Islamabad Fashion ‘weak’ fails to impress

The event sorely lacked substance, not to mention a gruelling time table that further exacerbated the situation.

ISLAMABAD: To say that day one of the much touted fashion ‘trade’ event Islamabad Fashion Week was a mind-numbing experience would be a gross understatement.

It seemed to have all the vitals in check at its commencement: a proper website with concise information on the participants, sponsors, media and the event schedules; the right connections with the government, important business corporations and an interesting mix of foreign participation like the World Fashion Organisation from Italy and Cosmoworld from The Netherlands.

Yet what the event sorely lacked was substance, not to mention a gruelling time table that further exacerbated the situation. To show one crass fashion presentation after another from noon till evening made for a very unpleasant experience for the handful of onlookers who attended the event. “We want to see something new, something we will not get to see in other parts of the world,” bemoaned the international press.

Although the event promised to bring forth fresh ‘talent’, all it did was showcase those who have none. It was a slapdash high school presentation, replete with hoots and whistles, with amateur models. Interestingly it was the female models that were off mark, the male models on the contrary were fantastic but came out in the last segment of the night in Ammar Belal’s couture show.

From the design element of the morning ‘pret’ shows, it would appear to onlookers that women in Pakistan wear lingerie as clothing. With 30 years of design experience the first show of the day by Deeba and Zoe attempted a collection in inferior quality of satin and lace that fluctuated heavily between an Elan toga and Muse minimalism in a distorted manner.

Shehzad Nawaz and Sumaira followed next with a coherent but monotonous collection in chiffons that aped the Ayesha Farooq Hashwani aesthetic of cocktail dresses encrusted with a central embellished motif. Envogue’s showcase was no less inventive employing curtain details and frills onto a range of badly cut and poorly structured clothes.

A series of such awful presentations that do not represent the design community in Pakistan made for a shameful start of an event that had massive potential to showcase real fashion talent to international attendees that hold influence in global fashion arenas.

Shafak Habib presented her Cleopatra inspired jewellery line, a regurgitated collection from her showing at Bridal Couture Week. One can’t expect jewellery designers to churn out such expensive pieces of art at the drop of a hat, but one can surely improvise on a more creative and different presentation. The ensembles, also used from BCW, stripped the raw aura of luxury and grace that the jewellery exuded. The saving grace as expected was Ammar Belal. The fashion maverick salvaged the evening in his characteristic imaginative manner.

In his “Corporate Resort Collection”, Belal showcased his brand’s strength of designing impeccable stylish clothes for the ‘dandy’ in all men. Although he played it safe, he spelled out his creativity in designing for men who are not yet completely ready to push their boundaries for fashion but still desire to make a statement through drain pipes, checks and stripes.

With Elvis Presley in the background and models dancing onto the stage, the entire ramp exploded in activity and song. A clever artiste, Belal juxtaposed the 1970s rock and roll culture with a few futuristic pieces in his monochromatic line for women that were accentuated with that feminine burst of scarlet in true Hollywood style, to show the direction that his brand was taking at present for the future.

His structured dresses, pleated pants, shirts and blazers for the corporate power woman were a great statement in androgyny without compromising on femininity and sexuality.

And when there is talk of sex appeal nobody does it better than gorgeous 1980s model Alia Zaidi who flew down from Hong Kong for Belal’s finale piece.

As she sashayed down the ramp with her classic oomph, Belal tied his brand together seamlessly: imaginative, fun and downright sexy.

This was a Pakistan that we wanted to show to the world for a softer global image; a Pakistan that can be sexy and cool without being raunchy and vulgar.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2011.