Lahore: 11th March 2018,The Pakistan Fashion Design Council in collaboration with Sunsilk presented the second day of the eleventh PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week. As announced earlier this 2018, the PFDC continues to take the fashion week platform towards an international and global standard. To that end, the Pakistan Fashion Design Council has taken the concept of solo and duo shows a step further, having introduced the concept in Pakistan in 2017, by giving each day of fashion week a curated experience featuring a combination of solo designer showcases, grouped designer shows and a dedicated day featuring high street prêt-a-porter and the seasonal retail/lawn showcases. Further, as also introduced last year, #PSFW18 features shows divided between two entirely separate show spaces and two independent ramps within the same venue in their respective time slots [no coinciding or simultaneous shows], a first in Pakistan.
The Council opened #PSFW18 with the introduction of a brand new show, dedicated to the curation and projection of indigenous craft within high-end design, in collaboration with PEL: introducing the PEL Craft/Design Show with GOLD by Reama Malik. For this dedicated craft show, Sehyr Saigol, chairperson of the Pakistan Fashion Design Council, has herself curated four designers who showcased four ensembles each turning distinct sub-continental craft into updated design led and globally relevant luxury retail pieces. To this end, the chairperson selected artisans and designers, mentoring and monitoring to develop techniques, motifs and skills necessary to update our craft into design led fashion. This new show also marked the corporate patronage of PEL, fostering the partnership between the designer and craft with the PFDC. Indeed, PEL’s support of this show is manifest of the brands sustained and ongoing commitment to social responsibility.
Day-2 started with an afternoon high-street grouped show featuring Saira Rizwan, RICI MELION and Image in Hall B. This was followed by luxury prét evening showcases featuring a solo show by Nida Azwer in Hall A and a finale grouped show featuring Shiza Hassan, Shirin Hassan and Saira*Shakira in Hall B.
The PFDC is proud to continue their partnership with Sunsilk as their title sponsor while introducing PEL as the red carpet sponsor, Borjan as the official footwear partner, Aquafina as the official beverage partner and Careem as the official transport partner.
PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2018 is being directed by Sadia Siddiqui with show production by Production 021, Event Architecture by Production 021, N-Pro/NGENTs as official hair and makeup stylists, Kamiar Rokni from The House of Kamiar Rokni as the official spokesperson for the PFDC, digital support by Red Communications, photography by Faisal Farooqui and the team at Dragonfly, live-stream by AI Solutions, GEO as the official Media Partner and CityFM89 as the official Radio Partner and security by PEL with media management by Lotus Client Management & Public Relations.
HIGH-STREET SHOWCASE:
The afternoon show on Day-2 was opened by Saira Rizwan who showcased her High-Street Luxury Prét collection.
RICI MELION:
RICI MELION made its PFDC ramp debut with their collection titled ‘Ulysses’. Inspired by Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem Ulysses, the collection chronicles the journey of a man through the crusade he has made throughout his life. The manifestation of the poem’s theme within the collection was done by visualising the augmented thirst for adventure and challenge visible in the sophisticated classically cut suits. Fabrics used range from highly breathable wools meant for Spring/Summer in Super 130s and 140s and Super Fine High Micron Count Fibers such as a 12.5 micron Kid-Mohair Pencil Striped Two Piece. The silhouettes were tactile yet light with silky finished shirts that give inflated movement and deconstructed jackets with oversized lapels and patch pockets. With very minute embellishment in their signature blended antique and champagne gold jacquard finish handwork, the collection features a bold colour palette from vintage prince of whale glen-checks, tropical florals and Hawaiian patterned shirts to muted Bottle Greens and Solid short Reds. For this collection, trends to look out for are the 3D illustration of design such as woven fabrics and embossed embroidered patterns all the way to augmented reality of design. Film actor Azfar Rehman walked the ramp as the brand’s celebrity showstopper.
Making its PFDC ramp debut this 2018, Image showcased their High-Street collection titled ‘Dance of Spring’ in the afternoon segment. With an aim to create clothes that are glamorous yet wearable and chic, the collection featured unique fabrics/fabric techniques with a colour palette such as light pastels and play dough colours. The brand design team feel the light colours highlight the strength in simplicity and femininity. With whites, monotone magic – organza and trendy lowers, the collection had flowy silhouettes taking the embroidery in a younger and a high street direction.
LUXURY PRÉT SHOWCASE
Nida Azwer:
Nida Azwer showcased “The Mughal Court” collection in a solo show at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week’s Luxury Prêt segment. The collection draws its inspiration from the scenes in the Mughal Courts. Set in fine fabrics of silks, muslins, nets and organzas the collection featured lehngas, jackets and the atelier’s signature kalidaars across a diversity of techniques including leather cutwork and 3D embellishments. The colour palette was primarily based in shades of mauve, blue, gray, gold and ivory. For The Mughal Court, Esfir by Hafsa and Tasbih designed a bespoke collection on jewellery titled “The Gilded Garden”. The lead cast of the upcoming feature film Cake, Adnan Malik, Aamina Sheikh and Sanam Saeed walked the ramp as the brand’s celebrity showstoppers.
Shiza Hassan:
Shiza Hassan showcased her collection, ‘Untamed Azalea’ at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week’s Luxury Prêt segment. Inspired by the visuals of richest flora and fauna nature has to offer, the collection featured straight/boxy cuts in silks/organza and nets. The embellishments included beaded work along with resham and 3D elements with a colour palette based on pastels. For Hassan, the trends to look out for A-symmetrical hems and boxy silhouettes this 2018.
Shirin Hassan:
Shirin Hassan presented her signature blockprint collection titled “The Colour Block” at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week’s Luxury Prêt Grouped Show segment. For this collection, Hassan has fused fragility with modern edge.
Saira*Shakira:
Day-2’s grouped show finale was presented by Saria*Shakira with a collection inspired by the paintings of Ian Davenport, the English abstract painter. An upbeat collection dubbed “Canvas” takes inspiration from modern, contemporary art and features a colour palette comprising of hot pink, electric yellow, ink blue orange with classics black and white. The silhouettes featured dramatic shoulders and sleeves, nipped waists cinched with wide belts zen like pants and contemporary prints. Experimenting with pops of colour, for Saira*Shakira, the trends to look out for are structured draped tops and loose pants this 2018.
