THE world-wide spread of the PETA movement to prevent cruelty to animals and the response from celebrities has been phenomenal.As Indian celebrities joined the campaign (Amitabh Bachchan, Aditi Govitrikar, John Abraham and others), several famous western stars and models have accepted PETA’s cause as their own. The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) works to create a world-wide awareness of the horrible fate animals meet when they are slaughtered for food or skins or bones. The conditions of most abattoirs and slaughter houses in India are despicable, according to PETA. So also, the state in which the animals are killed for the leather industry in India is abominable.

PETA’s campaign has attracted great attention and now, its staunch supporter is the beautiful Pamela Anderson, a glamorous US television and film star. She has cleared her wardrobe of all leather clothing, says a news release from PETA. What’s more, she requested an ensemble from India’s ‘master of fabric and fantasy’ Rohit Bal, who will use false leather or ‘faux leather called feather’ to make a fantastic outfit for her. Writing to Bal, the film star said, "I wear a lot of ‘pleather’ and fabric outfits. I will not touch leather since finding out all the gory details about how animals of many kinds — in the United States, India, China and all over the world — are so sorely abused for their skins. My friends at PETA turned me on to your fashions and I am very impressed. I wonder if you would be interested in creating a faux leather outfit for me, I’m sure it would be a smash hit in the US." Bal, on the job immediately, has created an outfit which has shades of eastern glamour and sensuality.

"What could be more fitting for a goddess of beauty like Pamela Anderson than the look visualised for a sensual woman by the Kamasutra?" asks Bal. "I wanted a modern, contemporary look which retains an Indian feel, and what could be more Indian than the saree?" Therefore, Bal has chosen a design which meets all these demands. He has used gentle colours which will enhance the creamy skin colour of the film star and has given figure hugging lines to create a saree-like look for the outfit. It has an ivory-coloured false leather fitting blouse with tie ups on both sides. The ivory saree with its long slits is edged with false leather butterflies. "The outfit is highlighted with thousands of sequins and swarovski crystals. It is a stitched up outfit which resembles a saree but is a wraparound. It will be held around her extra slim 22-inch waist with a matching belt!" says Rohit Bal.

"Fake for the animals’ sake" is the motto of Anderson’s campaign. During her TV appearances, she strongly condemns the use of fur or skins for fashion clothing. Rohit Bal and many other top fashion designers, including Todd Oldham, Betsey Johnson and Stella McCartney (who recently won both the Vogue/VHI Designer of the Year Award and the PETA Humanitarian Award) are proponents of the no-leather theme and have vowed not to touch leather or fur for any of their garments. Other celebrities who support the no-leather campaign are Woody Harelson, Drew Barrymore, Alicia Silverstone and Joaquin Phoenix, who say that leather clothes are outmoded. They say that environment and animal-friendly clothes are more appropriate for the future.

Now, the fashion world and supporters and activists of PETA await with bated breath the result of Rohit Bal’s creative genius and the storm of excitement that will hit the glamour industry whenPamela Anderson shows off the custom-designed ensemble.