Review of designer, Sara Shahid of Sublime, as she shows her stylish and fun collection at Pakistan Fashion Week

Romanticism coupled with practicality is an irresistible combination. Effortless, and classic is what Sara’s label, Sublime, exudes. The word alone explains what she wants the world to know about her designs. She herself epitomizes her own brand as her elegant and clean designs are worn so well by her. Quite possibly one of the nicest designers in the fashion fraternity, Sara Shahid is never short of a bright smile which is probably why her collection was so fun and fantastic at Pakistan Fashion Week.

Colour Me Sublime was most certainly unexpected and some surprises are worth the wait. The whole collection was sprightly and yet elegant and grown up. The mixture of vibrant colour palettes mixed with flowing chiffons and flattering cuts made this collection oh so buyable because a Sublime outfit is the perfect addition to your spring summer wardrobes for 2010. That’s something I adore about this brand and at Sublime’s Pakistan Fashion Week collection; the designs were very wearable and not just for ramp related drama. Some may say it’s playing safe at Pakistan Fashion Week but those who know what Sublime stands for and portrays, will know that the designer used an array of colours which was unlike her usual colour palette of nudes, neutrals and pastels. Keeping this new element in mind, the designer didn’t fail to bring it to Pakistan Fashion Week. Continue reading…

[Lahore: 24 February 2010] Following the success of the House of Kamiar Rokni’s  prêt a porter and haute couture collections entitled  ‘East, West, North, South’ at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, the design house has been invited to showcase 15 contemporary pieces in a group show at the coveted Paris Fashion Week between March 05 – 10 2010. Kamiar Rokni will be sharing the ramp with Ja.Su.Ma, Lot 78, Mauvette Philips , Nonoo Lyons , Payal Jain , By Walid , Mechante of London, SOA ,S usan Snell  and Susannah Hunter.

The collection is an organic extension of the label’s ‘folkcentric’ aesthetic which stormed the catwalks in 2009. For East, West, North, South, the house of Kamiar Rokni has focused on indigenous fabrics and embellishments inspired by traditional techniques. This collection will feature a versatile range of ready to wear; from kaftans to billowing tunics, jackets and statement pieces. The fashion house has revealed an emphasis on tailoring details and silhouette with an overall aesthetic lending itself to simplicity and a simple lack of fuss. Indeed Kamiar Rokni’s collection will mark a departure from their signature burst of vibrant colour; this collection’s colour palette is more controlled and one can expect a diversity of fabrics including cotton based wear to satin and velvet. The label inspires to showcase a collection that is simultaneously elegant, timeless and relevant all at once. Kamiar Rokni’s major inspirations for this collection lie with an exposure to the world in which we live and the myriad hues it has to offer from all four corners of the globe. The label is constantly inspired by craft, textile and ethnicity and the latest collection encompasses all of these elements in a minimal modern manner. Continue reading…

This February, Pakistan Fashion Week will take centre stage in Lahore, Pakistan. Thirty-two designers, both recognized and emerging, will use the platform provided by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council to showcase their creations in Lahore Fashion Week.

Sehyr Saigol, Chairperson of PFDC Fashion Week, says, “This Lahore Fashion Week is about fashion with a purpose – reviving Pakistan’s cottage industries, mobilizing young designers, getting serious about business and organizing tie-ups to create value added products with a designer twist!”

Frieha Altaf, former model and the event manager, said, “Having been in the industry for over two decades, Lahore Fashion Week is the milestone that I feel we need to conquer. Our designers are hugely talented and can create markets abroad. It will affect fashion week in years to come and will change the economics of the industry.” Continue reading…

Day 4 marked the closing day of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, February 2010, in Lahore. Day 4 was buzzing with fashion, music and high drama! The evening’s opening show was staged by Karachi based designer Nomi Ansari, with his collection “The Circus of Life”. This collection was a celebration of colour, layers and textures fused with a stylized and festive silhouette.  His collection symbolised the re creation of fabrics through the use of innovative techniques along with a varied mixture of chiffons, silks, cottons, voiles, organzas, laces, crepes and nets. ‘The Circus of Life’ was Nomi Ansari’s most vibrant collection to date and will feature a variety of accessories, bustiers, jackets, skinnies, skirts, tops, drapes and volume.

Fashion designer Nomi Ansari launched his eponymous label the same year he graduating from the Pakistan School of Fashion Design in 2001. He is best known for his unique command over diverse colour palettes and his bold cuts fused with traditional and intricate embroidery. Nomi Ansari has showcased his label across the UK, USA, India, Singapore, UAE and Malaysia and in Pakistan; he was awarded Designer of the Year in 2005 and best womenswear Designer at the Pakistan Style Awards in 2007. Continue reading…

Day 3 - PFDC Fashion Week 2010

An amalgam of excitement, colour, glitz and glamour, Day 3 at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week opened with the husband and wife duo, Sarah Salman showcasing their Spring/Summer 2010 Prêt a Porter collection, aimed at today’s women, entitled ‘Beautiful Me’.  Based in a diversity of fabrics including chiffon, satin and lace, the ‘Beautiful Me’ collection focused on elegant and easy to wear silhouettes with embellishment mainly in swarovski, sequins and stones and a palatte of colours in an overall S/S 2010 look which is not age focussed but rather conceived for a mindset willing to experiment and have fun with their fashion.

Launched originally in 1997 with the vision of creating unique bridal wear, elegant formal wear and trendy ready to wear, Sarah Salman the brand has taken part in a variety of international exhibitions and fashion shows, the most recent being at Sheridan Manchester where the brand launched formal bridal wear for British Asians. Continue reading…

With a diversity of celebrities, models, designers and media in attendance, PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2010 Day-2 started with a bang. Opening for Act 1 was the Karachi based model turned designer Sadaf Malaterre showcasing her womenswear collection. Mainly inspired by all that which surrounds her and more specifically, colour, her collection was based in pure silks and satins and is dedicated to the memory of acclaimed Pakistani artist and her dear friend, the late Asim Butt who inspired the designer and constantly encouraged the designer to experiment with colour.

The Sadaf Malaterre brand label epitomizes the results of experimentation with clothes and the ability to have fun with fashion. Boho chic by day and glamorous during evening soirees, Sadaf Malaterre’s fashion aesthetic captures an ingrained free spirited bohemianism. In a very short period of time, the label has become one of the most talked about designers in Pakistan. Indeed Sadaf’s design philosophy focuses on a continuous tribute to the celebration of life. Continue reading…

With the exciting and entertaining mood, Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) is on its way now. From 16th to 20th February 2010, it is introducing new Fashion trends and giving good boost to the Pakistan Fashion Industry. 32 designers from the three big cities of Pakistan, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad are featuring their designed collection.

At the opening day of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, eight designers showcased their designed work. The category of opening designers includes Nickie Nina, Sara Shahid of Sublime, Asifa & Nabeel, Ali Xeeshan, YBQ, Body Focus Museum, Elan by Khadijah Shah, and Nida Azwar. Almost all the dresses were fall in the group of Prêt and Formal wear. Different top class models are presenting the creative designing art of the Fashion designers, like Mehreen Syed, Vaneeza Ahmad, Misha Shafi, Huma, Fiza, Humaima Malik, Tooba Siddiqui, Aymi, Amna Ilyas, Ayyan, Kiran Mailk, Noore, Rabia Ahmad, Rabia Butt, Sabina Pasha, Sanam Saeed, Rubya Chaudhry, Neha Ahmad, etc. Continue reading…