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The show, which lasted more than 2 hours, attracted more than 70 visitors from different nationalities. |
CAIRO — Amidst dazzling lights and fireworks, IslamOnline.net hosted on Sunday, September 21, the first ever Arab and Mulim attire fashion show in the virtual world of Second Life (SL).
"We set out to do something completely different from anything that has been done before," said Walid Wahba, the main event organizer.
"We wanted the visitors to get a complete taste of a magical Arabian night."
The show, which lasted more than 2 hours, attracted more than 70 visitors from different nationalities.
Five different designers showed their collections of more than 50 different designs of Arab and Muslim clothes, ranging from Moroccan to Egyptian to Turkish.
The visitors were all impressed with the quality and diversity of the designs.
After the show, all the designs were showcased and visitors could choose to buy anything they liked. They will be available for up to a month for anyone who is interested.
In addition, IOL also provided a package of free gifts to all visitors.
"I bought something from everybody and Silvana [one of the designers] spoilt me by giving everything in her store that I didn't buy!" said Layla Barom, a member of the organizing team.
Second Life is a virtual world entirely built and owned by its booming population, currently estimated at nearly nine million.
In the animated world, real people use proxies, called avatars, to "live" alternate identities in a virtual community, complete with homes, cars and shopping malls.
Spectacular
Besides the dresses and clothes, the event featured a huge light and firework show.
"The light show is almost as good as the dresses!" said Ruuh Cassini, one of the visitors.
"You've made a fire hot show – in an Islamic way!"
During the opening and the ending, huge fireworks went up all around the arena where the event was being held in celebration.
"I am really very impressed by the music, the firework, and the attention to detail," said Barom.
While many enjoyed the show, others were not able to because the IOL island was running at its full capacity.
"I could not enter the island because it was full but I could watch the whole event from IOL's first island," said Noor Paul, one of the regular visitors to IOL's islands in SL.
"It was spectacular!"
IslamOnline.net launched its first Ramadan tent in Second Life last year, drawing hundreds of visitors.
IslamOnline.net is the first major Islamic media organization to have a presence inside the computer-generated world.
It has two islands in the virtual world with several major projects on them, including the Virtual Hajj Training Simulation.
Islamophobia
The show was, unfortunately, targeted by attackers – called griefers inside the virtual world.
They started spurring out pictures of pigs and other obscene images but the organizers and managers quickly removed the offenders from the island.
"It is unfortunate that they would come and try to ruin this event that we all worked so hard for and that everyone was enjoying so much," said Frozenfire Fride, one of the organizers.
"But after all the griefer attacks we had to endure, we are now much better at quickly dealing with those people."
The visitors did not let the attacks distract them from enjoying their time, and many did not even notice them.
"The people sitting next to me thought it was your special effect!" laughed Chamonix Boudreaux, a professional model inside SL.
"They clapped thinking it was part of the show!"
The designers are now encouraged there is a market for Islamic clothes in SL.
"People have all the clothes here to pick from," said Barom.
"And from now on, it will only get better and better."
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