Fashion Pakistan Council: Mixing business with fashion
It was indeed quite a surprise when Karachi’s Fashion Pakistan Council (FPC) set up a stall at the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) 6th Expo Pakistan, whilst TDAP has collaborated with Lahore’s Pakistan Fashion and Design Council (PFDC) to bring forth PFDC Fashion Week, which kicked off on October 20.
Just as Pakistan is multicultural with diverse ethnicities, there are various fashion councils that have sprung up in the recent past. From a fashionistas point of view, however, only two hold some legitimacy in the foreground, the PFDC and the FPC.
Fashion designer and CEO of FPC, Maheen Khan, who was present at the event, said, “The government is often initiating the marriage between the designers and textile mills. But setting up a stall has a lot to do with the fact that we need to learn about export marketing and the right product and processing.” Khan also added that, “If designers are given such platforms we will learn enough about the local trade fair so that when we represent Pakistan at an international event abroad, it won’t be a disaster.”
At the stall FPC showcased Maheen Khan’s line called Gulabo, Deepak Perwani’s casual line and accessory designer Mahin Husain’s handbags, amongst others, for the sake of export, which in Khan’s word should be more like, “a learning experience, rather than the concept of selling their product.”
Deepak Perwani’s Operation Manager Noreen Mujtaba revealed that they were placed at a TDAP sponsored event because, “Neighbouring countries like China and India are well exposed in the buyer’s market and foreigners need to know that Pakistan too has a good number of creative designers.”
When asked about the price tag of Deepak Perwani’s casual kurtis and handmade bags, Mujtaba said, “Export prices for international buyers are placed at lower bottom by our brand.” Mujtaba did not quote an actual price of the designer wear, nor did she place a price tag on the displayed products.
Accessory designer and FPC member Mahin Husain said, “This platform is a stepping stone for us. I have always believed that the tag ‘Made in Pakistan’ should come forward and hence I have deliberately kept the prices cheap and affordable for my leather hand bags. We plan to catch the buyer’s attention.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.
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It is heartening that the Government is taking advantage of the immense talent available and the bonding will help the exposure of designers, garment workers and garment preparers that will help lift this class of workers to better wages and living conditions. The progress even though slow is the step in the right direction as I think if the people of Pakistan are fully employment have more spending money and are busy enjoying life as they should like the rest of the world the terrorist will have an extreme time trying to recruit them because of economic conditions. Now it is the duty of the Government of Pakistan to direct all Pakistani embassies around the world instead of being social hubs for the rich Pakistanis is to use their vantage positions to bombard the world with the products manufactured in Pakistan. So far the embassy in America is a shallow entity that does very little to promote Pakistan. Even if it claims to do some promotion it only covers the eastern and ignores the western region. More attempts have to be made to get on local channels to market Pakistan and its products.
Its good to see the both coucils bonding togather at a sponsored event. One always witnessed the FPC chairperson being kind enough to be present sat PFDC events but never witnessed PFDC's Chair person doing the same .... we Weish that the other council also get rid of their Ego-istic Libas and help in promoting Pakistan rather then Made by PFDC-member !