Maqsood, who believes that there is a need to take men’s grooming to another level, even if not a dire one, says that N-Gents is more of a modern day barbershop than a men’s salon. “Amongst the old-fashioned ‘barbershop’ related services, such as shaves, cuts and massages, we have also added a list of other relevant treatments for the modern man. All of these are offered in a very masculine environment, leaving the male client comfortable — the way it ought to be,” he said.

Despite the fact that Karachi is one of the most modern and liberal cities of Pakistan, cutting-edge male parlours have not made an impact in the city. This is the reason why Maqsood was proactive in bringing his entrepreneurial self to the forefront. “As a particular male client, I had never visited a place here that offered an extensive personal grooming service list delivered at a high standard at a males-only salon while keeping pristine hygiene standards; therefore, I came up with my own.” He added, “From what I have seen offered in Karachi, not much fits into the bill of the competition.”

Zair Maqsood says N-Gents is a modern-day barbershop with a high standard, targeting more aware male clients. PHOTO: HUMAYUN M @ 18% GREY

Considering the classy, opulent interior of the salon, with leather chairs and rusty wooden furnishing, it sure seems that place is likely to cater to the high-profile client. “Our target audience is the up-market and aware male group aged between 30 and 65. They may come from the business sector, media, government, or sports but they are all well-travelled, image-conscious and appreciate finer things in life,” he said.

However, all is not lost for all those who want a quick service without spending much, as Maqsood and his team are accommodating an array of budgets. “We have adopted a multi-tiered pricing system to suit all pockets. Depending on the services, the prices could vary from Rs300 to Rs15,000. These services range from moustache reshaping to body scrubbing and exclusive packages for grooms.”

With weddings becoming such grand events, men’s salons probably have more visits from grooms than regular clients. Maqsood specifies that “men should keep in mind that the cameras and lights can get fairly bright and that imperfections in the skin can easily become prominent. This can be camouflaged through prior skin treatments and our ‘camera-smart’ make-up.”

Maqsood, who firmly believes in having a zero-tolerance policy towards controversies that normally surround men’s massage parlours, takes pride in his achievement with the launch of N-Gents.

He says, “At N-Gents, Nabila and I have worked hard to retain the charm and luxury of a place where a man should feel at home and be able to take pride in his grooming and appearance. We are operating this place with a high level of vigilance, standard and professionalism.”

With expansion plans that are a secret for now, Maqsood concludes by adding that the place is “at par with the West, if not better.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2013.

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Many may argue that anybody who has the talent and eye for fashion can make a mark in this field. They might even criticise the concepts and collections of fashion grads for being “eccentric” and inappropriate for daily wear. But talk to people in the field and they’ll tell you what’s more important between training and sensibility. The Express Tribune talks to the big names in fashion about candidates that are part of a winning team.

Fashion grads are a must!

While the industry comprises a number of designers who do not have a design background, many feel that the importance of academic and professional training is undeniable. Popular Lahore-based designer Kamiar Rokni believes that one can’t “be in the fashion business without a sense of aesthetics”. He feels that it’s sensibility alone is not sufficient, and that academic knowledge is also required. “You need to have an eye and that eye needs to be developed further by training. Trained designers, who have changed the fashion scene in Pakistan ever since the millennium, are proof,” he said.

Talented Nida Azwer who has risen to fame quite quickly, stresses that a combination of both style and training is needed to succeed. “It’s a combination of both. You need to have good aesthetics but at the same time you also require professional training,” she said. “It always gives you an upper hand if you have professional training in fashion/textile when entering the fashion industry.” Rabia Wahab, the woman behind Fiction Concepts and a textile major from Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture firmly believes that fashion graduates definitely have an edge over others because they are constantly developing, since they receive criticism from teachers and end up becoming confident.

