Reluctant to Stay Only in Heaven, the Rainbows Manifest as Resplendent Attire to Glorify the World

The Supreme Master Ching Hai's S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show Has Caused a Great Sensation in New York

[Report from New York]

On April 15, Master Ching Hai (recipient of the World Peace Award and World Spiritual Leadership Award) held the first show of the grand S.M. Celestial Clothes worldwide exhibition tour at the Lincoln Art Center in New York. Guests from all over the world gathered to appreciate the show. Among them were the German Ambassador in New York, Dr. Erhard Holtermann; Germany's famous opera singer, Ms. Hildegard Behrens; and a number of New York government officials.

Before the occasion began, many guests came early to the Exhibition Hall at Lincoln Center, where they found a variety of art work on display, designed by Master Ching Hai. These included Her paintings, a variety of lamps, and the splendid and beautiful first, second and third series of the S.M. Celestial Jewelry. There was one thing worth special mention: Crowds of people gathered around the counter displaying the S.M. Celestial Jewelry Collection. Made of the finest diamonds, precious gems and Swiss gold, they were the focus of audience members prior to the show. Wholeheartedly, they praised the collection as belonging only to heaven. Each piece of jewelry bore a particular message reminding people to nurture their inner beauty and wisdom.

When the show began, one after another, the brilliant, extremely elegant and uniquely designed S.M. Celestial Clothes were displayed before the audience. The fashions were exhibited by top models from Paris, amid musical compositions by Master Ching Hai and other of classical pieces of music. The audience's response was exceptionally warm, demonstrated by their frequent loud

applause and cheering. They even clapped their hands in rhythm to the music. The models were also affected by the atmosphere. Their movements became increasingly more graceful and smooth. Each of their gestures successfully depicted the creative intent conveyed by Master Ching Hai's designs. These clothes were not only impressive on the show bridge, but are also suitable to be worn on all types of occasions, being both practical and elegant in style. Besides satisfying the public's requirements for external beauty, the S.M. Celestial Clothes designed by Master Ching Hai are even more distinguished in that they remind people of the necessity to develop their own inner beauty, and to elevate their spiritual level.

Toward the end of the show, under the brilliant spotlights, Master Ching Hai appeared on stage dressed in a bright red evening gown embroidered with golden dragons. Instantly, the audience rose and cheered fervently. Many spectators rushed to the front of the stage to catch a glimpse of the elegant and beautiful demeanor of Master Ching Hai. Thus, the evening reached its climax. After the show there was a buffet, which was attended by fashion designers, the press, many prominent people from society and government officials. The fashion show's tour was successful at its first presentation in New York, and will next move on to London and Paris.

Remark: The net proceeds of this show will be donated to: the Gay Men's Health Crisis, the Coalition for the Homeless and DIFFA.

Caption:

1. The S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show debuts at New York's Lincoln Center. Paris models have been especially invited for the occasion.
2. Bringing the S.M. Celestial Clothes Show to a climax, the Supreme Master Ching Hai appears on stage to greet the audience. (Photos by Taije)

Master Ching Hai is extremely versatile -- She writes poems, paints, plays a variety of musical instruments, composes songs, sings, and creates many other works of art. Her meticulous and gentile fashion designs not only highlight the exalted and elegant bearing of a woman, but also consider her innate modesty. Any woman wearing Master's Celestial Clothes looks completely poised and confident; and observers can enjoy the pure aesthetic quality of what they see and spontaneously praise the masterpieces of God's creation.

The beauty of the S.M. Celestial Clothes is that they integrate a broad array of elements from various cultures and the essence of wisdom, transcending the limits of space and time. Thus, they encompass the beauty of all ages, and appeal to people of both East and West. The touring S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show made its international debut, and contained a wide and sumptuous variety of designs, which were distinctive, stylish, elegant and romantic. The fashions enable contemporary women active in various professions and social settings to competently play any beautiful role that God bestows upon them.

