From what I’ve observed, university students have a handful of problems and being constantly broke often tops the list. That’s definitely the case with me and I navigate around that problem by constantly keeping an eye out for good deals. I heard of a sophisticated little bargain basement situated at Teen Talwar by the name of Playhouse and decided to pay it a visit in search of a leather jacket.

PLAYHOUSE KARACHI

A friend explained the directions and when I arrived at the building next to Gulf Market, I was pleasantly surprised to find a proper concrete building announcing the presence of Karachi Playhouse. Upon entering I noticed that the building housed several small shops which offered a wide array of western wear. From crop tops and strapless dresses to more modest t-shirts and button downs.

It felt like I had entered a less fancy version of Mango. The individual shops were air-conditioned with dressing rooms and salesmen ready to help customers. There were myriads of western tops and formal wear. I entered the first shop and asked the shopkeeper for striped shirts. In a second he unpacked an entire packet of different kinds of striped shirts, from broad striped to multi-shaded, fitted and loose, sleeveless to full-sleeved. He seemed to have a bottomless stock of striped shirts.

STACKS ON STACKS

As someone who gives formal presentations almost every month, button downs are an inevitable wardrobe choice for me. Whenever I search for them in mainstream shops they’re extremely expensive and lacking in variety. Thus, when I meekly asked a shopkeeper for button downs, I almost lost my breath when he pulled out a massive stack of silk, chiffon and linen button-downs. He even had victorian styled button-downs and lace button downs; my jaw dropped at the huge collection which had been unleashed in front of me.

Upon inquiring I came to know that most of the stock in the market was either export rejects or pre-loved. The tagged ones which were defected clothes were slightly more expensive than the preloved ones but the prices were half of what you’d expect to pay in any proper retail outlet.

PRE-LOVED STUFF

The leather jackets were also pretty cheap and handy compared to what a fancy store would offer, although most of them were second hand. There were also shops selling lingerie, coats, and blazers, children’s clothes and bags and shoes, although the majority of them specialized in female western wear. A few shops eve stocked shorts, dresses, and skirts. Unlike a flea market, the building was a proper plaza. It was nothing like a normal street bazaar like Landa Bazaar or  Sunday Bazaar which could also be attributed to its location (Teen Talwar Clifton) as well as the nature of its products which are usually sought by modern middle-class individuals.

REWARDING SHOPPING

Although everyone might not be open to the idea of wearing defected or pre-loved clothes, it is a sustainable option for those not trying to put a dent in their wallet just to look good. This was my first experience of shopping at a place like this, and I found it to be far more rewarding than normal shopping.

You have to peruse through a lot of stuff and are more conscious about your decisions; it was like a treasure hunt. You have to be pretty observant and savvy about shopping and well, your consumer utility is pretty high thanks to the cheap prices. Overall, the experience was very delightful and if you have a penchant for button downs or leather jackets like me and happen to be too broke for Mango then you should definitely visit Playhouse.

The advent of social media has not only altered the way social interactions work in our everyday world but has also perceptibly changed the way marketing works. While mainstream channels like television and radio were the main concern of a business before, today social media occupies the biggest chunk of a firm’s marketing strategy. It has, to a large extent , enabled a more accessible platform for both businesses and consumers to share their ideas.

One of the most remarkable things about this new digital age is the fact that it has created easy and more accessible ways of earning for an individual person. For example, one of the most common ways that people are making money through the rise of digital marketing is by becoming “social media influencers”. In the words of social media marketing expert and educator, Neal Schaffer,” Social media influencer is a person who helps to influence the buying decision of a person through their online presence”.

This can be done through several ways, people use various platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and online blogs to express their opinions and provide feedback and recommendations for the consumption of products. Online forums like podcasts and webinars are also used for this purpose.

A new kind of marketing strategy is the use of sponsored social media marketing whereby brands and social media influencers come together in order to promote the brand. The Social Cercle provides platforms through which brands which wish to engage with social media influencers and adopt the sponsored social media marketing can interact with them. The unique thing about the Social Cercle, however, is the fact that it does not have any set prerequisites for those wishing to become social media influencers. Rather, anyone who has a social media account on Facebook and Instagram can avail the opportunity of making money by making an account at the Social Cercle.

