FPW Day Two: A wild but wise fashion extravaganza

KARACHI: The second night took a toll on the first, with more movement, magic and a better designer line-up. It pulled off seven showcases and the ramp was all about performances, funk and making a statement. Although most designers managed to convey the intention behind the fun they brought to the runway, it seems that others simply did what they could for the sake of it, appearing unorganised and unprepared.

There were certainly more colours this time around and it is safe to say that the most impressionable collections came from a man inspired by Italian mafias, a woman who interweaved fashion with the Kalash community, and of course, a designer who upcycled and closed the show. From floral motifs to geometry, checks and polka dots invigorated with art to streetwear and finishing off with borrowed and renewed material, here is what the versatile Thursday was all about.

Stella Jean
Collection: Laboratorio Delle Nazioni

 PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

The Haitian-Italian designer, considered to be Giorgio Armani's protégé, opened the show with her collection forming a Pak-Italian bridge, which featured the multicultural collaboration with local artisans from the Kalash valley, Gilgit and Hunza.

Her line was a successful cultural fusion featuring an excessive usage of blue, orange, white and red. Geometric designs and hand-embroidered floral motifs dominated the collection. The offerings were not quite winter-friendly given the choice of fabric but were refreshing to look at. The A-line outfits took on the approach of comfort in fashion. Other articles of interest included handmade shoes, ribbon-wrapped braids and cricket leg pads, providing for a sporty and appeasing outlook. Truck art was also inculcated along with hand painted brogues. Karishma Ali walked out with designer Stella Jean for the final bow.

Humayun Alamgir
Collection: Style Mara Tou Darna Kya



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

Next in line was a designer curated the most entertaining walk of the night with his unusual collection. Inspired by European kings and Italian mafias, everything about the showcase was oomph and impressive. Resonating with a bold and fearless attitude, following the ethos of, ‘These men shall be who they want to be’, the ensembles featured dark tones on velvet suits with silk inners and golden motifs on the back.



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

Tints of grey were also seen with checkered lines and bow ties as the fabric progressed to wool and fur. As confusing it may sound, the line was a representation of ‘the elite’ as male models strutted on the ramp donning oversized coats and full-length boots. The ‘dapper boys’ Shehzad Sheikh, Agha Ali, Fahad Mirza, Ali Safina, Asad Siddiqui and Muneeb Butt closed the show.

The Pink Tree Company
Collection: Color in Technicolor



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

In the realm of fashion, runway fads often bleed onto television but we don’t usually see trends being inspired by the small or big screen. Mohsin Sayeed paid homage to old films and technical colours through his new winter collection. It featured contrasting and vivacious hues, embellished in gold zardozi, commemorating the visual gala of colour, in collaboration with Ali Javeri’s Jewellers.

However, regardless of an exemplary colour palette, the impression quickly faded when the cuts and embroidery failed to bring anything new to the ramp, following the same old anarkali renditions, which may have worked if fused with something indigenous. Nevertheless, the last ensemble was of particular interest, with showstopper Navin Waqar donning opposing colours remarkably put together with gota work and gold embroidery, making it unusually attractive.

Zuria Dor
Collection: Centre of Gravity



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

This designer aimed to represent the strength of women, connecting it to the force of gravity as a powerful field of attraction which cannot be resisted or denied. The collection focused on pure fabrics handcrafted with delicate and edgy patterns, featuring floral and geometrical designs. However, although each attire was crafted with precision, the collection’s formal wear failed to make an impression with what seemed to be a monotonous array of colours and styles.

The designer seemed to have experimented with blues and whites adding tints of pink and sea green every now and then. There were a few interesting articles with transparent strips and floral pockets but majority of the ensembles left one feeling empty and incomplete. Things were rather interesting in terms of her bridalwear, given the lehengas with pockets and intricately embroidered blouses with the perfect mix of pastels and vibrant colours. A dark green sari made out of luxe velvet with silver embroidery left the audience speechless.

Zellbury
Collection: Shahi Rendezvous



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

This was by far the funkiest but the least impressive collection of the night, regardless of its aim to represent the 21^st century flora and fauna of Mughal art. Its emphasis on inclusivity and independent women wearing bright colours and loose cuts featuring different types of drapery ended up seeming all over the place.

Oversized flowy outfits, incorporating checkered patterns, polka dots and peacock-inspired colour tones, along with motifs and embroidery reminiscent of the Mughal era seemed too much to take. Hina Altaf closed the show for the brand with a series of dance moves. However, her outfit looked enormously inflated on her, even if it appeared to be comfortable. It would not qualify as a winter wear preference.

Splash
Collection: Streetwear



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

Moving on to the second last showcase, Splash opened with what seemed like just another performance as the entire crew graced the ramp in spray painted T-shirts. The brand represented a funky and colourful take on streetwear. The collection featured modern cuts and styles, showcasing bold and vibrant colours, with excessive use of denim and accessories.

This was another line of wear which used geometric shapes, lines and checks paired with colourful earrings, shoes and jackets. The entire show was filled with energy, similar to the sporty attitude of a young individual, finally getting to express without care.

Maheen Khan
Collection: Something old, something new…



PHOTOS COURTESY: Dragonfly/Faisal Farooqui

To blow the final trumpet, the most minimal collection of the show defied all odds against creating from the old and mesmerising with the borrowed. Maheen Khan closed the night with her collection ‘Something old something new something borrowed something not so blue’, which in itself reflected the orthodox she transcribed into fashion.
Featuring bold colours, the display was a collaborative effort with Indoi and Sundus Talpur – a sculptor and jeweller. It showed various and vibrant colours of silk fused together into flowy layers and modern cuts, adding up to completely new attire altogether. The colours changed their shades, turning darker as the collection progressed to a closing, however, slight neon shun across the runway with various forms of draping and folding which made for a successful culmination of a showcase, with Areeba Habib as the showstopper in one of Maheen’s most successful collections.

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