Islamabad Fashion Week: Soul meets hip and happening

Day two packs in east-meets-west collections, embroidery and high street.

ISLAMABAD: A fusion of east-meets-west did the rounds on the second day of the Islamabad Fashion Week on Wednesday. The ensemble was ethnic in spirit, incorporating some grunge ideas making the best of both worlds.

Fashion Era Institute of Art and Design

While going the spiritual route, the Fashion Era Institute of Art and Design unleashed embellished turbans and Sufi robes. To accentuate the hybrid theme, it threw in khussas and pompoms. The collection featured calligraphy and hand-painted graffiti embossed on a palette of white, green, orange, green and brown. The models wore prayer beads loosely hung around their necks. The juxtaposition of khaddi and chiffon was smartly done in bright hues. Along the same lines, Jinnah caps and jasmine shalwars complimented the look.

BnS by Bina Sultan

The Islamabad-based designer took inspiration from goddesses. Male models paraded shirtless while female model sauntered down from the other end of the runway. All models wore shades, with females wearing crème coats. With chic cuts and fur props, the showcase by far the most appropriate.

Iqra Institute of Fashion Design

Iqra students showcased their mini-thesis from textile to fashion design. The collection boasted western cut gowns with ornamentation, inspired by Japanese sakura flowers and goddesses. The cuts were neat with finely stitched western silhouette, ranging from black, mauve, purple and white. The shibori tie and dye method was used.

Ranga Rang

The local design house by Seema Khan had some graceful epiphany and bridal wear with a western twist. Think long flowering dresses in electric blue, purple, red and embroidery along the borders and neck. The highlight was a red lehngha with gold embroidery along the choli. Chiffon was the staple fabric with jamawar lining and zari, the designer played it safe.

Make some noise for the dandy boys

Danish Wakeel, London-based fashion designer presented a men’s wear collection titled “Aqua dandy”.  With predominant sky blue tinged with grey, black and white. The net dress shirts had narrow waists and knee-length shorts. The look was very urban with brown satin pants and crinkled coats. The style went from casual to formal to metro sexual. The black and white printed shirts had various architectural monuments printed on them. The formal shoes were patent and pointed. Some of the pants had fur trimming on the sides. The silhouette was slim fitted and body hugging but very masculine. The collection was very European, flaunting Top Shop shoes.  Nomair, a model commented, “The fashion industry is still evolving, we have to follow suit.”

Faux pas

If not for the power cuts, the bad music system marred the effect of an otherwise decent show. Protocol was perhaps on the top of the list for the organisers, who preferred entertaining foreign press over letting locals speak to models backstage. Many models also lacked the oomph to pull off their look.