PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week – Day 1

In an exciting initiative by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) and Sunsilk, November 10th 2010, marked the debut of the second Fashion Week in Pakistan. Day 1 of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, being held in the cosmopolitan city of Karachi, was divided into 3 acts, which featured 6 ramp shows with 5 distinct designers and a charity show. The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week is being produced by Catwalk Productions and styled and choreographed by the creative team at Sabs The Salon and Khawar Riaz, event coordination by the R Team and public relations by Lotus. Further, Little Black Book will serve as business consultants, Latitude as buyer focused marketing consultants and Asim Naeem as a technical consultant.Day-1 Run Through:

Act 1

Day 1 was attended by leading media personalities, journalists and buyers from across the country with a diverse number of international news agencies, media and buyers to encourage and support the Pakistani fashion industry.

Day 1 Act 1 of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2010 was opened by Nickie Nina featuring a dervish whirling to a spiritual beat which was later followed by the label’s exquisite Couture collection. The Couture collection of  Nickie Nina’s Collection at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week Karachi 2010 which was inspired by Kösem Sultan, mother to the Ottoman Emperor and later to become one of the most powerful women in the Ottoman Empire and Muslim history. Nickie Nina’s dynamic Fashion Week Couture collection took a cue from this classy and powerful feminist, illustrating her bravery and legendary poise through a series of elegant and vibrant designs. The collection used flowing lines and rich hues merged with extravagant embroidery and traditional embellishments that brought to mind the regal days of yore. Speaking about their participation and their collection at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, the duo has said, “Hailing from a family of formidable women, the iconic design house of Nickie Nina has always sought to represent strong feminine ideals in its collections”. Renowned musician Hadiqa Kiyani walked the ramp for Nickie Nina.

The sister duo of Nickie and Nina together form the impressive team behind the Lahore based house of haute couture which was launched in 2000. The duo works with a variety of fabrics and their signature style rests on the innovative way they combine two or more textures in a single creation. Nickie Nina have showcased to heads of state and fashionistas alike and  last year alone were seen across diverse international fashion destinations including New York, LA, Chicago, Pennsylvania, the UK, Geneva, Bahrain and the Emirates.

Act 1’s second show belonged to understated designer Sahar Atif and her label Saai who showcased her Prêt-à-porter womenswear collection entitled “Lattice Lure”, inspired by locally crafted embroideries like her previous showcase at the debut PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week in Lahore in February this year. The collection boasted a technical mastery of cuts, the fluidity of which were coupled with in-house developed pleated structured fabric, layered to create an allure of timeless appeal and glamour while highlighting the collection’s glamour. Talking about her collection the designer said “it is mysterious romanticism teamed with the timelessness of craft embroideries”

Sahar Atif is a designer renowned for her unique focus on having created and sustained her affordable designer wear label, Saai. A graduate of the first batch of Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), she encapsulates the spirit of entrepreneurship with her expanding brand Saai and academia through her work as a teacher within the realms of fashion. She presented her collection as Sahar Atif’s Collection at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week Karachi 2010. Sahar also currently heads the Design and Textile Department at the Lahore Grammar School and is also working in close coordination with the University of Cambridge in the implementation and design of an A-level module in Textile, Design and Fashion, being offered globally for the first time. In 2003, Sahar diversified from fashion education to design and launched her label ‘Saai’, initially focusing on bridal and formal wear. In July 2005 ‘Saai Concepts’ was launched with its retail outlet in Lahore. In 2007 Sahar showcased her Saai bridal collection at the coveted ‘Bridal Asia’ in New Delhi to an overwhelming response from media and buyers alike.  The 2009 bridal season witnessed a further collaborative partnership, this time between Saai and a Manchester based retailer, who launched their debut collection at the Asiana Bridal Show in January 2009 to much acclaim. Fashion designer Sahar Atif had showcased her Prêt-à-porter womenswear collection for her label Saai, entitled “Gulistani Sahar” at the debut PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week in February. ‘Gulistani Sahar’ was inspired by the regional embroideries of rural Pakistan and showcased the beauty of Pakistan’s rural areas to all audiences.

Next on the Karachi runway was the Lahore based emerging designer Akif Mahmood with his womenswear Prêt-à-porter collection for Fashion Week entitled “Kolors of Kafiristan”. His collection Akif Mahmood’s Collection at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week Karachi 2010 that was inspired by the rich culture and traditions found specifically in the costumes and jewellery of Kalash, also known as Kafiristan. The collection consisted of simple cuts accentuated by flares and volumes. The pieces boasted multicolored elaborate embroideries and a diversity of materials such as pom poms and ribbons. When asked about his collection the designer said, “Whatever I design has to have a touch of our own culture and traditions, no matter how western the collection is or how modern the cuts are, it should have some elements of our culture, because I believe this is how we can create something different from the rest of the world.”

Akif Mahmood graduated in Fashion Design from the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design   (PIFD) in July 2010 and after his work was viewed by Mrs. Saigol, Chairperson of PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, Akif Mahmood was one of the emerging designers selected to show his own collection in the first Fashion Week, under his own label, ‘Akif’. Akif received the Best Collection Award for his collection at the PIFD graduation show this year. His signature style is reflected by the use of colors and elements from our local cultures combined with contemporary cuts, to create modern yet traditional designs.

Act 2

Act 3

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