The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2017 came in pristine new packaging but also served the fashion conscious masses a whole new perspective on spring and summer. The format had changed to two main show areas featuring separate, alternating collections.
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The first day of fashion week opened as an intriguing tale told in a brand new setup.
Lahore: The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2017 came in pristine new packaging but also served the fashion conscious masses a whole new perspective on spring and summer. The format had changed to two main show areas featuring separate, alternating collections. The result: efficiency and raising the bar to an international standard. The execution could have been better but this is just a beginning. PSFW has become one of the most anticipated and well received events on the annual fashion calendar. It has consistently managed to push boundaries into making fashion week more than just a show for the audience and to really become the leader among its contemporaries. This season it managed to successfully put forth its most stylish foot and add new standards to the fashion season that must catch on across the board.
A mixed bag of styles, innate creativity and effortless blending of popping colour was the underlying mantra and it translated in the runway offerings this year. Here is a roundup of everything that was buzzing on Day 1 of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2017…
HSY
Collection: Paranoia
HSY opened Day One and while there were some pieces that were weak and irrelevant in the collection (not to mention some borderline Sana Safinaz moments) HSY did manage to get through it fairly unscathed. The menswear especially had us gushing. HSY’s mentorship program brought to limelight the work of two young, emerging artists in Pakistan: Asma Butt and Ehsen Lynch who gave the collection a more youthful vibe that was refreshing.
Misha Lakhani
Collection: Caravan
Misha Lakhani’s collection was all about poetic storytelling through hand-woven fabrics, all of which exuded a modern decadence. Her collection felt like an opulent dialogue between traditional textile and contemporary silhouette. Lakhani’s deep understanding of traditional fabrics and its versatility to blend and absorb modern silhouettes is exactly what our fashion lacks at the moment. Lakhani brought the day to a distinct and powerful high. There was not a thing we did not like on the runway and if any collection deserved a standing ovation it would be this one. Our favorite pieces were the neon yellow kurtas and the gorgeously well-crafted drapes.
Saira Shakira
Collection: Ji
Saira Shakira, a recent entry into the Lahori fashion topography, showed their signature aesthetic, reflected in the collection which featured glitzy sequin work and Oriental imagery. The sculpted crop tops were no doubt interesting to view on the ramp but fought a little too much with the colored pieces; their collection was decorated with impeccable embroideries and the hand bags were also lust worthy but the ivory tops clashed a bit too much with their summer luxe vibe. We also found the tassels to be quite distracting.
Our biggest problem was the incoherent shoe that took our focus away from the beautifully embroidered pants and kept us wondering, how could they have missed this integral detail?
Generation
Collection: Bring Basant Back
The most highly anticipated collection of the day, Generation pulled all the stops to take us back to the once glorious festival of Basant and set ablaze the ramp with its collection Bring Basant Back, which not only played on the nostalgia of the once glorious celebration of the start of spring but did it in a way that was worthy of the once majestic but now shattered tradition of kite flying. Generation’s craftsmanship, colour palette and overall feel cast a spell on us and it was rather dazzling. Their collection was not only carefully designed and interpreted but had the charm that could only come with an impeccable understanding of design. We are definitely lending our support to ‘Bring Basant Back’.
Sania Maskatiya
Collection: Sania Studio Cruise Collection
Sania Maskatiya introduced a brand new and dedicated western wear line, Sania Studio with their debut Cruise Collection 2017 as the finale on Day One of PSFW. The designer’s departure from her usual traditional luxe aesthetics was definitely a risk that paid off with a collection that was quintessentially summer and had a relaxed feel to it, making it fly to the top of our list. The breezy silhouettes, the easy prints and the casual vibe screamed ‘cruise’ and inspired the traveller in all of us. We loved that Maskatiya had coordinated footwear, which just added detail to an otherwise near-perfect collection.
Zonia Anwaar
Collection: ZELLIIJ S/S17-18
Zonia Anwaar’s collection aimed to bring together a floral and mosaic fusion inspired by work of Maalems (master craftsmen) of the Moroccan Berber. Following up to the refreshing collection that the designer showcased last year, this wasn’t Zonia’s strongest work and although some silhouettes were exciting, the print felt redundant and four looks into the show we felt we had seen it all.
Bank Alfalah Rising Talent Show
Over five years of collaborative partnership between PFDC and Bank Alfalah, this show continued the tradition of giving fashion students a boost on such an acclaimed platform. This year’s four emerging designers were Sharoz Tariq, Zainab Hamid, Asra Khalid and Amna Sheikh and this season they were mentored by Maria B. and Kamiar Rokni. All four contestants were inspirational but Amna Sheikh with her intricate gold embroideries on denim and Zainab Hamid’s bold play with prints was the highlight of the show.
Kokab Alvi
Collection: Explorer Meets Music
Also part of the Rising Talent showcase (albeit not Bank Alfalah funded), Kokab Alvi’s craft of handling menswear has made him accumulate much respect among the fashion industry of Lahore. His work with Bareeze Man has defined menswear for even the established designers. This collection was everything we expected from him. It was experimental and got people talking, not to mention his craftsmanship was impeccable.
– Photography:
Faisal Farooqui and his team at Dragonfly
Hair and makeup: N Pro
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Misha Lakhani
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HSY
Saira Shakira
Generation
Sania Maskatiya
Amna Sheikh
Kokab Alvi
