Pakistan fashion week begins with models exposing navels

Bare shoulders, exposed navels and a lot of skin show ruled the ramp at the Pakistan fashion week that begun here Wednesday defying the Taliban's preference for the burqa.

The fashion week began with an opulent opening ceremony against a backdrop of militant violence and security issues, reports telegraph.co.uk.

Karachi's top designers sent models down catwalks with bare shoulders and exposed navels in an unusual display of skin in a country where most women cover up.

Sonya Battla, the first designer to show, presented a collection that celebrated the spirit of strong women.

Battla dismissed the fact that in more conservative parts of the country her designs might get women driven out of town or stoned to death.

"I am a very brave woman. I am not going to be scared and no one is going to judge me,” said the 38-year-old designer.

Taliban militants have killed more than 300 in the past month in a bloody campaign of bombings and assassinations attacking markets, universities and the army general headquarters in Rawalpindi and police stations in Lahore.

Despite this, the fashion shows carried on.

"Life has to go on and this is a way to tell the people who want our lives to stop that 'No, we won't let you',” said designer Samar Mehdi.

The shows are taking place at the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi under strict security.

Last updated on Nov 5^th, 2009 at 14:11 pm IST--IANS