Pakistan now has a densely populated fashion and entertainment calendar that is proudly dotted with movie releases, music shows and concerts, television dramas and of course, lots of fashion around the year. Keeping in mind that fashion in Pakistan has two distinct seasons – summer and festive – it is fashion weeks dedicated to both these seasons that keep designers on their creative toes. Serving exactly that purpose, the three-day, Karachi-based Fashion Pakistan Week spring/summer 2019 unravels today.
The lineup, for starters, has a few crowd pullers. Sana Safinaz will kick-start fashion with a solo show tonight. Titled Message from the East, this event is expected to set trends for Sana Safinaz wedding wear and luxury clothing for 2019. Message from the East will be an eclectic mix of the east and west, as is the brand’s signature, and will begin with eveningwear leading to wedding wear.
Day 2 is scheduled to begin with Generation, a socially responsible brand of clothing, which always focuses on one particular cause in each collection. This particular showcase will be a snapshot of their currently available lines, especially ‘No Nonsense Nighat’, which focuses on being Pakistani and thus celebrates all things Pakistani.
Day 2 will also feature Yasmin Zaman, Nauman Arfeen, Gul Ahmed, Alkaram and Obaid Sheikh as well as Boheme by Kanwal, a brand that always excites. Folksy and vibrant, Kanwal’s designs are organic and rustic and yet fashion forward. The day will end with Sania Maskatiya, who’s showcasing her exciting NYFW black and white collection at fashion week.
The third and last day of fashion week appears to be dedicated to summer wedding wear. Nomi Ansari will open the day with a hybrid bridal collection and his show will be followed by Amir Adnan and Huma Adnan separately. While Amir Adnan’s show will have an influx of young energy coming via his daughter Parishae, Huma Adnan may be showcasing more pieces from The Craft Stories, jewellery handcrafted by Afghan refugees for the UNHCR.
Day 3 will also include Saira Shakira, with their brand of eclectic bridals, Zainab Chottani with summer wedding wear and Pink Tree Company’s latest before ending with Tena Durrani. It’s a short lineup and does miss having many of Karachi’s big names on the list but then the design community has been divided between the various fashion platforms in the country as well as foreign shows.
What’s interesting about this fashion week, however, is the change of venue as well as the change in stylist. After more than a decade, fashion week has shifted from the regular hotel venue to an open air location, which should be a pleasant change. And after playing a dedicated innings at fashion week, Nabila’s creative team is – this year – stepping aside for the young and dynamic Samiya Ansari, who also happens to be Saba Ansari’s daughter. Samiya was previously involved in the styling for Asim Abbasi’s Cake and is a popular influencer when it comes to fashion and beauty.
“We want our girls and the mass population to know that we can be diverse and move on from the trusted smoky eye to do something that is fresh,” the young stylist said in a press release. “My team and I are trying to move on to the trends that are seen internationally, instead of something very cliché. It is surreal and I’m also very nervous but I’ve seen my mom do this my entire life so it’s safe for me to say I have some experience in this area. Knowing that I am going to be running the show and the looks gives me shivers, but the good kind.”
Fashion Weeks project trends in clothing as well as beauty so one looks forward to what the FPW team and Samiya Ansari put together for spring/summer 2019.