Moreover, while bloggers and celebrities might exert a huge influence on the consumer decisions in the individualistic and consumerist societies of the West, the same cannot be claimed about collectivist societies like Pakistan. According to a research published in the Australian Business Journal, “Collectivism and social influence in the buying decision: A four-country study of inter- and intra-national differences”, social influence by people you know is a far more important factor which influences consumer decisions in collectivist societies like Asian countries compared to the West. This means that a teenager is more likely to consume a product that their elder or parent recommended than what an online app did. Keeping in mind the local context of Pakistan, the Social Cercle has therefore launched its “socialite” program which allows one to market a brand to their acquaintances and thus, earn money from home. This is the first initiative of its kind  in Pakistan and thus presents an exciting opportunity for both brands and individuals.

We have all heard of the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” but it is also true that a “miswak a day keeps the dentist away”. Miswak is a twig which is used for cleaning teeth and is made up of Salvadora persica. Scientific research has concluded that people who use misvak are less likely to require oral hygiene treatments than those who use toothbrushes. Therefore, we have compiled a list of reasons why you should make the switch to misvak right now.

1)      It is cheaper than toothbrush

Compared to the mainstream tools that is toothpaste and toothbrush, misvak is more cheap and cost effective and has a unique three-in-one quality (it can be used in place of toothpaste, toothbrush as well as mouthwash).

2)      Fights against bacteria and germs

It has been proven by research that misvak contains anti bacterial properties. It contains alkaloids- Salvadorine, Trimethylamine which fight against harmful bacteria. Moreover, the resins present in misvak also help to protect the enamel and prevent the formation of caries. Moreover, miswak increases the production of saliva in our mouth which is a natural way of preventing tooth decay.

3)      Fights against plaque formation

One of the biggest causes of tooth loss is plaque formation which happens because of the accumulation of bacteria on our teeth overtime. Because of its anti bacterial properties, using miswak on a regular basis is a very effective way of preventing plaque formation.

4)      Will give you a pleasant breathe

Miswak promotes the natural production of saliva in your mouth which helps to prevent bad breathe or halitosis , moreover, miswak is comprised of essential oils which give it a fragrant aftertaste, and therefore, leave you with a pleasant breathe.

5)      Good for your gums

Miswak is not only good for the health and strength of your teeth but also for your gums. Since miswak fights against the formation of plaque and tartar, it protects your gums against harmful diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis and also gum swelling and bleeding.

When the Churails trailer came out, it felt like it had encapsulated all of the nightmares of Pakistani men together in one short video: women in burkas fighting men, women swearing, women drinking, women smoking, women being unapologetic and most importantly, women being flawed and human and not parading around as Madonna’s or whores. After having watched the show, I can comfortably say that there were several artistic flaws but it definitely provided a much needed parallel discourse in the Pakistani media, and it should be celebrated for being a step in the right direction.  

The much needed Revolution

The most refreshing aspect for me was the fact that this show had an ensemble of female cast members and for once, tried to humanise the women of Pakistan. If one would try to understand the modern woman of Pakistan from a recent Pakistani film or drama, they will probably end up concluding that all women in Pakistan do is make tea for their husbands, weep about their lives or perform item songs in a crowd of lecherous men. The four Churails, on the other hand,  are anything but perfect, Sara is an elite politician’s wife who sways between saving other women and putting her family first, Jugnu struggles with alcoholism (which is thankfully not the reason she is empowered) Batool’s traumatic past keeps triggering her to make wrong decisions while Zubaida’s attempts to reconcile with her parents are naïve at times. There are also seven other mini Churails in the show which comprise of all sorts of women from all sorts of backgrounds: computer geeks, middle aged queer women, trans women, sex workers etc. These women are not altruistic, perfect superheroes who instinctively know what is right and wrong, rather they learn to explore the murky, moral complexities of trying to rescue wronged people in a landscape ridden with so much systematic discrimination. 

