Bridal shows have been the trend for quite sometime all over Canada. The South Asian community picked up on it as Toronto started hosting bridal shows, where vendors present their products and services along with a fashion showcase and various giveaways and prizes. Montreal not wanting to be left out jumped on the band wagon and started the “Shaadi” show last year, March 2013.
The reviews were mixed but positive enough to have the team come back this year. I had the opportunity of being part of the show as a model, and given this being my first ever South Asian event that I participated in; my curiosity and skepticism were at an all time high. I was not disappointed. While getting to know the environment I was in It came to my attention that there was another South Asian bridal event taking place in Montreal in the month of April called the “Mangalyam” show. First thing that popped into my head…its Montreal…you don’t need two South Asian wedding shows – the community is so small its bound to overlap (and it did). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the reason behind the shows were political and egotistical; however that’s none of my business but as someone who is in the industry its a given that a lot of things subconsciously and consciously would be noticed
I have yet to figure out why both shows were considered and deemed as conventions but not a bridal show. A bridal show means couples who want to get married are coming to an exhibition where various vendors will present their products and services and get booked. A fashion show at these things aren’t the primary focus- it is important yes as its the best way for designers to be showcased but it needs to be memorable. Both shows seemed to have an indirect competition with each other, where Shaadi aimed to represent something more current, trendy/ India mixed with Pakistan – with a Bollywood feel to it , Mangalyam ended up giving a more south of India/Bengal feel to the event. Some Vendors did present at both shows and had the experience of being extremely disappointed at one or being somewhat happy at another. Internal mess ups should be internal and people should not be aware. In terms of treatment, well the Shaadi team having done this before knew how to be respectful courteous and inviting to all sorts of volunteers, media, models as well accommodating (and why not any publicity is good publicity) where a suggestion would be given to the Mangalyam team is to learn how to treat people who are involved in giving you any sort of help especially without compensation the right away. This is a small community – word does get around; and when various models are singing the same unhappy tunes….no matter how great the concept is – expectations for failure has begun.
Both shows seemed to lack backstage organization but that’s a given at every fashion show, yet it baffled me – how can you have a fashion show not enough backstage volunteers? The men models were pretty much left to fend for themselves in both cases. Shaadi managed to understand that a fashion show needs coordination, whereas models at the Mangalyam ended up partially coordinating their own walk. Where one event was a jammed packed affair, the other due to less marketing or proper branding seemed like a quiet loss affair.
The point of a bridal showcase/event was missed and it felt more like a tennis match of which company can put up an South Asian fashion show without a clear sense of target market, purpose and branding – if there was unity and one proper show, given both ideas, concepts and vision it would have felt more complete.
Food for thought perhaps?
Fashion and Opinions- My Point of View.
xoxo R!
Photo credits: Alfaaz Photography for the Mangalyam Show http://www.facebook.com/alfaazphotography
Lionheart Jeanius Photography for the Shaadi Show http://www.itsthejeanius.com
Pearls & Sequence 