And the best school is…

It is evident that designers from Lahore have a soft corner for PIFD grads whereas those belonging to Karachi prefer AIFD students. Regardless of the dearth of fashion schools in Pakistan, the competition is intense and with senior designers having their own special preferences, it gets all the more formidable. Rokni’s slight tilt towards PIFD is based on technical expertise. “Different people have different strengths but graduates from PIFD tend to be technically astute and that is something that we look for.” Rabia, on the other hand, believes that AIFD students have the ability to stand out, even though she studied from IVS. “Graduates from IVS are basically graduates in textile design. Graduates from AIFD are graduates in both textile and fashion, which gives you the advantage of knowing pattern design and stitching that pure textile designers lack,” she says.

Any hope for the untrained?

Considering what has been discussed, it may seem that all hope is lost for those who did not opt for a degree or a course in fashion. Of course, trained designers are better equipped and more aware about techniques involved in design. But does that mean designers who do not have an academic background in fashion cannot be equally successful?  Safinaz Muneer of the fabulous SanaSafinaz label only attended the National College of Arts for a year, and says technical expertise is “not necessary”. “Creativity is in born – talent matters,” she says. Coming from one of the biggest names in fashion in the country, we’ll say that’s authority enough. Every bride’s dream wedding dress designer Bunto Kazmi has no fashion degree but thousands of clients and years of experience.

With so many talented young people stepping into the fashion industry having just sheer passion and not the relevant training, one can surely not suggest that skills are the main criteria. Feeha, too, agrees by saying, “It is very important to know aesthetics but it is even more important to have individual style or you will get lost in the common sea of being technically and skillfully right and will therefore be following trends instead of creating trends.” She added, “It is imperative to have the skill but what is more important is to challenge that skill. An eye for fashion is way more important than the skill itself.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2013.

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KARACHI: There is no doubt that desis love Chinese food. While culinary experts and restaurant owners continue to experiment with other cuisines — Thai, Lebanese, Hyderabadi food and more — it’s really just a Chinese food extravaganza which keeps the customers coming. The tummy wants what it wants. And there’s good news: a new Chinese joint, Red Emperor is now open on Tauheed Commercial, DHA next to Café Flo, in a space that was previously home to the restaurant Saffron.

Restaurant owner Danial Baweja explains the christening of the restaurant.  “Red is a very Chinese colour and ‘emperor’ indicates royalty,” he says. Baweja and his wife Fiza lived in a Chinese town called Chong Qing for six months, which is where the inspiration to run an authentic Chinese joint comes from. “Our food is different and Pakistanis will develop taste buds [for it] with time.”

The setting was anything but clichéd — Chinese lamps and lanterns weren’t in sight and neither were there any dragon motifs that one would find in every other Chinese restaurant.

A small fountain in the verandah which reflected red light added to the relaxed atmosphere. “The challenge was to rethink the space and design as the location was a restaurant before,” says architect and designer Marvi  Mazhar, adding that since the Chinese food at Red Emperor is fusion style, they had to mellow down the atmosphere.

The owner says he isn’t into the traditional China Town look and has tried to give the environment an international appeal. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The theme was primarily white and contemporary. “It’s a fusion — we’ve toyed with a contemporary Arber white,” Mazhar adds. “It was said that the space was too empty when people used to visit Saffron. So instead of putting up partitions [between tables], we’ve divided the space with bronze screens.” She feels the entire street where Red Emperor is located is picking up an urban appeal.

At the opening, guests were served chicken dumplings and mint slush. “What we are serving is authentic Hakka Chinese food which includes a blend of South Asian spices,” says Fiza explaining the menu. They will also serve a special Chinese soup called Hot Pot. “There is a gap in the market for good Chinese food. This is going to cater to families on a larger scale.”

“This is the stuff we want to bring to Karachi and also give it an international appeal,” adds Baweja. “We are not into the whole traditional China Town look either — we have no Chinese music in the background, but international music to highlight the fusion.”

