Underprivileged Children’s Fashion Shoot Goes Viral, Captivating India

A fashion shoot video from India has achieved widespread popularity, unexpectedly elevating a group of disadvantaged school children to local fame. The recording displays the children, predominantly girls aged 12 to 17, modeling red and gold attire crafted from donated garments. These teenagers were responsible for designing and tailoring the outfits, and they also served as models to present their creations, utilizing the unkempt walls and terraces of the slum as the setting for their runway display. A 15-year-old boy was responsible for filming and editing the video. The video initially surfaced earlier this month on the Instagram profile of Innovation for Change, a non-governmental organization (NGO) situated in Lucknow. This charitable organization supports approximately 400 children residing in the city’s slums, offering them complimentary food, schooling, and vocational training. The children participating in the fashion shoot are students enrolled with this NGO. Mehak Kannojia, who participated as a model in the video, informed the BBC that she and her classmates meticulously observed the fashion selections of Bollywood actresses on Instagram, frequently replicating some of their ensembles for their own use. The 16-year-old stated, “This time, we decided to pool our resources and worked as a group.” For their endeavor, they made a discerning choice: a campaign by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, recognized as one of India’s leading fashion designers, known for dressing Bollywood celebrities, Hollywood actresses, and billionaires. In 2018, Kim Kardashian notably wore his sequinned red sari for a Vogue photoshoot. Mukherjee also holds the title of the “king of weddings” within India. He has styled numerous brides, including prominent Bollywood figures like Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone. Priyanka Chopra’s marriage to Nick Jonas featured a striking red Sabyasachi ensemble. Mehak explained that their project, titled Yeh laal rang (the colour red), drew inspiration from the designer’s traditional bridal collection. She quoted, “We sifted through the clothes that had come to us in donation and picked out all the red items. Then we zeroed in on the outfits we wanted to make and began putting them together.” The undertaking involved considerable effort; the girls sewed approximately twelve outfits within a span of three to four days, yet Mehak stated they experienced “great fun doing it.” Regarding the runway presentation, Mehak mentioned that they meticulously observed the models in Sabyasachi’s videos and emulated their movements. She recounted, “Just like his models, some of us wore sunglasses, one drank from a sipper with a straw, while another walked carrying a cloth bundle under her arm.” Mehak noted that certain elements developed spontaneously. She recalled, “At one point in the shoot, I was supposed to laugh. At that moment, someone said something funny and I just burst out laughing.” Despite being an ambitious project, its outcome has garnered widespread affection across India. Assembled with minimal financial resources and utilizing donated clothing, the video achieved viral status subsequent to Mukherjee sharing it on his Instagram feed, accompanied by a heart emoji. The initiative received extensive commendation, with numerous social media users likening their efforts to those of seasoned professionals. The widely circulated video has generated significant publicity for the charity, leading to visits to its school by multiple TV channels. Some of the children were extended invitations to appear on popular FM radio programs, and Bollywood actress Tamannah Bhatia paid them a visit to receive a scarf from the children. Mehak described the reaction as “totally unexpected.” She expressed, “It feels like a dream come true. All my friends are sharing the video and saying ‘you’ve become famous’. My parents were full of joy when they heard about all the attention we are getting.” She added, “We are feeling wonderful. Now we have only one dream left – to meet Sabyasachi.” Nevertheless, the photoshoot also drew criticism, with some observers questioning whether depicting young girls in bridal attire might promote child marriage in a nation where millions of girls are still wed by their families prior to reaching the legal age of 18. Innovation for Change responded to this apprehension in an Instagram post, asserting that they had no intention of fostering child marriage. Their statement read: “Our aim is not to promote child marriage in any way. Today, these girls are able to do something like this by fighting against such ideas and restrictions. Please appreciate them, otherwise the morale of these children will fall.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.