FASHION designers never tire of predicting the future, forever telling us about clothes that will "take us into the 21st century". But there is one enlightened designer who is anticipating another dimension altogether. The clothes you see here are a vision of fashion as worn in the afterlife. Supreme Master Ching Hai, the designer, was born in central Au Lac 44 years ago. The day after Her birth, Her parents' house filled with light; it was then that they knew She was "a special kid". She was educated in Britain and, after marrying a German scientist, She turned to meditation in 1978, eventually achieving "perfect enlightenment" (and separating from Her husband in the meantime). Since then, She has become a spiritual leader, inspiring disciples around the world, as well as exploring Her inner talents as a poet, painter, musician, teacher, singer and designer of precious jewellery. Her latest venture is Her own fashion label, SM Fairy Clothes.

SM stands for Supreme Master - the initials are embroidered in gold on a red background on the corner of each one of Her garments. And two weeks ago, during Britian's first-ever Worldwide SM Fairy Clothes Fashion Show (the word "fairy" was changed to "celestial" at the last minute), the Wembley Conference Center was suffused with a feeling of spirituality not normally associated with mere frocks. For these are not just clothes. They are the Supreme Master's interpretation of clothes worn in heaven. As one disciple, Lisha Li, explained, "These clothes should change the style of fashion and bring heavenly beauty into this world."

According to Ching Hai, heaven is a place full of riches, filled with billowing skirts of luxurious silks, evening dresses of liquid silver and gold, celestial dresses printed with moons and stars, and bright rainbow colours. Jewellery is made from precious metals set with pearls and diamonds: and for those who cannot wait until they get to heaven to acquire them, SM Celestial Jewellery is available in this world too.

On the catwalk, before disciples and their bemused friends, the celestial outfits were paraded in a slick, precisely choreographed show. The models, though, were not disciples; they were enjoying a three-week assignment that must have been one of the strangest of their careers. (The show also toured Paris and New York.) One of them, who had modelled for Yves Saint Laurent (less saintly than his name suggests) and Thierry Mugler, said, "With Saint Laurent, it's all on the outside. These clothes make you rich inside. It's not only fashion - it's very spiritual."

After the show, Mary E. Steck, an American disciple who had flown over from Munich to meet her guru, admitted that even she had let slip a giggle on seeing a well-formed cleavage jiggling beneath a lattice-work section of one bodice. But Ms Steck understood her Master's message: "Fashion and spirituality are not disconnected. She's saying we are all children of God and the body is not evil."

All the way through the show, Supreme Master, dressed in vibrant gold, clapped delightedly at each of Her designs. When She Herself took to the catwalk, She received a standing ovation, and said of Her disciples: "It seems every time I see them, they get more beautiful. Their souls have become more developed each day... I still marvel at God's almighty power to crate such beautiful people."

But the audience were not really there to see the clothes. After each show, Supreme Master gives an initiation ceremony; in London two weeks ago, about 100 new disciples joined, making a total of 200 devotees in this country (there are an estimated 100,000 around the world). Mary E. Steck, a committed meditator, said: "I would normally be put off a sect which has 100,000 members, but Ching Hai speaks to me personally. No one controls me." Others seemed more absorbed: one woman I tried to speak to broke off in mid-sentence the moment she spotted her guru, and drifted off in Her direction.

Two days before the show at Wembley, the Supreme Master flew in to London and was rushed to a press conference at the Park Lane Hilton. For Britons, Ron Saunders, the exmanager of Aston Villa and Norwich City football clubs, was the star performer: he had, he said, gone to India, become a disciple of Ching Hai and had come back a changed man. He had never seen a fashion show before, much less met a model. But what was really exciting him was the prospect of being near to his Supreme Master. When asked to MC the press conference, Ron was beside himself. "This is the biggest privilege of my life," he said.

