Nilofer Shahid To Be Awarded the Prestigious Le grade de chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des lettres
Nilofer Shahid
[Pakistan, 24th May 2014] Pakistan’s most respected and experienced haute couturier, Nilofer Shahid, has been awarded with “Le grade de chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des lettres” in recognition for her contribution to the development of Art, Culture & Fashion Design. This prestigious award will be officially presented to Nilofer at a pristine ceremony to be held at The Governor House in Lahore on 27th May, 2014. The Award will be conferred by H.E. Mr. Philippe Thiébaud, Ambassador of the French Republic to Pakistan.
Nilofer Shahid has been working relentlessly for the past 35 years in fashion with a passion and volcanic creativity; she has reinvented the classic vision of Haute couture garments and accessories with her highly researched collections. Her haute couture maison “Meeras” which literally translate as heritage, opened in 1991.
Nilofer has received numerous national awards in the past; the Lux Style Award for Achievement in Fashion in 2003, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Indus Style Awards in 2006 and an award for one of the Top 7 Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan at the International Conference on Women Leadership in 2008, to name a few leading up to this much coveted honour by the government of the French Republic.
Nilofer Shahid, herself, belongs to a prestigious Pathan family of warriors, poets, writers and painters. Her bloodline has been traced back to the royal families of Afghanistan and Turkey. Designing has always been a passion with her – an eloquent expression of her elegant sense of style, fueled by her relentless passion to promote her own culture and heritage globally. Nilofer Shahid, ambassadress of her country’s traditions has the distinction of being exhibited at world renowned venues, like the Louvre in Paris to Royal Albert Hall in UK, From Prague to Zurich, from Hollywood to the Middle East, from India to Central Asia.
- her destined journey in France, started in 1996 at the “Grand Premier Ball” in Paris;
- followed immediately by the ‘Paris Haute Couture Week’ sponsored by the world famous jewelers “Boucheron” in 1997;
- and led up to the greatest honour of exhibiting with alongside Balenciaga, the acclaimed king of couture in the Paris Couture Week in 2006;
- and being the only Pakistani designer to be invited by “Le Chambre de Syndicale de la couture” to show her collection at the Salon Boucheron, Place Vendome during the “Paris Haute Couture Week” in 2007;
The award was confirmed by the Minister of Culture, Government of the French Republic in June 2013. On 27th May, under the patronage of the Governor of Punjab, Mohammad Sarwar a ceremony will be held at the Darbar Hall of the Governor House in Lahore. The citation will be read by the Ambassador of the French Republic, H.E Mr. Philippe Thiébaud and the award conferred on Nilofer Shahid. A brief documentary titled ‘Nilofer Shahid’s Journey in Paris’ will also be screened.
