A FASHION WEEK CAST IN IRON FOUR-DAY EVENT FASHION DESIGNER SHOWCASE 2012 KICK-STARTED ON MARCH 26 IN KARACHI, AT THE DHA COUNTRY AND GOLF ...

A FASHION WEEK CAST IN IRON FOUR-DAY EVENT FASHION DESIGNER SHOWCASE 2012 KICK-STARTED ON MARCH 26 IN KARACHI, AT THE DHA COUNTRY AND GOLF CLUB’S CONVENTION CENTRE

KARACHI:

became the first fashion week to kick off a series of such events in fashion centres Karachi and Lahore after what has been a back-to-back season of designer lawn launch events in both cities.

The platform of Showcase 2012 is a collaboration between fashion designer Rizwan Beyg and Sky Productions (Pvt) Ltd to establish a creative platform for young designers, models, musicians, photographers, event planners and for all those professionals working in fashion.

The celebrated four-day event Showcase 2012 kick-started on March 26 in Karachi, at the DHA Country and Golf Club’s Convention Centre with nine designers displaying their collections on the ramp. Over the next three days, 27 more designers will be exhibiting their collections.

Ajai Vir Singh

The playful, brightly coloured collection of Sri Lankan-based designer Singh was inspired primarily from a beach town called Arugam Bay. The colour palette relied on fuchsias, oranges, ocean blues and many other interesting colours.

Trends to remember: Rainbow-coloured beach sandals and swimwear with models sporting oversized sunglasses for agreater ‘fun in the sun’ effect. The look: Exotic beach boys Sania Maskatiya

The designer’s pret-a-porter collection, ‘Matyala’ rocked the ramp. With multiple hemlines using different fabrics on the back, her geometric zig-zaggy collection was truly artistic. The colour palette remained in shades of red and black with a touch of beige on silk and chiffon.

Trends to remember: Off the shoulder kameezes, short hemlines upfront with longer hemlines at the back and metal details using gold buttons

The feel: Urban and cosmopolitan The look: For urban girls or desis residing in NewYork City Irfan Ali

This PIFD’s graduate made his debut drawing Pakistani rural heritage on his designs. At his second showing, Ali remained within similar cultural boundaries and touched on the rich festival of Jamat in Punjab. Akin to his first collection, the look was very Punjab-centric with a rich palette of solid loud colours that have also become hallmarks of designer Mohsin Ali.

Trends to remember: Stratified rainbow backs, A-line kameezes, Teejays like bubble punto and embellishments featuring tilla and gold polish mark work. The feel: Going back to the rural heritage The look: Festive and desi Zaheer Abbas

The designer’s ‘Revenge’ collection, remained true to his signature style and focused primarily on femininity and timeless elegance. With silks and chiffons in dark hues of brown, olive green and yellow, this was a truly awe-inspiring western collection.

Trends to remember: Cat-ears sleeves and metal-stud detailing.

The feel: With metal jewellery on the faces of the female models, it seemed that Cleopatra had reincarnated on the ramp.

The look: Old Roman Gothic appeal Nida Azwar

Azwer’s ‘Parinda’ collection was a peculiar mix of all that she does and is known for — from angarkhas and bridal wear to embroidered coat and saris — nature remained in focus with peacock motifs highlighting some of the garments.

Trends to remember: Peacock-motif saris The feel: A touch of Persian relics and tapestries The look: Semi-formal line meant for young brides. Danish Wakeel

Model-turned-designer Wakeel, who graduated from the London College of Fashion, showcased his ‘Draped Modern Kouroi’ collection. This collection was disappointing as it seemed like the designer had no wearability factor in mind while designing. It was primarily designed for the ramp. Black was the predominant colour in most of his designs. Trend to remember: The draped uppers and jackets were interesting. The feel: Raw, unabashed and unsettling parade of masculinity  The look: The Dark Knight

Fab Five

Five students from Asian Institute of Fashion Design (AIFD), showed their refreshing take on western outfits. It was nice to see that AIFD graduates have finally evolved beyond the fluffy Southern belle gowns and had begun to focus more on the construction side of designing in order to stand at par with their Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) peers from Lahore. From mini-skirts to long dresses, the entire collection was in black silhouettes.

Trends to remember: Net-covered faces of models and heads adorned with hats

The feel: Subtle, edgy, modern and contemporary

The look: Moulin Rouge

Hira Lari

Hira Lari moved miles away from her lawn collection with her western-inspired ‘Nostalgia’ collection. Looking back, we still can’t figure out if this was a modern take on 1880s southern belle look or a collection inspired by the ghettos.