The inclusion of male characters like Shams, Dilbar and Inspector J. was also nothing less than refreshing- without falling into the stereotype of presenting working class men as violent and toxic, the show actually gave us memorable male characters who support and uplift their women as allies without any display of chauvinism or entitlement. The romantic relationship between Zubaida and Shams was not only heartwarming but also possibly one of the few instances of romance in our pop culture which is not toxic or based on unfair power dynamics. The acting done by each and every actor in the show, whether the main characters or the cameo appearances were also nothing short of being perfect. 

The breathtaking cinematography by Mo Azmi reinforces the dark and horror genre while capturing Karachi and Hyderabad on camera like never before. The art direction is nothing short of brilliant either, each detail from Jameel’s cavernous garden to Jugnu’s alcohol ridden shelves adds a layer of reality to the characters’ lives (Jameel’s obsession with gardening and his dramatic changes to the garden also foreshadow Mehek’s secret). The choice of songs is excellent- the fact that the makers of the show chose to represent indie musicians from Pakistan on a global platform is truly laudable. One of my most emotional parts of the show was when Meesha Shafi’s Mein played while Shams collapsed on the floor- the reminder of Meesha’s voice amidst a display of female helplessness and rage gave me goosebumps. 

There is also a lot of symbolism in every episode: the dress Meherbano wears alludes to the Red Riding Hood, the shot of steak being chewed in Ifti’s mouth foreshadows his predatory role in the Animal Club while Jameel’s obsessiveness with growing new plants is actually a cover up of  his attempt at snatching away  women’s motherhoods. The show is also one of the few shows from Pakistan which doesn’t have whitewashed female protagonists, for once brown skin is embraced and normalised.  

Whether the show succeeded in accurately representing the struggles of people from different marginalized backgrounds or not is another debate (and one I am not qualified to participate in), but it does manage to be intersectional– the plight of women is not limited to patriarchy or cheating husbands but also to classism, colorism, homophobia etc. As the CEO of Jalwa admits without any shame, existing as a woman in a capitalist patriarchy involves a lot of bargaining-often at the cost of other women. The biggest (and the most pleasant) shock for me was the inclusion of queer narratives in the show. The inclusion of the spunky trans woman, Baby Girl was a much needed step in an industry fond of hiring cis-het men for trans roles. I also loved the characters of the two queer lovers- they are the only queer characters in the show who remain unjudged and unharmed by society- because as ex-convicts away from their families and kin, their invisibility protects them. 

Some people have also argued that the show is homophobic, however I felt like the violence employed in episode four is to show Ehtesham’s character (played by the famous actor/director, Sarmad Khoosat) as a victim and not as a villain. Ehtesham is painted as a friendly, kind man who genuinely cares for his wife, but has no other choice than to betray her in a heteronormative society like Pakistan. However, the amount of camera time given to the gore in the fourth episode sensationalized the violence which was not needed and should have been avoided. Similarly, the homophobic remarks by Jugnu exist because she is shown to be a homophobic, classist and fat phobic woman who genuinely doesn’t start caring about others until the end of the show. 

The flaws

Despite it’s radicalism, like all shows-Churails is not perfect. The last five episodes look like they tried to archive every single issue marring the Pakistani society. The question of race which the writer attempts to deal with Jackson’s entry is not done justice to- rather, the whole idea of Jugnu agreeing to leave her husband because of her father is very inconsistent with her unapologetic and selfish character. Similarly, the imposition of the Jalwa Cream plot added nothing to the story other than what it was obviously made for-tackling colorism within the entertainment industry. There are also some parts of the script which do not accurately represent the reality in Pakistan. The kind of lingo Zubaida employs (Puta hai humko tum se love kyun hai) is not the kind of Urdu people in Pakistan speak but rather an Indianised version of it. Similarly, the act of possessing alcohol is illegal (and quite endangering) in Pakistan which means you can’t drink it openly on the road like some of the characters do. Also, contrary to what Sara argues, women in Pakistan don’t have divorce settlements-rather, they barely know they have the right to divorce. 

With that being said, does the show manage to keep you on the edge of your seat with its thrilling plot line -yes it does. Whether or not you enjoy it, it has to be admitted that this was a much needed step away from the tragedy porn we are witnessing on television right now. Let’s hope this only paves way for better content, opportunities and representation.