Celebrated designer Osman Yousefzada displayed both these trends beautiful for his Spring Summer 2011 collection.
Yousefzada’s collection, which was a personal favourite, featured dramatic clean cuts with symmetrical hemlines to add that little bit of edge. His collection was infused with neon colours which transported the viewer into a bright summer. He used his architectural sensibility to showcase a collection that embodies a breezy simplicity.
He used woven fabrics and soft patent leather to create a fine balance of textures and shapes. Organic denim is Yousefzada’s key wardrobe staple for Spring/Summer 2011.
His strongest pieces which are set to be a definite must-buy for all women for the next season will be his meticulously cut navy flared trousers. His unique separates were complemented by his choice of colours for his runway collection. Citrusy yellow, apple green and honeysuckle pink are set to breathe life into our wardrobes next season.
Iman’s Dos:
•Buy versatile basics
•Stick to clean lines
•Add a touch of neon to your wardrobe
•Buy organic denim pieces
Iman’s Don’ts:
•Don’t buy every shade of neon
•Wear complicated cuts
•Wear denim from head to toe
Exclusive: Iman Pasha talks to Osman Yousefzada about his spring/summer 2011 collection
What for you is the spring/summer 2011 collection about and what are your inspirations for this collection?
The new collection is all about embracing a new confidence in dressing – easy, wearable pieces which can be put on without too much thought yet still make an impact. I wanted to build on my signature architectural sensibilities while letting each piece speak for it.
Long hemlines have also dominated at New York Fashion Week; even though you’ve said you don’t follow trends, is there a return to the long hemline after a year of Lady Gaga-inspired hot pants?
Longer hemlines feel a lot more contemporary than shorter silhouettes that have dominated catwalks over the last few seasons. Many of my designs lend themselves to a longer line and the collections have always been about a more demure and grown up look.
What was the inspiration behind the splashes of sorbet colours … the bright green, the pink-on a black dress, the lemon yellow?
Colour is a key message in the Spring/Summer 2011 collection and I like how the sherbet shades complement the neutral palette of tan, beige, navy and white that feature.
Whose idea was it to give models facials 15 minutes before the show started?
Suqqu, the make-up sponsors for the show decided it would be a good idea.
You worked with your mother (who was a dressmaker and had her own business) in your youth. How did that experience help you for the fashion industry?
My mother is the perfect example of perseverance and grace. As she was a dressmaker with a designer for a son, you might expect there to be some competition between us but she is always encouraging me and offering advice. She will make suggestions about my minimalist approach which I always welcome but more than that, she appreciates and has respect for the clean lines of my collections.
Do you feel a pressure of sorts to venture into ethnic wear or explore ethnic roots because of your heritage? Is that something you feel designers from multicultural backgrounds face?
I feel that my collections are internationally driven, rather than limited to one particular culture.
How much does it help the brand to have celebrities wearing your designs? Is there a celebrity you’d like to design for?
It’s always helpful to have beautiful women wearing your clothes. I would love to design for Queen Rania of Jordan.
You were in Pakistan a short while ago and were introduced to a number of designers etc. What do you make of the country’s fledgling industry? Would you be up for showing at one of the several fashion weeks in Pakistan?
I’d love to show in Pakistan. It’s a country that has lots of energy. It’s a nascent industry in the ready-to-wear market as most of the culture is based around couture and made-to-measure designs.
You’re working with high-street store John Lewis and you’ve worked with Mango in 2008. How important is it for designers to work with retail brands and is there a brand you wish you could design for?
It’s incredibly important as it’s a way of getting your name out there and engaging with a wider audience. In the case of the John Lewis collaboration, people who aspire to my designs and appreciate my ready-to-wear collection have wider access to a limited edition piece at a lower price point which can only be a good thing.
Who is the Osman woman? Tell us about the women you design for?
She is intelligent, creative, assured and thinks for herself.
Do you have a personal favourite piece from any of your collections, and from this collection?
My preferred pieces change from season to season however the sherbet green three-tiered dress from the Spring/Summer 2011 collection is a current favourite.
What is Osman’s five-year plan? Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years?
Watch this space!
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2010.
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