“Hospitality is our natural inclination — it comes to us very easily and thus, I ventured into opening a Chinese restaurant,” he adds, revealing that his grandfather Ferozuddin Baweja brought Regent Plaza Hotel to Karachi 40 years ago.

Guest Sana Sultan says she rates the place six out of 10. “The sweet and sour chicken was too sour, dry beef with chilies lacked a bit of flavor,” she says. Surpringly, this joint also serves pizza, which Sultan says was delicious. “The Margarita Pizza was of thin, good crust and not soggy at all. The BBQ Chicken Pizza was delicious and the spices used were out of this world. Prawns had the right kind of spices, an added extra crunch played its part also the mustard sauce was good which was served with it.”

The prices range from about Rs190 for soups and starters and go up to Rs600 for large servings of seafood dishes.

Goodbye, Saffron!

When calligraphist Ruheena Malik was contacted and inquired about why she chose to close her restaurant Saffron down, she says, “I’ve rented it out for three years to this couple. The restaurant thing wasn’t for me. I’ve gone back to calligraphy. It’s my passion.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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For some, it’s all the same

Some designers chose the diplomatic path and preferred not to fuel the fire by refraining from picking sides. Maheen Karim and Misha Lakhani, who recently showed at fashion week, say there is not much difference between the cities when it comes to taste, and that designers are equally strong.

Misha Lakhani

Misha feels the cities provide a great mix. “It’s impossible to generalise because you’re comparing mammoth-sized cities, not villages,” she says.

The designer, whose drapes and sophisticated pieces were a runway hit, believes that cities cannot really define the variations in taste. “I think it comes down to personality type and lifestyle more than city.”

The tale of two different cities

Some experienced designers clearly identified the distinction between the city of lights and the city of culture and heritage.

Zahir Rahimtoola

“It is ‘different strokes for different folks’” says CEO of the multi-designer store Labels. “Karachi being a metropolitan city has a big mix in clothing sensibilities. Having said this, Karachi women tend to go for less ornate clothing relying more on the fit of their garment and their total look.”

More or less drama?

It is often said that Lahori designers play up the drama and enjoy making a statement, while the Karachi fashionistas are criticised for being understated and bland. Shehla Chatoor and HSY give us their verdicts below:

Shehla Chatoor

The Karachi-based designer, who is known for her luxury prêt wear, says “I do not believe in a lot of drama. The outfits and accessories are more important. I feel the biggest difference is that Lahore is more opulent and colourful and Karachi is more subdued. They also differ in the way the outfits are embellished.”

Maheen Karim

“There is no Lahore and Karachi divide when it comes to design,” says Maheen, adding that both cities have talented Western and Eastern wear designers. “Karachi may want less embroidery but it’s more willing to experiment. But I have recently seen that huge change in Lahoris, who enjoy a more universal silhouette.”

Khadija Shah

Elan’s Khadijah Shah feels that Lahore-based designers have a more classic and traditional take on fashion. “They go to great depths to add detail to their creations but are a little less experimental with regard to silhouettes,” she says. “Karachi is more of a cosmopolitan city and allows designers the opportunity to be more avant-garde with their approach, especially in terms of cuts and silhouettes.”

The brain behind Elan’s success adds, “I do feel that people from Karachi are more comfortable baring skin whereas Lahoris tend to be a bit more conservative.”

HSY

The internationally-acclaimed designer, who is known for drama-packed finales at fashion weeks, kept it safe. “Every designer has a different fan following. Some designers are known for their over-the-top statements and unusual theatrics while others are well-known to bring in the crowd and put an amazing show.”

Our verdict

• With its rich culture and deep-rooted heritage, Lahori fashion remains traditional to the core whereas Karachi is heavily influenced from the minimalism of the West.
• Karachi’s aesthetics revolve around innovative cuts and Lahore has a tendency to rely more on embellishments for pizzazz.
• The difference, ultimately, fades when it comes to socialite fashion: the fashion-savvy are always willing to experiment, be it Karachi, Lahore or Timbuktu!