Trends to remember: Shimmery, sequined tights with sheer tops

The feel: Ghetto-chic

The look: Teenage rebellion

Warda Lawn

‘Warda Experience collection’ was the only lawn summer collection on display. However, the lawn was styled and cut in western outfits, with the colour palette including various shades of greens and blues.

Trends to remember: Outfits with small floral prints or large Balochi motifs were brought on the ramp

The feel: Oddly-styled lawn that neither looked high street or high fashion

The look: A western persona given to the traditional lawn.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2012.

KARACHI, March 26: Showcase 2012 became the first fashion week to kick off a series of such events in fashion centres Karachi and Lahore after what has been a back-to-back season of designer lawn launch events in both cities.

But it is not the only laurel that it has working for it. With the commencement of the calendar event that is Showcase 2012, the internationally acclaimed magazine Hello! launches its operations in Pakistan and features collections off the ramp within its editorial spreads with a supplement magazine that will cover the full four-day event. Live streaming of the fashion event is also available on its website.

The platform of Showcase 2012 is a collaboration between fashion designer Rizwan Beyg and Sky Productions (Pvt) Ltd to establish a creative platform for young designers, models, musicians, photographers, event planners and for all those

professionals working in fashion.

It features 29 Pakistani and seven foreign designers.

Socialites and buyers were in large attendance on the opening day of the event. They included Zahir Rahimtoola (Labels), Zeba Hussain (Ensemble), Zeenat Saeed (Taneez), Shobha Ispahani, Freiha Altaf, Rehana Saigol, Huma Amir Adnan and Fareshteh Gaiti-Aslam.

A rectangular ramp featured the opening designer Zaheer Abbas and his superlative collection titled Revenge and inspired by vintage armour.

The segment saw models made by Depilex wear elaborate headgear and attired in silks and chiffon paneling and trimmings in shades of chocolate brown, olive green and mustard gold with metal shields and exotic carvings and embellishments worn by

models including Fawzia, Mehreen Syed, Maha, Ayyan, Rubya Chaudhry, Zeba, Gia Ali, Iffi and Abbas Jaffri. It was by far the best that the evening had to offer.

London-based Danish Waqeel showed his menswear with strong street fashion and influence by the classic designs based in London and larger Europe.

Asian Institute of Fashion Design students Ayesha Anees, Amina Jauhar, Anum Akhlaq, Birjees and Karin Yazdani showed their take on black ensembles and highly experimental wear that is typical of

fashion students.

Wardah Lawn showed its take on high Spring/Summer 2012 fashion before Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design graduate Irfan Ali impressed all and sundry with his take on festivities and colour of Punjab with his version of the festival of Jamat. The segment had interesting ear wear crafted out of fine coloured yarn and footwear embellished with the same material.

Sanya Maskatiya’s Cruise Pret collection focused on the figurative Mithila art found in Bihar in India and the southeast of Nepal with digital prints and earthen shades coupled with modern cuts.

Hira Lari showed her Nostalgia collection while Sri Lankan designer Ajai Vir Sing’s resort wear Arugam Bay in vivid colours and fabric was based on the tropical vacation destination that is also popular as a surfing destination.

Finally, Nida Azwer showed her Parinda collection that drew inspiration from the designer’s fashion journey with nature-inspired motifs which included the tree of life, the phoenix and birds. It also featured screen printing with zardozi work together, which is the designer’s signature style on a base of saffron, navy blue and emerald green.

KARACHI – Showcase 2012 began in the city the other day. The four-day event is being held in collaboration between internationally acclaimed designer Rizwan Beyg and Sky Productions (Pvt) Ltd an event company which has held several successful events in Karachi.

Showcase’s vision is to create a platform where young designers, models, musicians, photographers, event planners and all those who work in fashion can hone their talent. Its philosophy is to harness creativity, combine it with business sense, help Pakistani designers become brands and help position them in markets at home and abroad.

The event is a reflection of the energy that drives Pakistan. Its youth! This 4-day fashion, accessories and jewelry event for excellence in design provides young emerging talent with the opportunity to show their work alongside more established local and international designers. The day one started with the presence of glitterati of the style and fashion industry with Aminah Sheikh, Farieha Altaf, Zahir Rehimtoolah, Zeenat Sayeed Ahmed, Fareshte Aslam and lot more in attendance. The designers who showcased their collection on the first day of the show were Zaheer Abbas, Danish Wakeel, AIFD, Warda Lawn, Irfan Ali, Sanya Maskatiya, Hira Lari, Nida Azwer and Arugam Bay.