At a university show, retro meets modern aestheticism
Textile designers of the future introduce a varied display.
ISLAMABAD:
From innovative cushions, embroidered bags and wall hangings to revamped charpoys, students of textile design at Iqra University showed remarkable talent during their textile thesis display on Saturday.
The displays combined Pakistani culture with modern aesthete, infusing the right amount of whimsy into their projects.
Hira Ashraf was inspired by both the mechanics of clockwork and the beauty of Urdu newspapers for apparel display and though the influence is not overtly apparent, it lends her selection an understated chic aesthetic that is both fashion-forward and creative.
Most of her outfits are retro and a throwback to the fifties with shalwar kameez and waistcoats, neckerchiefs, broaches, postman-style bags and the iconic Quaid-i-Azam hat.
By carefully juxtaposing sober and vibrant colour palettes such as red, turquoise, white, beige and brown, she successfully manages to keep her work runway-friendly.
Elaborating on the use of Urdu newspapers, Ashraf told The Express Tribune that though English newspapers have been used widely in design and art, she found it “strange that not many artists have incorporated Urdu newspapers, despite the lyricism of the written language.”
Samiya Tahir elected to go on the opposite spectrum of the retro fashion sense displayed by her classmate. Taking inspiration from Central America and using the indigenous Kuna people of Panama and Columbia as muses, she has transliterated the sense to furniture instead of clothing. “I was very impressed with their traditional costume design called ‘mola’ which layers panels in their blouses,” she said.
Her most outstanding piece was a deceptively simple sofa that jumped out with its intricate geometrical patterns and vibrant colours. Tahir stated that she wanted the chair to look genuinely South American, hence the selection of orange and yellow. The three adjoining throw cushions were the perfect compendium finishing touch. However, her contribution to the venture is limited to the design and screen printing and not the carpentering, listing the high costs of material bought in bulk as its major impediment.
Students commented on the difficulty of screen printing due to the lack of time, money and resources, finding it easier and more economical to employ the services of professional screen printers and tailors.
Though most girls have not been able to slave over their thesis displays due to constraints of time and money, “their ingenuity of coming up with so many interesting variations is commendable,” said Rabia Haris, their thesis adviser.
The display was part of their mini-thesis while the final thesis will take place from May to June. The exhibition was inaugurated by Heritage and Culture Secretary Faridullah Khan and will continue till March 25 at the university from 12pm to 5pm.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.
From innovative cushions, embroidered bags and wall hangings to revamped charpoys, students of textile design at Iqra University showed remarkable talent during their textile thesis display on Saturday.
The displays combined Pakistani culture with modern aesthete, infusing the right amount of whimsy into their projects.
Hira Ashraf was inspired by both the mechanics of clockwork and the beauty of Urdu newspapers for apparel display and though the influence is not overtly apparent, it lends her selection an understated chic aesthetic that is both fashion-forward and creative.
Most of her outfits are retro and a throwback to the fifties with shalwar kameez and waistcoats, neckerchiefs, broaches, postman-style bags and the iconic Quaid-i-Azam hat.
By carefully juxtaposing sober and vibrant colour palettes such as red, turquoise, white, beige and brown, she successfully manages to keep her work runway-friendly.
Elaborating on the use of Urdu newspapers, Ashraf told The Express Tribune that though English newspapers have been used widely in design and art, she found it “strange that not many artists have incorporated Urdu newspapers, despite the lyricism of the written language.”
Samiya Tahir elected to go on the opposite spectrum of the retro fashion sense displayed by her classmate. Taking inspiration from Central America and using the indigenous Kuna people of Panama and Columbia as muses, she has transliterated the sense to furniture instead of clothing. “I was very impressed with their traditional costume design called ‘mola’ which layers panels in their blouses,” she said.
Her most outstanding piece was a deceptively simple sofa that jumped out with its intricate geometrical patterns and vibrant colours. Tahir stated that she wanted the chair to look genuinely South American, hence the selection of orange and yellow. The three adjoining throw cushions were the perfect compendium finishing touch. However, her contribution to the venture is limited to the design and screen printing and not the carpentering, listing the high costs of material bought in bulk as its major impediment.
Students commented on the difficulty of screen printing due to the lack of time, money and resources, finding it easier and more economical to employ the services of professional screen printers and tailors.
Though most girls have not been able to slave over their thesis displays due to constraints of time and money, “their ingenuity of coming up with so many interesting variations is commendable,” said Rabia Haris, their thesis adviser.
The display was part of their mini-thesis while the final thesis will take place from May to June. The exhibition was inaugurated by Heritage and Culture Secretary Faridullah Khan and will continue till March 25 at the university from 12pm to 5pm.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.