Anoushey Ashraf, Frieha Altaf, others mourn designer Nickie Nazir's passing

In heartbreaking news shared by insiders within the realm of fashion, designer Aliya 'Nickie' Nazir, from the Nickie Nina duo, has passed away. Her untimely passing marks a profound loss for the fashion industry, as she was not only a talented designer but also a visionary who played a pivotal role in empowering women in the field.

Editor and publisher Raheel Rao shared a picture of Aliya on his Instagram with the caption, "I woke up this morning to the heartbreaking news of the passing of my dear old friend, Nickie Nazir. Nickie was not only warm and gracious but also an extraordinary friend to have. The memories we shared together are invaluable, and the void left by their absence will be deeply felt. Nickie, your presence will be dearly missed, and the impact you made on our lives will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, dear friend."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Raheel Rao (@rahealrao)

PR maven Frieha Altaf took to Instagram to share the news as well. "The heart breaks. The heart aches. Dear Nickie, may you rest in peace." Frieha accompanied the text with some images from their trip to Chitral, Mastuj, and Shandur, penning, "Remembering your fear of heights as you braved the roads up to the Hindukush. Sending love to your family, this is too tragic."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Frieha Altaf (@friehaaltaf)

Others within the industry are also paying their respects to their beloved friend. Host Anoushey Ashraf took to her Insta Stories to state, "Rest in peace beautiful Nickie. Today, I choose to celebrate your short but wholesome life. You lived so much more than so many. Forever in our hearts. Smiling, humorous and beautiful. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. Wrapped in His eternal love and endless bounty, you're home."

The entertainment and fashion industry came together to offer condolences under Raheel's post as well. Actors such as Sami Khan, Zhalay Sarhadi, and Areeba Habib prayed for the departed, while notable names within the fashion industry also poured in messages of love and support. Model Mushk Kaleem commented, “Oh no! This is so incredibly sad. May her soul rest in peace.” Sajal Aly, in disbelief, too sent prayers for Nickie and her family.

Fashion stylist Tabish Khoja, also known as Khoji, took to the photo-sharing app to mourn the loss. “Uff so sad… You will be missed, you beautiful soul,” he wrote.

Singer-actor Hadiqa Kiani, who had previously worked with the brand, also sent her prayers for teh deceased soul. “Praying for Nickie Nazir. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un,” she wrote, while sharing a picture from 2016 when she did a fashion show for the brand. “I was sent this photo from years ago when I walked for the brand, both Nickie and Nina were so kind and warm. A tragic loss indeed,” she concluded. 

Actor Ushna Shah posted a picture with Nickie on her Stories and expressed her sadness. “Deeply saddened by the news of Nickie's untimely passing. Praying for her maghfirat and for the sabr of her family during this difficult time. This is truly heartbreaking, gone far too soon, unable to grasp this still. Inalilahe waina elerajiun - She was wonderful,” she captioned the post. 

Nabila Junaid (Nina), Nickie’s sister and “partner in crime and work”, in an old interview with The Express Tribune spoke about how close the sister duo were. “I can’t live without my sister because I take her advice in almost everything,” Nina had said, while Nickie called her a “confidante and a best friend.” Upon being asked whether the sibling duo share similar personality traits, Nina said, “We are very different and yet similar in so many ways. Apart from being a great fashion designer, she’s surprisingly a great cook – something a lot of people do not know. She’s beautiful, graceful and wise.”

Nickie, on the other hand, shared that they were excellent hosts - a skill they picked from their mom. “We are often told that our hospitality skills are very similar; we definitely took that from our ami!” she had said.

Nickie Nina is a renowned fashion house in Pakistan, known for its exquisite couture designs and innovative creations. In a collaboration between Aliya and Nabila (Nina), the duo built a prestigious brand that gained international recognition. Nickie Nina played a significant role in shaping the fashion industry in Pakistan. As one of the first female designer duos in the country, the duo broke barriers and opened doors for other women designers to thrive in a predominantly male-dominated industry.

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