Raising Our Voices (ROV), a gender rights non-profit organisation based in Kochi, will organise its first fundraising event at Marriot Hotel, Kochi on March 15.
The event - 'Fashion Redone - Be You' - will present shows by designers like Alka Hari, international fame Joe Ikkareth, Mini Me, Toola Loola and Move Ability. The event will begin at 4 pm.
Organising committee member Sony Mathew said the event will redefine the prevailing societal concepts of fashion and beauty. “We meet scores of individuals in counselling who feel shy because of their looks. We keep trying to boost their confidence by pointing out their beauteous aspects,” she said.
It is going to be a no-holds-barred show where any one is featured as beautiful. “We see that people generally follow certain fashion and beauty concepts. Almost all beauty pageants, be it local, national or international, lay down a series of restrictions on age, gender and vital statistics. But our fashion event breaks all such conventional norms,” she said.
The fashion show pitches on the concept of beauty as being owned by people of all sizes and shapes, colour, gender and age.
The proceeds from the event will be used to fund ROV's activities for the creation of a gender-balanced world, provide education, legals aid, skill development, scholarships and mentoring for women, children, men and other vulnerable groups.
ROV focusses on issues related to gender imbalance and violence. Initiated by a group of women, the group is committed towards creating a 'gender equal world' sans exclusivity, abuse and discrimination.
ROV also provides monetary, material and technical support to children's homes and orphanages, and offer job-oriented courses to the needy and help underprivileged sections.