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.                    

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At a time when Indian society struggles to find ways to clamp down on rape, Shobhaa Dé’s new book Sethji opens with this crime. Sethji’s youngest son Suraj has raped a young girl. The wily old man finds a way to make Suraj disappear and his daughter-in-law Amrita deftly handles the media.

We are thus introduced to Sethji and his family that has been living in Delhi after gaining a political foothold in Uttar Pradesh. Sethji is the patriarch and everyone else is a dog. We first meet him near naked in all his oiled corpulence on the massage table. His wife Leelaji is dead. His two grownup sons Srichand and Suraj are worth less than the soles of Sethiji’s white rexine sandals and it is only the ravishing daughter-in-law Amrita in the low-cut choli who merits attention. In fact, too much attention. As it turns out, Sethji has more than a roving eye.

Dé does complete justice to her signature style of peppering the plots with chaska and masala. While the immediate disaster is averted, Sethji and Amrita are kidnapped in the aftermath of the rape and what unfolds is their fight to freedom. This drives the plot’s suspense that is laced with romance (plenty of salty language) and a power struggle. The uncompromising, ziddi (stubborn) relationship between the daughter-in-law and the father-in-law keeps the pages turning right to the end with other minor characters often popping in and out of the pages.

Pakistani readers, who already love Dé for gracing the Karachi Literature Festival, will perhaps find it refreshing to read the Hindi/Urdu words worked into the dialogue that make the story all the more real. “You know how women are — all women, no exceptions, not even you,” Sethji comforts Amrita. “They see a powerful, good-looking man and they have only one thought in their heads — how to phasao him.”

As with all her books, we sometimes wonder how much they are based on real life. While at the Karachi Literature Festival in 2012, she gave her adoring audience a sneak peak into what we now know was the book Sethji she was writing at the time: “It is about an oily, sleazy, despicable politician in Delhi,” she said. “I want my future novels to be even raunchier than the old ones.”

Three picks on power, patriarchs and pushing back

1.  My Feudal Lord (1996)

By Tehmina Durrani

When it hit the literary scene everyone read it in Pakistan. We loved it because a beautiful, well-pedigreed and intelligent woman had decided to head butt the male order. This is the story of Durrani’s 14-year marriage to Mustafa Khar until she filed for divorce. A must-read for any woman trying to maintain a glamorous façade in an abusive relationship. Available at Liberty Books, Readings and Saeed Book Bank for about Rs545

2.  Mafia Queens of Mumbai (2012)

By S Hussain Zaidi

Only a crime reporter of Zaidi’s talents could have brought us possibly the most exciting look at the women of Mumbai’s underworld who are uniquely placed to run drug networks. They slip in and out unnoticed in burqas but don’t be fooled, they are just as ruthless. Available for Rs676 at Liberty Books.

3.  Daddy-Long-Legs (1912)

By Jean Webster

A young orphan’s life is changed when an anonymous benefactor offers to pay for her college provided she writes him letters — which he will not reply to. All she saw of him was his shadow, which was long, leading to the nickname she uses for her correspondence. Daddy-Long-Legs, which has since grown to become a classic, is the story of how she wins him over. Available free on Project Gutenberg

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, May 19^th, 2013.

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“I find there are a lot of extreme limitations as far as teaching music is concerned; there is no middle ground for experimentation,” says Riaz, admitting that he learnt how to play the piano and was classically trained at the age of six. “When I first picked up the guitar at the age of 16, I would find stuff on YouTube. And later, I would pick up stuff from the internet [other websites] also.” He’s also very proud of the use of body percussion in his short film Ruckus.

Before the performance began, Riaz spoke a little about his musical family background. He is proud to be related to renowned Broadway performer Zia Mohyuddin and says music, basically runs in the blood line.

