KFW Men’s Fashion 2015: There’s nothing like the classics

First day a fitting reminder of how men have stylistically evolved but stays true to fashion staples

KARACHI: Men’s fashion may have been on the back burner over the years but it certainly wasn’t Saturday night. Designers brought their sartorial A-game at the two-day Karachi Fashion Week (KFW) Men’s Fashion 2015 as showgoers witnessed their offerings dedicated exclusively to men. As the first day culminated with varied fashion sensibilities showcased by six designers at the grand Mohatta Palace, it seemed like a fitting reminder of how men have stylistically evolved, becoming more accepting towards changing trends. Here’s a breakdown of who showed what on day one.

Amir Adnan



Collection name: ‘Refresh’

Dapper or dull? The designer heavyweight always pushed boundaries with his collections. Once again, he didn’t disappoint and went all-out experimental. Using dark and earthy tones such as black, grey and rust for his spin on sherwanis and pairing them with maroon pants and shimmery short-length jackets, Adnan put his best foot forward. He added a hint of winter appeal to the ensembles by rounding them off with contrasting mufflers. His take on the contemporary man is classic and clean, which always shines through his aesthetics. Adnan’s line showed he’s comfortable working with both Eastern and Western silhouettes.



Maaz Jee



Collection: ‘Untitled’

Dapper or dull? Known to specialise in men’s Eastern-wear, such as sherwanis and kurtas, and using colours such as beige and dark grey, Maaz Jee showcased a well-rounded collection for the desi groom. The collection featured kora and dabka work on the sleeves and jamawar shawls. Among the particularly striking pieces was the black velvet kurta with red-coloured floral embroidery. The colour combinations were classic and svelte and had a high wearability quotient.

FnkAsia by Huma Adnan



Collection: ‘Neo Ethnic’

Dapper or dull? With a playful vibe that is signature FnkAsia, the collection comprised a variety of silhouettes. It featured vibrant shirts coupled with jackets and kolhapuri or Peshawari chappals. Known for its quirky designs and vibrant colour palette, Huma stuck to her signature aesthetics to create looks that were diverse and wearable. The brand kept its traditional feel intact and would surely rivet the attention of young boys.



Kapray



Collection: ‘Kapray Man 2015’

Dapper or dull? The looks created were both rugged and rough and featured an eclectic mix of colours in cotton fabric. The brand’s line comprised shirts in vibrant hues such as blue and purple, paired with staple tones such as black and beige. Models walked the ramp sporting cardigans and jazzed up their look with kafiyas and moccasins that upped the edgy appeal of the ensembles. Boasting the brand’s diversity, the showcase featured both Eastern- and Western-wear. Having emerged only recently, Kapray seems to be heading in the right direction and shows great promise in the realm of menswear.

Royal Tag 



Collection: ‘Winter 2015’

Dapper or dull? The brand boasted a variety of textures and materials and primarily featured casual-wear. Checkered shirts, striped cardigans or pull-overs paired with suede shoes and mufflers dominated the runway. The retail store epitomises the casual, free-spirited man of today. The line also comprised tuxedos with vests and pants and exuded the classy appeal of the 1980s.



Rizwanullah



Collection: ‘Fashion Relapse’

Dapper or dull? Termed as ‘deeply personal’ by the designer, the collection was an ode to the transition of darkness to light with the polarised colours black and white. The all-out Western collection, however, failed to impress us with its cuts and designs. The line was lacklustre and seemed like one that is readily available across menswear stores in the city. We expected much more from a designer as flamboyant as Rizwanullah but he missed the mark with this collection.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2015.

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