Dubai: 14 year old Apeksha, who is the youngest India fashion designer, has just one request to this world, that is to love and care the orphan and rescued dogs. She has even published a designer calendar to draw the attention of animal lovers and other welfare activists to this matter.
Apeksha Binoj became a fashion designer when she was only 10. This earned her the tag of the youngest fashion designer in Asia. Till the age of 14 she has designed more than 200 outfits. This New Year, Apeksha has made her stride into responsible fashion designing that has social significance. She presented a calendar for 2020 like the celebrity fashion calendars that are published by leading fashion photographers or fashion houses.
However, in Apeksha’s calendar, models pose with rescued and adopted dogs. Through this initiative, she hopes to spread the message about adopting rescued pets. Apeksha told Manorama Online that she has used her Gleam Cocktail collection to make the calendar with the theme, 'All Paws For a Cause in Style'. Apeksha, who is a class ten student at The Winchester School in Jebel Ali has designed the calendar with the support of Saluki International Rescue and Private Owners.
Apeksha who adores pets had got close to two stray dogs and she decided to feature the rescue dogs in her calendar after she learned about many painful stories of abandonment and animal cruelty. The teenager believes it would be better to adopt rescued or abandoned pets instead of purchasing high bred pets by paying huge amounts of money.
Dogs pose for calendar
Three Salukis, two Dalmatians, Ome German Sheppard, One Graden, a Chow Chow, a Rottweiler and a Labrador posed with the models in the calendar. Models Lanita Nora, Maureen and Margo are featured in stylish poses with their canine companions in the calendar. Shot by well-known international fashion photographer Vipin Hari, also a Keralite, the calendar has already grabbed the attention of animal lovers.
Sad stories
The two Dalmatians who are featured in the calendar are deaf and had matted fur as well. Charlie, the chow chow too had many diseases and was abandoned in the streets by her owner. The black Saluki was found abandoned in a dessert. Taj, Amira and Sarab are the three beautiful Saluki dogs in the calendar. On the night of the photo shoot, Amira flew to Holland with her new owner.
Apeksha says it wasn’t easy shooting with the dogs. They refused to face the camera in the beginning. But slowly they warmed up to the crew. The calendar will be gifted to animal rescue centres, welfare activists and animal lovers.
India Book of Records
Apeksha is the daughter of Binoj, who works in the shipping sector in Dubai and Praseena, a homemaker. The family hails from Thrissur in Kerala. Praseena says she saw a spark in Apeksha when the latter designed her own dress for her 7th birthday party. In 2016, the teenager was recognized by the India Book of Records as the youngest fashion designer in India. Apeksha was just an 11 year old girl then. The next year she entered the Asia Book of Records as well. She began by designing the daily-ware clothes and then created some stylish Abaya designs.
This earned her recognition in the fashion world. From 2016 onwards, Apeksha has been presenting her designs and collections under her brand Apek, both in India and Dubai. Apeksha has won countless awards and honours including the Women’s Conclave Exceptional Talent Award, Year of Zayed Budding Artist Award, Women Excellence Award and the award by the Universal Records Forum.
