LAHORE:
Ali Xeeshan designs Ali Zafar’s ‘Rockstar’ and Sufi looks for Coke Studio

Lahore-based designer Ali Xeeshan, who loves theatrics, was the perfect choice to design Ali Zafar’s Coke Studio outfit for ‘Rockstar’ and sure enough, not only did Ali add a line about his jacket in his song, but images of the flashy article have been the centre of attention all week. "Ali wanted a customized look that showed power and aggression," Ali Xeeshan shared with Instep, "so we added leather, metal, chains and studs. It had to be hard rock and had movement as well as structure." Ali Xeeshan has also designed a Sufi look for Ali’s second (upcoming) Coke Studio performance and this one will be more organic. "We’ve patched together different ethnic pieces from different origins and created a surface for a jacket," the designer shared. These are extremely busy days for the designer, who just created an installation for the Magnum Party 2015, will be participating in the Shaan e Pakistan showcase across the border next week and will be showing at the PFDC L’Oreal Bridal Week later the same month. Another rockstar?

MUMBAI:

Manish Malhotra is Bollywood’s most decorated designer and his fashion week showcases have always featured nop notch divas as crowd pullers. Launching his very first menswear collection at the Winter Festive edition of Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai this week, he roped in A-lister Ranbir Kapoor to do the honours; needless to say the show - which was the finale on opening day - generated maximum hype. Manish’s collection compromised mostly of suits and kurtas on a primarily black and orange palette. The designer used a lot of black, copper and gold in his collection and impressed those who cared beyond the presence of Bollywood stars. Talking about stars, there was a whole troupe present but no sign RK’s girlfriend, Katrina Kaif.

NEW YORK:

New York Fashion Week is all set to begin on September 10 but amongst all news fashionable, we’re most excited to see a model with Down syndrome sashaying down the catwalk. Madeline Stuart, an Australian model with Down syndrome is all set to walk the ramp for American label FTL Moda. Though Stuart has three holes in her heart and a leaky valve, there seems to be no stopping her. But she isn’t the first model with Down syndrome to walk the ramp. American Horror Story actress Jamie Brewer became the first model with the syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week in February. Brewer showcased the Autumn/Winter collection of designer Carrie Hammer. "It’s amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities," ET Online had quoted Brewer as saying. "It’s an amazing opportunity for women, women that are disabled." So while India and Pakistan remain fixated with Bollywood stars and rock stars, it’s good to see the international arena inject some social awareness into fashion too!