After two days of everything fashion, the third and final day of Fashion Pakistan Week Spring/Summer Festive roped in the same appreciation and love from the attendees. The seven designers showcased the best of their summer bridals and each outfit that paraded the ramp was a sight for sore eyes and left the audience wanting more. The event came to a grand closing on March 14th at the beautiful palm fringed, creek side Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi.
The evening began with the presence of renowned personalities such as HSY, Meera Jee, Ali Rehman, Amna Ilyas, Umer Sayeed, Frieha Altaf and a few others from the world of Pakistani fashion and entertainment walked down a star-studded red carpet in dazzling dresses and dapper attire. Many were spotted at the Physiogel booth where fashion, lifestyle, beauty and skincare were all being discussed by the charismatic Anoushey Ashraf. The brand is the official red-carpet sponsor for Fashion Pakistan Week Spring/Summer 2019. At the entrance, guests also walked past the peppy and ultra-chic all pink installation by Carbon Events for The Wedding Atelier, an upcoming two-day wedding affair. The installation was an ode to women overall and the pink decked up corner was a compulsive Instagram-worthy moment.
Celebrity showstoppers for some of the collections added further oomph to the evening with Nomi Ansari’s showstopper was the Teefa in Trouble star, the utter graceful Maya Ali. Sarah Khan walked for Huma Adnan, Azfar Rehman for Amir Adnan, Fatima Zara Malik, Asim Azhar and Hania Amir for Zainab Chottani, Aliya Iqbal and Sonya Hussayn for The Pink Tree Company.
The ensembles showcased on the final day were an ode to women, celebrated through timeless bridals with antique embroideries laid out on modern silhouettes. Conventional work was evident in some of the collections, and contemporary cuts and embellishments in others. The menswear range included trend-setting pieces with sleek cuts, basic color shades, and classic styles.
Nomi Ansari opened the show with his vibrantly playful bridal collection titled ‘Kaleidoscope’ which was vivacious and had the perfect fusion of traditional and modern cuts with festive mirrorwork shirts and cholis. Next up was Huma Adnan with her ‘Monsoon Bride’ collection that spoke to the modern woman who wants to dazzle when she dresses up but also be comfortable carrying off her traditional attire. Followed by Amir Adnan’s ‘All Day I Dream’ where he used a combination of his most traditional cuts and draping fabrics, with earthy color tones to cope with the summer heat.
Glitz and Glam continue on day 2 of Fashion Pakistan Week Spring/Summer 2019
Fourth act of the night was Saira*Shakira and their pieces represented the intense feeling of wellbeing through intricate embellishments of motifs, sleek necklines and unmatchable gold work artistry. Zainab Chottani unveiled a feminine dreamy collection celebrating ingenious orthodox handcraft in couture style. Her pieces redefined elegance with subtle flamboyance in a pastel and sparkling rouge color palette and intricate blossomy floral designs. This was followed by The Pink Tree Company whose mayonmehendi rendition got everyone in a festive mood through perfectly crafted eye-catching vibrant ensembles. TPT’s collection stayed true to their ethos of traditional wear, with crushed cotton and cotton in vibrant tones of spring and accessorized by traditional jewellery. The grand finale was by Tena Durrani whose fiery collection Nur’ exuded elegance and royalty. It was an ode to confident and progressive modern women and with this the night came to an eventful end.
“Those working behind the scenes know the tireless efforts that go into making the event appear as seamless as it ends up being. There was much to expect from this year’s Fashion Pakistan Week Spring/Summer 2019 as it was grander and more international than all previous years. Especially the open spaced venue that made for an ethereal catwalk setting. We had a line-up of many known Pret and Bridal designers from across Pakistan showcasing their creativity in breath-taking ensembles while setting the perfect trends for the festive season,” said Deepak Perwani, Chairperson of Fashion Pakistan Council and a prominent fashion designer himself.
All the partners involved in putting together the show include, Fashion Pakistan as the producer of the three-day event, Production 021 as event and back stage managers, Nubain Ali as the show director and choreographer, Samiya Ansari of Sabs the Salon as the official stylist, TV-One as the official media partner and Radio FM91 as the radio partner in order to get a nation-wide coverage of greater magnitude. The renowned skincare brand that is making waves in the skincare industry, Physiogel as the official red carpet sponsor. Faisal Farooquiat Dragonfly as the official photographer, Foodpanda as the official food partner, Aquafina, as the official beverage partner, Peak Freans Butter Puff as the backstage snack partner and Talking Point as the official PR and Digital partner.
On the third and final day, the line-up consisted of seven designers as the show opened with ‘Kaleidoscope’ by Nomi Ansari who brought out a brilliant take on antique bridal attire tailored for the modern day bride. This was followed by ‘The Monsoon Bride by Huma Adnan, ‘All Day I Dream’ by Amir Adnan, ‘Euphoria’ by Saira*Shakira, ‘La Fee’ by Zainab Chottani and ‘Mayon Mehndi’ by Pink Tree Company, Spring/Summer Festive closed with Tena Durrani’s stunning bridal collection, ‘Nur’.