He also spoke about the numerous appearances he has made globally also and admits Ted Talk, which was held in Edinburgh, was “the most gratifying experience of them all.” He was also part of the team One Beat, which was a project sponsored by the US State Department. “Both were very different yet inspiring events. It was a broad experience for me altogether,” he adds.”

As the musical evening finally began, he performed on a couple of his own compositions such as Firefly, Shimmer, Bone Shaker, The Waves – which he played on the piano instead of the guitar and turned out to be a soothing and memorable performance – as well as on others such as Led Zeppelin’s Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and Preston Reed’s Ladies Night. The audience was spellbound and the silence broke into applause when it was over.

“I’ve seen him for the past three years and he used to be a complete introvert. How he just comes out and emerges as this great talent is amazing,” says Karen Zeb, who sat in the audience. “I believe that music can heal. His work touched a chord and paved the way for so much more to emerge,” says another fan Talha Iqbal.

He then screened a few minutes of his short film, The Waves, which will be released in June this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Best TV Play (Satellite)

Nominations for the Best TV Play are Humsafar (Hum TV), Maat (Hum TV), Manjali (Geo Entertainment), Mera Yaqeen (ARY Digital) and Shehr-e-Zaat (Hum TV).

All these plays kept the audience glued to their TV screen for weeks. But an obvious win seems to be Humsafar which won the hearts of all age groups. Maat and Shehr-e-Zaat also had deep and close-to-reality stories, so it’ll be a close call for sure.

Best TV Actress (Satellite)

Nominations in this category are Hina Dilpazeer for Qudusi Sahab Ki Bewa (ARY Digital), Mahira Khan for Humsafar (Hum TV), Mahvish Hayat for Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (Hum TV), Saba Hameed for Manjali (Geo Entertainment) and Saba Qamar for Maat (Hum TV).

These five ladies have performed their roles well but Saba Qamar and Mahvish Khan stand out for sure — only after the splendid Hina Dilpazeer who has shown versatility and skill like no other. Saba played the role of a spoiled girl who always gets what she wants. But in the end, she faces maat. Mahvish, on the other hand, plays a suppressed housewife who gets tortured by her in-laws.

Best TV Actor (Satellite)   

Nominations for the Best TV Actor are Adnan Siddiqui for Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (Hum TV), Faisal Qureshi for Jahez (Geo Entertainment), Fawad Khan for Humsafar (Hum TV), Imran Aslam for Sanjha (Hum TV) and Shahood Alvi for Mere Huzoor (Express Entertainment).

Needless to say Fawad has his face in every woman’s heart. But it’s not just his good looks, he has proven his acting prowess as well. Adnan played a different kind of villain (a creepy one) and he deserves appreciation too.

Best TV Director   

Nominations in this category are Amna Nawaz for Maat (Hum TV), Hassam Hussain for Durr-e Shahwar (Hum TV), Kashif Nisar for Mein (PTV), Nadeem Baig for Manjali (Geo Entertainment) and Sarmad Khoosat for Humsafar (Hum TV).

Khoosat has a massive fan following so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he took home the trophy. Amna might also steal the win as Maat was quite captivating too.

Best TV Writer

Nominations for the Best TV Writer are Amna Mufti for Jahez (Geo Entertainment), Faiza Iftikhar for Bilquis Kaur (Hum TV), Khalil-ur-Rehman for Manjali (Geo Entertainment), Seema Munaf for Tilafi (PTV) and Umera Ahmed for Maat (Hum TV).

Umera could easily win this as she allowed the audience to relate to a story which is very close-to-reality. It shows how one sister tries to steal the other sister’s happiness but in the end, she is left with nothing. It teaches the importance of what goes around, comes around.

Best TV Play (Terrestrial) 

Nominations in this category are Mein (PTV), Mein Muhabbat aur Tum (A Plus), Paayal (PTV), Qeemat (A Plus) and Tilafi (PTV).

