The notepad: Umar Sayeed

One of the most prestigious names in Pakistani fashion, Umar Sayeed jots down the designers, models, experiences, and garments that have inspired him since the early years of his career

Bunto Kazmi



When I was growing up, there were only a handful of designers, and Bunto Kazmi was one of them. She is definitely one of my favourites. I especially like her detailed embroidery.

Maison Valentino



Internationally, he is one of my favourite designers. I love his cuts. As a designer, I am very particular about cuts and tailoring myself, and I appreciate Valentino’s fine craftsmanship. I also love how his persona is so larger-than-life.

Models



I have been in this industry for many years now, and at different times, different models or personalities have inspired me. With certain people, when I dress them in my creations, I truly feel like they have done justice to my clothes. For me, Vaneeza Ahmed was one such model, and even now, if she was still working or whatever the occasion may be, I would love to dress her. Resham, Iffat and Iman are some more women who I think carry themselves really well and I love dressing them also.

Karl Lagerfeld



I love his personality and his courage. I have been following him for years, and even at this age, he comes up with such innovative ideas. He truly keeps the zest for life alive! Even something like thinking of new ways to photograph his ads, like he did for Chanel, is just amazing. Everything he does, he does so beautifully.

Rohit Bal



In the subcontinent Rohit Bal is my favourite because he is timeless, classic and doesn’t compromise on quality at all. Today I feel there is a craze for prêt and lawn, which has made quality suffer a lot. However, Rohit Bal never compromises on quality, which is also what I try to do. I never compromise on quality, craftsmanship or my values. People might call me boring, and they may also call Rohit Bal boring, but this is the school of thought that I come from.

TeeJays



This story dates back to when I was in 8th or 9th grade but humare demag kharab the bachpan se! When TeeJays opened, we went absolutely mad. If I recall correctly, in those days the designer had just come out with grey cargo trousers, and I absolutely fell in love. I loved them so much that I used to go to Tariq Road and order them again and again. That was the first pair of designer garment that I ever purchased.