Mir Manal was born and raised in the beautiful valleys of Kashmir where most parents want their children to choose traditional career paths. Manal’s mother shared the common parental desire for her to practice medicine like numerous other parents. The desire for her to pursue fashion design matched the ideal profession her mother always wished to follow. She carried within herself different life ambitions even though her heart concealed them. Fashion became her life aspiration soon after realizing it in elementary school.
Her life journey became challenging before she reached her goals. The time arrived for her career choice and she encountered serious family pressure which pushed her toward becoming a doctor. Her NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) form was already submitted, but Manal did something brave – she skipped the exam. Manal revealed her absence at the exam to her mother during those two subsequent days. The situation made her mother emotionally distressed since she demanded that Manal enroll in Bangladesh to study medicine.
Some essential documents necessary to pursue study abroad were not present when the students visited the passport office. Allah used the loose document requirements as a divine communication to Manal. She presented her mother with the idea as if it came from God to study fashion design instead of medicine. Fashion turned out to be acceptable to her mother as a suitable career choice following their prolonged discussions about how much her daughter loved fashion.
Mir Manal: Finding Path at SMD College
Manal obtained permission from her mother before entering SMD College to study fashion design. Choosing to enroll at SMD College transformed every aspect of her existence. The Head of Department Insha Qazi introduced at the college became the figure who formed Manal’s professional future alongside her aspirations.
Manal secured her first internship position as fashion stylist during her first year as a college student. Through this opportunity she marched toward different professional prospects. The fashion industry gained momentum once she started as a designer and stylist for films while working in advertisements and the production of short films. All these experiences allowed her to gain both confidence and experience working in fashion.
At the end of her remarkable journey Manal participated as a designer at Times Fashion Week in Delhi which became her primary career accomplishment. She participated in Times Fashion Week as designer together with two colleagues from Kashmir. This prestigious platform provided her with a significant milestone as she represented her region during this event.
Mir Manal: Creating Fashion from Waste
The uniqueness of Manal’s fashion collection made it remarkable at the fashion week. The team under Manal chose to disregard conventional fashion designs that featured luxury items by presenting a unique approach. The designers created their entire collection solely from waste materials and discarded objects which normal people tend to dispose of. They accumulated waste materials throughout six months before cleaning these items into stylish fashion designs.
Every piece in the collection underwent transformation from used objects that included balloons while also incorporating paper plates, paper cups, ribbons, ropes and real leaves with numerous discarded materials.
The fashion endeavor served to deliver more than attractive designs while stating an environmental message through active recycling. Instead of purchasing their materials in stores the team dedicated six months to gather waste then cleaned it extensively until they created innovative designs for their collection. The dedication of six months led to their innovative work.
Mir Manal: Historic Moment at Delhi Times Fashion Week
Being selected to showcase at Delhi Times Fashion Week held great importance since it marked the inaugural appearance of Kashmiri representation at this prestigious national event through the fashion designer role. Manal together with her team felt anxious regarding public reception of their distinctive collection prior to the event.
People expressed concerns that the Kashmiri designs which differed from national standards would face criticism at the national platform. The models gained an enthusiastic reaction when they paraded the creations down the runway. Every single viewer appreciated their work during the successful fashion event. The accomplishment carried special meaning since they feared competing at such a distinguished level for Kashmir. Innovative sustainable fashion received remarkable approval from within every community regardless of geographic origin.
Mir Manal: Building a Sustainable Future
The routine Manal does not confine herself to fashion creation only. They finally highlight sustainable manner in design and rebels on the genocide nature in fashion style industry. In so doing, she portrays a message that it is possible to have quality and sustainable fashion as all those used clothes turned out to be fashionable.
Even some of the leading fashion magazines have noticed her and appreciate her work for what it is – an effort to prove that the principles of sustainable fashion do not have to be incompatible with the concept of stylish and impressive. This kind of endorsement aids in altering the traditional approach towards green fashion where fashion-forward was considered boring and unappreciated.
By breaking the barriers of just being a fashion designer, Manal has emerged and offered herself as a symbol for environment conservation as well as an icon for the youths of Kashmir. Her story therefore proves that it is possible to make a change in society despite the society’s pressure to conform to a certain type of career.
Mir Manal: Empowering Regional Talent
Manal is actively working to change the perception of Kashmir as merely a “conflict zone” by highlighting the creative talent and cultural richness of the region. For this, she travels to different schools in the Kashmir valley, work with local craftsmen and design contents which highlight art of Kashmir.
She has a plan to start Material Innovation Hub, making clothes out of sustainable material using local resources such as lotus stem, creating educational programmes that can encourage sustainable production, and collaboration with the companies that are ethical fashion platforms across the globe.
By unfolding these plans, Manal is not only carving her career path but also opening the door of opportunities for creativity in the state of Kashmir. Her journey from a medical aspirant to a nationally recognized sustainable fashion designer serves as an inspiration for young people throughout India who may be struggling to follow their true calling against societal pressures.
Mir Manal’s story teaches us that sometimes the most beautiful creations can come from what others consider waste, both in terms of materials and in terms of dreams that society might discard as impractical. To lie to oneself creatively in order to create sustainable fashion is quite a powerful move that does not only address the declare future we want in fashion but also in real life.
Mir Manal: Message to the Youth
Following these achievements Manal shares a vital message that is directed to Kashmiri youth and other audiences across the world. Her core belief persuades young individuals to resist abandoning their objectives even though the journey might appear challenging. Manal helps young people understand that career selection should revolve around their personal interests rather than respecting societal expectations.
According to Manal, young Kashmiris tend to deny their personal aspirations while working to fulfill their parents’ dreams. People experience regret during adulthood after discovering they are working in fields that do not fulfill them. She wants the new generation to avoid living with such disappointing thoughts.
She hastens to add that she does not mean everyone should go out to become a fashion designer. Rather, it is simply the movie’s message that everyone should do what they love, no matter what that is. She feels that whenever you get something as the case may, you will definitely deliver since you are passionate about it. I received a very positive reaction to this performance since many young people experience similar dilemmas and everybody wants to choose the right path in life.
Also Read: Chandrika Srinivas: A Parai Player Breaking Barriers and Preserving Heritage
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