Best TV Actress (Terrestrial)

Nominations in this category are Beenish Chohan for Chalo Phir Se Jee Ke Dekhen (PTV), Fiza Ali for Love, Life aur Lahore (A Plus), Mahnoor Baloch for Tilafi (PTV), Mahvish Hayat for Mein (PTV) and Resham for Ek Yaad Hai (A Plus).

Best TV Actor (Terrestrial)  

Nominations in this category are Babar Ali for Mein (PTV), Kashif Mehmood for Love, Life aur Lahore (A Plus), Nauman Ejaz for Qeemat (A Plus) and Saleem Shaikh for Anokha Ladla II (PTV).

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.                    

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It’s official. Amir Adnan has his feet in two ships. What’s unclear is whether he will juggle the two competing parties or pick one over the other. The designer’s colleagues reveal that he hasn’t officially resigned from FPC — everyone is in a state of turmoil. What is going on?

“I am a part of this industry and I know the business of fashion. So why can’t I support both councils?” asks Adnan defensively. “FPC and PFDC are two separate entities and are not competing against one another.” It’s essential that he leaves one party before joining the other, but Adnan remains a little clueless to the notion. “I don’t know the exact date of when the FPC post [currently holds] expires, but it should be round about the same time I take charge of the new one.”

Adnan reveals that no official paperwork has been done regarding his new position at PFDC. “Yes, I have become a board member at PFDC but for now, it’s all verbal. I haven’t been offered a designation [specifically],” he explains the current scenario. “Nothing is official until and unless they elect me into becoming a board member.”

CEO of PFDC Saad Ali shed some light on the subject. “I am not supposed to disclose anything about it yet but yes, Amir Adnan has signed the entry form and is a now corporate board member at PFDC,” he reveals, adding, “I am sure he has resigned from his post [at FPC]. It’s official that he is a member of PFDC now.”

There are two very interesting sides to this story. Chairperson FPC Shamaeel Ansari shares another set of facts starting with the most significant one: Adnan hasn’t resigned from FPC nor has he informed them. “As a professional, he should have informed one council of his decision and then joined the other; and it should have been in that exact order,” she says. “We can’t dictate [our opinions] on anyone. But I thought he was professional and that he would take the professional path.”

She further elaborates on the formal process of resignation, which she feels Adnan should have followed. “FPC is a registered company under Section 42 and any board member who wants to resign, has to go through a process of signing [specific] papers and needs to submit them to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan [SECP],” she says.

Legal expert Zara Siddiqui talks about the implications. “There are two primary things which need to be taken into account. One, you cannot create a monopoly and second, this practice [of holding two positions simultaneously] is unethical,” she says. “Since these are two competing bodies, Adnan needs to understand that he has to step down from one.” She feels there are certain confidentiality and non-disclosure issues which both councils maintain and thus, “It’s unfair as these issues will get juxtaposed in the open.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

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KARACHI: Sit back, enjoy your pedicure, and while a salon girl files your nails, savour some Hyderabadi delights. On your way out after a day of pampering, pick something you like from a range of ajraks placed on racks.

If this sounds tempting, you’ll be glad to know that entrepreneur Saeeda Effendi is offering all of it under one roof — Nano’s Hangout located at Tauheed Commercial area in Phase V. Nano’s Hangout, which was previously just a food catering company dealing with fresh and frozen Hyderabadi cuisine, now incorporates three of Effendi’s businesses — salon, food, clothing — together.

The manicure and pedicure offered at the salon are priced at Rs450 and Rs550, respectively. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

When asked why she named the place Nano’s Hangout, Effendi had a story to tell. “This is where my mother used to live. My children, who call her nano, used to come visit her. Now my grandchildren come to this place, too and it has become their ‘nano’s hangout’ too,” she explains.

Effendi opened up her first salon in 1975 at the Intercontinental Hotel (now Pearl Continental Hotel), a venture in which she partnered up with her close friend Azra Hasan. However, later on, due to her husband’s reservations about her business, Effendi had to quit altogether.