About the Designers and their collections
- Nomi Ansari – Kaleidoscope
Nomi’s collection brought an array of colorful, vibrant pieces that had a vivacious fusion of traditional sindhi culture and mirror work with couture finishing. Using traditional techniques from different parts of Sindh, the collection consisted of pieces with heavy mirrorwork and detailed embroideries on vibrant attires; from lehnga cholis to tailed gowns, each had the finesse of couture finishing. Colors that ruled the runway during the show were shocking pink, shades of red and blood maroon along with greens and bright yellows. His collection was an epitome of traditional royal embroideries and mesmerizing ornamentation, with the use of floral adornments, integrated with Asian tradition. Maya Ali was the showstopper for Nomi Ansari.
- Huma Adnan – The Monsoon Bride
The Monsoon Bride celebrated monsoon weddings and the myriad of colors and moods the season brings with it. The refreshing designs paralleled with the freshness in the air that carries the blissful omen of rain and blossom. These dresses were for the happy souls who want to just let down their tresses and celebrate happiness with their loved ones. The lehengas and sarees showed off intricate embroidery in pearls, sequins and beads. The cheerful collection truly reflected the emotions of the bride – the outfits were made with the sole purpose of making the day unforgettable for her. The essence of The Monsoon Bride spoke to the modern woman who wants to dazzle when she dresses up but also be comfortable carrying off her ensemble. The contemporary bride does not let anything come in her way of reveling in milestones and making each moment count and the collection made sure of that. Sarah Khan and Parishey Adnan walked the ramp for Huma Adnan as the showstoppers.
- Amir Adnan – All Day I Dream
Amir Adnan’s collection explored the natural shades of the unconscious. The achiever, the alpha who stands by the principle “decide commit act succeed repeat.” But before any of that, the quintessential element binding together any person with a purpose is ‘the dream.’ The collection used a combination of unique cuts and draping fabrics, with earthy color tones to cope with the summer heat. The collection pieces also had a range of elements that are rarely seen in menswear, from tassels to detailed pearlwork, there was something for everyone. Azfar Rehman was the showstopper.
- Saira*Shakira – Euphoria
An encounter between hues, textures and movements – delved in to Saira Shakira’s latest collection ‘Euphoria’. It was a collection that represented the intense feelings of well being through intricate embellishments of motifs, sleek necklines and unmatchable gold work artistry. Saira Shakira used rich fabrics like hand-woven nets, jamawar, pure silks, velvets, custom digital printed silks and organza on monochromes and elegant colors, making her ‘Euphoria’ collection, timeless and regal. The lavish yet summery signature designs dazzled on the runway and made for perfect Spring/Summer trends.
- Zainab Chottani– La fée
La fée unveiled a feminine dreamy collection celebrating ingenious orthodox handcraft in traditional style. Her pieces redefined elegance with subtle flamboyance in pastel and sparkling rouge color palette and intricate blossomy floral designs.The collection encapsuled a breezy silhouette evoking traditional craftsmanship fused in majestic ensemble. With rouge elements and sparkly detailing, some of her ensembles like the fiery red traditional suit left everyone mesmerized. What took everyone by surprise was the impromptu concert Asim Azhar put together on the ramp with Hania Amir where he serenaded his way through to the end. Showstoppers for ZainabChotani were Fatima Zara Malik, Hania Amir and Asim Azhar.
- Pink Tree Company – Mayon Mehendi
The colors of orange, marigold flower are often associated with spring weather and the exuberant mayon celebration. The collection was an ode to the mayon mehndi ceremony where the bride partakes in full all the traditional rituals and practices. The vibrant color palette was a treat to the eyes as models strutted down the runway in bright pops of color such as royal blue, olive green, shocking pink and orange. The dazzling ensembles were a refreshing addition to the yellow dresses one is used to seeing. Bold, beautiful colors, gold gota work, intricate details and glamorous accessories were all the rage at the Pink Tree Company’s collection showcase. Aliya Iqbal and Sonya Hussayn were the showstoppers. Jewellery was by Sherezad Rahimtoola, gota jewellery was by by Nino’s Creations and styling by Amal Qadri.
- Tena Durrani – Nur’
The grand finale of the third day was beautifully done by Tena Durrani. Nur’ a prelude to a season of joy, light and color. And as always, the collection was an ode to confident, progressive women.An avid believer in women who pursue joy and happiness and strive to live life to the fullest, Tena shed light to her belief through her collection which revealed gently pushed boundaries of the traditional bridal silhouettes and color themes. Woven together with impeccable craftsmanship, the outfits seamlessly blended different genres of dramatic artworks and lush fabrics. From gold ensembles with delicate floral work to velvety ghararas and traditional bright red bridal ensembles, her collection left everyone awe-struck and wanting more.
Image Credits: Faisal Farooqui
Sundus Anwar believes in the power of clear, straightforward writing. Her blog posts tackle everyday topics with relatable insights and easy-to-follow advice. With a conversational style, she makes complex subjects feel understandable. She’s dedicated to sharing knowledge and empowering readers to take action. Find her latest posts on trending in social.
