5 times Sonam Bajwa repped Pakistani fashion designers

The rise of social media has resulted in greater exposure for artists among different audiences across the globe. The situation is no different for fashion designers whose designs are transcending boundaries. Their craft is attracting stars across the border and garner popularity among fashion enthusiasts as well as consumers of high fashion in different parts of the world.

As women in Pakistan continue to fawn over Sabyasachi lehngas and Manish Malhotra bridals, it comes as no surprise that Indian women and Bollywood celebrities, in particular, are also starting to take note of Pakistani ateliers.

Actor Sonam Bajwa is one of the many Bollywood stars who is often spotted in Pakistani couture and designer pieces. Here are five times Sonam took our breath away while dressed head-to-toe in Pakistani designer wear.

1. Channeling Punjabi fashion with a twist in Erum Khan Couture

In keeping with her brand image as an actor who often stars in Punjabi films, Sonam Bajwa recently wore a look by Erum Khan Couture which featured a modern take on the classic Punjabi attire of a short-length kameez and flared shalwar.

The cerulean blue outfit consisted of a kameez that cut off mid-thigh and the designer switched up the silhouette by pairing it with a sharara (wide-legged culottes). Bajwa posted multiple pictures of herself in the outfit, writing “This look from Erum Khan Couture for GCC premiere was by far my most favourite look. And if you see me repeat this look in the future, don’t be surprised.”

2. Class red vibes in Muse Luxe

For one of the premieres of her most-recent film Carry on Jatta 3 (2023), Sonam opted for a signature Swarovski-crystal-and-sequin-embellished three-piece set by Pakistani fashion house Muse Luxe. Muse Luxe is renowned for its use of vibrantly coloured Swarovski crystals and sequin work against a simple canvas of rich fabric. The raw silk kameez cut in an A-line shape and stitched in a longer length was plain, save for some double crystalline straps whose crystal work extended on to the neckline. The real eye-catching elements of the outfit were the matching raw silk culotte pants with a wide border of clustered gold sequins—and the flowy organza dupatta adorned with a thick border of the same clustered sequins, a heavy spray of sequins throughout, and a large flower motif made of blue Swarovski crystals.

3. The girl next door in Zara Shahjahan

While promoting her film Jind Mahi (2022), opted for a more casual and non-couture look by Zara Shahjahan. Zara is considered one of the pioneers of designer lawn in Pakistan and has accumulated many fans and avid buyers over the years. Sonam’s Zara Shahjahan look comprised an emerald green printed lawn shirt with a contrasting shocking pink embroidered neckline, a flowing plain white gharara, and a colourful printed dupatta. To complete the desi look, she accessorised the outfit with matching green bangles on both wrists and large silver metal oxidised jhumkas.

4. An elegant all-black look by Hussain Rehar

Another Pakistani designer look that Sonam wore for the promotions of Jind Mahi (2022) was this all-black look by young and fast-growing Pakistani designer Hussain Rehar.

Stitched in glistening raw silk fabric, the beauty of the outfit lies in its minimal use of ornamentation with only a silver-embellished neckline—and a sparse spray of silver sequins on the dupatta—that decorates the ensemble and lets the grace of the colour and fabric shine through.

5. Intermixing gold and silver in custom Hussain Rehar

Sonam Bajwa was also seen wearing and flaunting on Instagram a custom look by Hussain Rehar that she wore on the premiere of her film Main Viyah Nahi Karona Tere Naal (2022). The outfit displayed an interesting blend of a traditional silhouette and contemporary embellishments. Using rich gold velvet, the ensemble was stitched in a classic short-length kameez and gharara combo.

The modern element of the dress appeared in the form of chromatic silver sequined embellishments on the borders of the shirt, dupatta, and gharara, as well as along the seams at the knees of the flaring gharara. While the look featured an unconventional combination of colour, embellishment, and silhouette, it was an undisputed fact that Sona looked gorgeous in this bespoke Hussain Rehar design.

It aptly captured the designer’s aesthetic and design philosophy of infusing the traditional with the contemporary.