When asked how she feels about returning to the trade years later, she says, “I love it and I am enjoying it once again. Now that I have three businesses operating under one roof, it is very easy for me,” says Effendi, adding that she is very concerned about quality and managing the businesses together makes the check and balance easy for her.

The manicure and pedicure offered at the salon are priced at Rs450 and Rs550, respectively. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The salon offers hair-cutting, colouring and styling along with skin services including facials, massages and party make-up. Nano’s Hangout, which opens at 10:30am and closes its doors at 7:30pm, offers reasonable services. Their manicure is priced at Rs450, pedicure at Rs550 and party make-up at Rs5,000. Most salons in DHA Phase V offer a manicure for Rs800 with a pedicure for Rs1,000.

Effendi, who seemed very excited about the venture, says she wants clients to drop by at the salon to unwind after a long, tiring day at work. “I am ready to welcome my friends here [at the salon]. I want them to enjoy and feel light after the day has ended.”

One of Effendi’s friends, Sara Munir, got a haircut done similar to one Effendi gave her at her previous salon years back. “I loved the cut she [Effendi] gave me at her previous salon. I am reliving the same feeling I felt back then; it’s like déjà vu,” says Munir.

Another of Effendi’s friends, Ayesha Durrani, says that she invited her daughter-in-law’s mother to the salon, too, so she can enjoy herself and have a good time.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.                    

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Her bridal collection was all about net, satin and jamawar with safe blues, greys, reds and cream coloured fabrics. The heavily-embellished outfits portrayed a regal touch while keeping the traditional look intact and that’s probably what kept the audience spellbound.

“The design philosophy behind the brand [Teena] is to provide trendy, stylish, ready-to-wear clothes for the modern day Pakistani woman at affordable prices,” says Butt, who is a business graduate from LUMS. “I knew from day one that I would pursue this business and hence, I came up with my own fashion label.” Teena is a nickname her close ones have given her and it means inspiring people.

“I love to dress up — everyone around me always gets inspired by what I wear,” she adds in a chirpy tone.

Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s style and cuts inspire Butt deeply. “Saab’s unique fusion of Western and Eastern cultures inspires me a lot. His cuts and embellishments impart an elegant yet royal feel to the garment,” she explains, adding that she follows the International Trend Forecast and tries to incorporate ideas and designs into her own collections.

“A major chunk of our target market for prêt wear and semi-formals include working women,” she continues, adding that the label also caters to the upper-middle and elite classes in formals and bridals. “Our semi-formal range is selling like hot cakes and for the summer, we’ve introduced our casual prêt collection which has received a very positive response.”

Hina Butt’s PBCW debut

This year marked Butt’s entrance into PBCW as she successfully did her first show. “The response I received was commendable. I wasn’t expecting this from the Karachi crowd considering this was my first bridal show here,” she says. “Apart from the appreciation, my experience at PBCW was also very good.”

“One thing however, which I feel people should always keep in mind when dressing up brides is that no matter what the silhouette is, it’s all about grandeur,” she advises other designers and soon-to-be brides. “A floor-touching silhouette with a trail and a flared hem has always looked grand.” She feels it’s important to weigh out the option of how the bride looks when seated and not just when she walks. “In our culture, brides are seated for most of the time during the ceremony.”

Butt will be showcasing her designs in London at the Pakistan Fashion Extravaganza London 2013 in June, at Association of Physicians of Pakistan Descent of North America (APPNA) Annual Summer Convention 2013 in the US in July and at PBCW again in October later this year. “Our focus this year is to expand the business internationally,” she admits.

Teena is currently stocked at 12 different locations in Pakistan including L’atelier in Islamabad, FPL (Fashion Pakistan Lounge) and PFDC (Pakistan Fashion Design Council) in Lahore and Karachi along with other places and four outlets internationally — three in London and one at Bossini in the US.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2013.                    

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