I was honored to be invited to attend the United Nations Plural + Film Festival which is an annual event that showcases short films on migration, diversity, and social inclusion, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of young people. To mark the occasion I wore our one of a kind, Indian royalty inspired couture turban with a matching brooch that we had designed in India for our couture collection.
As I made my way to the theater I took in all the moving exhibits, especially items highlighting the history of Palestine. I couldn’t help but notice rich presence of headwear in the different time periods and populations within Palestine, and the Middle East. Each evoking its own strength and resilience that jumped off the pages of these photos. And as you can clearly see I saw fashion and headwear history everywhere I looked at the UN!
As I made my way to my seat on the main floor, I definitely felt the weight and significance of the room, where so much history has taken place. We then saw each of the films that had been selected as the winners from their categories. I loved the animated films by young children that explored disability and otherness, a film that explored gang violence in Brazil through music, and refugees, migration and Islamaphobia in Europe.
All in all it was an incredibly eye opening experience. And I was so proud of my friend Rahma who invited me to the UN, who along with her colleagues worked incredibly hard to make this an unforgettable experience.
By the end, I too felt like I was a walking depiction of a diversity of background and life experiences channeled through fashion that tells a story.
At the soiree that followed I loved connecting with Jessy Terrero, a Dominican film and music video director who shared his inspiring story and life’s work with us. As I mingled with UN staff members and members of the international film industry, It was one of those beautiful New York nights where each person you meet has an incredible story to tell that the world needs to hear and the energy is one that celebrates differences.
