Fashion and philanthropy joined forces on Sunday as the Bargain Basement Sale (BBS) returned to Lahore for its sixth instalment. With slashed prices and double the designer line-up and funds generated from last year, the sale, organised by charity group The Fundraisers, featured a string of branded clothes, jewellery and home accessories along with raffles and an auction. With the designer count going up from 70 to 135 and funds amounting to a whopping Rs5 million as compared to last year’s Rs2.6 million, the fashion community certainly has reason to revel in their achievement.

“This time, it felt like we have become a proper brand and event that people look forward to,” Nuria Rafique Iqbal, one of the key persons behind BBS, told The Express Tribune. “Almost all the designers who participated in the preceding years contributed but this time around, a lot of new ones also contacted us,” she added about the talent showing at this year’s event held at Nishat Hotel, which lent the space for the sale free of cost.

BBS offers novice designers the chance to sell their works alongside established names. “It’s a great platform for a new brand to get its name out there,” said Nuria. To further ensure that everyone is provided with equal space and the opportunity to sell their offerings, the racks were alphabetically organised and all the designer logos put up on social media and the event’s media wall.

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Proceeds from the sale will go to the causes Pink Ribbon Pakistan, RS Foundation, Bali Memorial Trust and Chitral Emergency Relief. As the event has grown from strength to strength, people have become more aware of their work and transparency. “People know that everyone who works with us is a non-paid volunteer and that we give all the money for charity.”

The items sold this year were both diverse and part of the designers’ latest offerings. “Umaima Mustafa sent us items from her latest collection in Karachi, Rema gave tunics, bags and earrings from her new range and all of Deena Rahman’s designs were exclusively made for us.”

The reclusive Bunto Kazmi contributed a fully-worked jora that was sold at a live auction hosted by singer Meesha Shafi for Rs0.15 million. Prerto donated earrings and Pomegranate Gems put up a palm band on sale, which were also auctioned off. “These brands were kind enough to donate such highly valued things,” stated Nuria. She added that the brands that donated the most items were Sublime by Sara Shahid, Rana Noman and Crossstich with 78 joras.

Celebrities and designers who were present at the event included former model Vaneeza Ahmed, and designers Kamiar Rokni and Sara Shahid. Deepak Perwani, Elán, Faiza Samee, Faraz Manan, Fahd Hussayn, Rano’s Heirlooms, Sania Maskatiya and Sana Safinaz were among the designers on board. Retail brands Monsoon, Next and Stoneage also actively participated at the event.

Perhaps Nuria’s only regret is that there wasn’t enough space allocated for art at this year’s BBS. “Last year, MyArtWorld provided us with artwork, which got sold immediately as discounts on art are unheard of. We’ll definitely include it next year,” she stated.

Another challenge faced by the organisers was people hording, hiding and fighting for items. There were also those who lingered around too long in the hopes that the prices would be further slashed towards day end. “We will be firmer about not tolerating such things next time. While one person holds onto something and wanders around, another person could’ve just picked that item and paid for it,” noted Nuria. “BBS is not just for people to buy clothes at reduced rates but also to raise as much money as possible. It has to be worth the efforts of the designers and all the hard work that goes in it.”

BBS has come a long way from its first event in 2005, which was held in the basement of a house. “The Fundraisers [organisers] will set up Karachi and Islamabad chapters and take the sale online through our e-commerce store,” Nuria shared. Expanding on the idea of an e-tail space, she said, “We will categorise charities according to causes and list them with links to their websites.” She added, “We also plan on giving tax receipts to brands so that they can show the products they have given for charity, thus enabling everyone to give back.”

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