"I have many attributes and talents, one of which is to create fashions for young ladies and old ladies," began Ching Hai. Supreme Master did not need the years of training endured by other, more worldly designers. She started making clothes, She said, when Her status as a spiritual leader meant that She had to meet heads of state and royalty, and She decided to design Her own clothes for such occasions. The clothes were made of silk or layers of chiffon with embroideries in gold; their brightly coloured linings symbolized inner purity which, She says, lasts longer than superficial surface beauty. But Ching Hai recognizes that women lead modern lives and She hopes Her clothes reflect their needs. "I'm not conservative," She says, pointing to a skirt with a split up to the thigh. And a silk suit in pink is designed with "shopping in a department store or drinking coffee with a boyfriend" in mind.

It is difficult to pin down to whom exactly Ching Hai does sell. But although the prices are high, there is plenty of interest; last week, the telephones at Her Oxford headquarters were buzzing. Potential customers should be ready with the minutest details of their vital statistics, though: the SM order form requires purchasers to list 24 specific body measurements

• including that of head circumference, wrists. What the order form does not mention, however, is that buyers must be slim. Ching Hai tells Her clients that they must have the figure for Her clothes.

Prices range from L650-L7,500. For more information, telephone:01865 244321

The Supreme Master Ching Hai is seeking to express 'the harmony within and without', so She picked high quality fabrics for the inner linings, setting a new trend in the use of clothing lining.

The color and tonal matching of the linings and the clothes, as well as the exceptional sewing technique added artistic beauty and harmonious effect of the garments.

More than a dozen professional models from Paris presented the naturally beautiful clothes, which were designed by the great Supreme Master with the insights from Her spiritual cultivation. The orchestration of gold and red, integrating the physical body and spirituality, added a most graceful touch of beauty and romantic spirit. The highlight of the evening was the resplendent and luxurious evening gowns, while the magnificent and dazzling lotus dress conveyed an peaceful and dignified spiritual feeling.

The S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show that was held recently in New York was a great success. It attracted a lot of attention from the public. The models, "Paris Beauties", as well as the Celestial Clothes created an event filled with grace and perfection.

At the press conference held recently at the London Hilton Hotel, the Supreme Master humbly claimed that She is not an expert in fashion design. However, the fact is that the Supreme Master's creations have already been received by the fashion world with unanimous applause.

On the stage, there were only two gilt-edged red letters. Viewing from a distance, they looked like 'S' as well as 'M'; under the bright spotlights they created an extraordinary secluded effect. The ethereal music, as if echoed from a tranquil valley, accompanied the models as they drifted on the stage like goddesses one by one.

With the exception of a few casual designs, all the rest were resplendent and dazzling evening gowns. Ching Hai had ingeniously integrated the essence of traditional costume designs from China, Thailand, Au Lac, Japan, The middle East and the Western countries, which were enhanced by Her personal inspiration, giving consideration to the practical aspects, and then elaborately manufactured. Even without any 'fleshy' sex incitation, the creations still fascinated the audience.

With the Supreme Master Ching Hai as fashion designer, and presented by famous models from Paris, the worldwide S.M. Celestial Clothes Fashion Show was held at Lincoln Center in New York City on the evening of April 15, 1995. There were over four thousand guests in attendance that evening. They enjoyed a fashion show that was inspired by the heavenly realms and was filled with Truth, virtue and beauty. On stage, flashing light beams shone on the bright colorful outfits designed by Master, gaining the acclaim of the entire audience. All of the net proceeds will be donated to the Gay Men's Health Crisis and the Coalition for the Homeless.

By Taije

"Inspired by the Heavenly Kingdom, brings forth the Truth, virtue and beauty of the glorious realms of heaven." This was the theme of the Supreme Master Ching Hai's Fashion Show. This exciting event was held on Saturday, April 15, 1995 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York's Lincoln Center. Judging from its location, the Supreme Master Ching Hai' Fashion Show was not to be a typical display of fashions.

During the two hour program, eighteen gorgeous models from France presented various styles of clothing: there were elegant evening gowns, graceful wedding gowns and attractive casual outfits. With fascinating stage lighting, the models' movements coincided with the rhythm of the beautiful music, gaining the acclaim of the audience. When music with a strong rhythm was played, the audience clapped along, creating an exciting atmosphere where everyone was entranced with the performance.