KARACHI: Fashion Pakistan Week (FPW) came to an end with 21 Pakistani designers who earned their spurs on the ramp of the three-day event. With memorable fashion trends and moments, the event comprised some of the finest offerings of designer heavyweights.
Maheen Khan closed the show with modelling icons, such as Frieha Altaf and Atiya Khan. A highlight of the evening, this was the last runway showcase of Maheen’s eponymous label. She will now present collections of her brand ‘Maheen’ in fashion shows upon request. Here is a rundown of what FPW day three had to offer.
Sadaf Malaterre
The evening began with a low-key, monochromatic show by Sadaf Malaterre. Malaterre was never going to set the ramp alight with her laid-back, minimalist style, but the collection was refined and elegant.
Maheen Karim
Maheen Karim’s ‘Ravissant’ collection, on the other hand, combined glamour, allure and sophistication. She’s one of the designers that Karachi’s elite consistently turn to for ballgowns and eveningwear. This collection showed why.
Nida Azwer
Nida Azwer is another of the young stars of Pakistani fashion. Her ‘Renaissance’ collection featured saris and lenghas but combined these with wrap blouses and crop tops.She is known for her classic sense of style and love of traditional techniques and silhouettes.
Mohsin Ali for Sana Safinaz
Mohsin Ali’s tenure at Sana Safinaz demonstrates the value of collaboration between a talented young designer and an established design house. Drawing inspiration from the wild he was exceptional in terms of both concept and execution.
Faraz Mannan
Faraz Mannan is another of the bright prodigies of Pakistani fashion. His ‘Shanghai’ collection was notable for its fabric, cut and fit as well as for the quality of his embellishment and finishing.
Nauman Arfeen
Nauman Arfeen’s ‘Royal Parade’ collection was the penultimate collection of fashion week. Royalty generally tends to be flamboyant but Arfeen’s collection focused on tone-on-tone embroidery on neutral colours.
Maheen Khan
Maheen Khan’s swansong was the grand finale of fashion week. While Maheen will remain head of Gulabo, this was possibly her last show for her own label.
The show began with Maheen reading out her inspiration for the collection, ‘To Karachi with Love’. The collection is an ode to the fashionable women of Karachi in the sixties and seventies and to the city as it was then. It is obviously a collection that is close to Maheen’s heart and one that she put a lot of herself into.
