response at this occasion was incredible. The director Abhishek Sharma attended the event but Ali Zafar was not able to leave for the US due to his commitments for flood relief efforts in his country.