Rising talent: New kid on the block

Designer Hira Ali showcases PSFW collection, ready-to-wear line at Fashion Active

LAHORE: The Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) launched their Fashion Active (TPFA) exhibition space earlier this year during PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week (PSFW). Since its launch, it has held fashion presentations for Morri, Sonia Azhar, Zonia Anwaar, Jahanara as well as Tehmina Durrani’s fashion collection inspired from her book Happy things in sorrow times. The latest to showcase at TPFA was PFDC Bank Alfalah rising talent designer, Hira Ali.

A graduate of Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, Ali built on her thesis collection to put forward a collection at PSFW ‘16. As part of this year’s Rising Talent platform, the designer got the chance to exhibit her designs.

Her PSFW collection ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ was inspired by the literary tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — a fun, youthful collection with a sports luxe feel. Although the designer did not win the rising talent slot this year, her collection was noticed by fashion enthusiasts.



Ali, who currently works as head designer for western wear at Élan, expanded on her PSFW collection for her ready-to-wear line at TFAP.  About her inspiration Ali says, “I didn’t take inspiration from the animation of the film. I looked into the literature and imagined it in my own colours and expanded on the way I perceive it. The colour references are how I imagine them to be — what I felt would go with the mood of the story and that became my mood board.” She adds, “The appearance and disappearance of the Cheshire Cat, Alice growing big and small in size and how curiosity builds throughout, making sense out of nonsense.” The ready-to-wear pieces had different materials, mostly in organza and silks to make them more formal as opposed to her ramp collection which was primarily in cotton.

Her designs incorporated 3D and fabric manipulation techniques using plastic wires cut in different sizes, beads and even polythene balls. She also took screen printed fabric cut-outs and used them as applique on her tops. Additionally, Ali displayed a pair of sneakers from her collection that had plastic wires like her apparel.

Following the popularity of sneakers at PSFW, Ali hopes to create a shoe line as well, “I want to design a line with flats, heels, sneakers and experiment with unconventional elements.” As for clothes, Ali’s design aesthetic is reflective in her personal style — androgynous, minimal with clean lines. The new-fangled designer has an interesting aesthetic and is definitely one to watch out for.

Designers next up for showcasing at TFAP are Sabeen Salam, Mashaal Moazam, Neehar by Zara and Sundus, Amna Farhan and Syeda Amera.

Fashion Active

Physically, the space is an expansive rectangular room located on the first floor of Mall One, where PFDC also houses a retail store on the ground floor. With a proper fashion viewing format, PFDC also hopes to mentor and add value to the showcases that take place in the premises. Industry heavyweights Kamiar Rokni, Maheen Kardar Ali, Maria B, Zara Shahjahan, Ali Xeeshan, Fahad Hussayn, Sara Shahid, Yahsir Waheed and Saira Shakira have all been roped in to advise designers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2016.

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