Fashion IDEAS
When I announced to my wife that I'd be going to visit IDEAS, she beamed with excitement and declared that she'd drop off our toddler at her mother's place and gladly accompany me to check out the latest trends! I was flabbergasted at her newfound enthusiasm for military hardware but had to break it to her that IDEAS was not a place where one could just tag along. A long explanation, exchange of some heavy artillery rounds and a peace treaty later, I headed for the International Defence Exhibition And Seminar 2012 – accompanied only by my camera! Apparently, my wife confused IDEAS 2012 for the name of an outlet that offers fashionable clothes and home accessories!
Although I was finally at the exhibition that I had been looking forward to, for over a month, being a Pakistani male of the domesticated specie, I could not break away from the mood that had been set at home. No wonder that for over an hour, my camera behaved like that of a fashionista attending the Paris Fashion Week rather than that of a defence systems enthusiast!
Naturally, what hit me first was the fashionable bullet-proof vests on display. The new trends seemed to cater every segment of the society, from the hip-hop crowd to the prodigal politician – complete with the contemptuous frown and the scary moustache!
Incidentally, a soldier looks better with a weapon in his hands – with the weapon removed, he might appear as if extending an invitation for a dance!
Speaking of communications, this young chap certainly had a cool head to carry on his shoulders, but no shoulder to carry it on!
As with any other apparel item, a soldier must choose his head gear wisely for any occasion. A soldier’s inappropriate choice might result in more than a mere fashion disaster.
I was about to snap out of the fashion journalist mode when I stumbled upon the Pakistan Ordnance Factory exhibit with all its shiny bullets and ammunition stacked up beautifully. Tracers, Armour piercers and Anti Air-craft Ammo was tipped with various colours signifying their unique characteristics. I could not help but wonder if my wife’s favorite shade was there.
In contrast, the Chinese version of law enforcement definitely came prepared with the right “riot” gear.
Fashion is all about setting one’s self apart from the crowd and what better way than to opt for the Gold plated 9 mm pistols produced by POF. For the less adventurous, ceremonial swords and hunting knives were also on display at other stalls – Not exactly high-tech but literally “Cutting Edge”.
It took a glance on two caps placed on a counter to instantly jolt me back to reality and the more serious business of defence-related events. The first was a piece for a Pakistan Army force serving in South Waziristan and the second had an insignia topped by the Persian words “Man Janbazum” in Urdu script. Depending upon how you translate Janbaz, the phrase roughly translates to “I am Janbaz (brave to the point of having little regard for my life)”. This is the motto of the SSG commandos, Pakistan Military’s elite force, who often lay down their lives serving this nation.
Finally sobered, I wrapped up the “Fashion” set of pictures and began clicking for UAVs (Drones) and Pakistan’s indigenously produced equipment. IDEAS 2012 had a vast range of both on offer – but that is a different story.
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