Fashion Week 2011
“London, Paris, New York and Milan are famous for the bi-annual theatrical displays of high fashion and next season’s must-have’s, but Lahore is the latest city to pin a flag on the international map for its fashion week – an in-depth showcase of the country’s talent.” – Cass Chapman, Vogue.com
While the world can’t stop wowing at the new spring summer collections of Milan, Paris & other haute couture, away from the high-street is another fashion week which is gradually trying to create its space in the fashion diaspora.
Though in its early 3rd season, Pakistan Fashion Week is slowly seeking its place in the global market like any other burgeoning fashion countries.
Organized by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council, PFW tries to marry the traditional limits to the contemporary leverage. Defying normal perception, fashion here is not only about traditional Pakistani dressing, it has all the elements an Eckhart & Schwan Stabilo may term as the latest for this season!
The industrial ground of Lahore expo saw the coming together of the who’ who of veteran Pakistan fashion fraternity as well as the newbies, and even some wild cards from other lands. Nickie Nina, HSY, Burhan Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Yahsir Waheed, Sahar Atif, Muse, Mohsin, Fahad Hussayn, Teejays, Sara Shahid, Muse, Fahad Hussayn, Burhan Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Mohsin Ali, Sadaf Malaterre, Karma, Khaadi Khaas, and Ali Xeeshan where amongst the 35 designers who exhibited their collections this March.
Frills, patterns and embroidery playing with colors, palettes & nudes…a little less of skin show, but more of style and a fashion lover’s quench in the land so culturally different is surely satisfied with this spread! Executive Chairperson of the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week Committee, Sehyr Saigol said: “We believe that this platform encourages the business of fashion, from the consistent employment of a skilled workforce to opening up retail opportunities and associations, both locally and internationally while also introducing new talents and creativity to the industry”
As opposed to popular belief, there is more to Pakistan than mere controversies, and fashion surely is one of them. As rightly said by Sehyr in a Times of India interview, “The success of our two previous fashion weeks has reinforced this commitment not only by contributing to the growth of Pakistan’s fashion industry but also by showing the world a Pakistan that is progressive and modern, with a resilient people and culture.”
With the aim of being the new fashion destination, Pakistan also planned to showcase the cultural aspects of the nation in front of the international media. Puppet shows by Rafi Peer and Sufi singer Saeen Zahoor graced the fashion week with their performances and added that local touch to this aspirational show.
Whether Pakistan’s fashion can carve the niche in the world’s fashion portrait is yet to be tested, till then this nascent piece of art can be well appreciated & encouraged.
Courtesy: http://noisypost.com/