And the winner is...Zaheer Abbas!

Abbas has been named the most inspiring designer of Pakistan.

KARACHI: In collaboration with Fashion Pakistan, UAE’s national airlines Etihad Airways has officially announced Zaheer Abbas as Pakistan’s ‘Most Inspiring Designer’, following his skilful collection at Fashion Pakistan Week (FPW4) held last month in Karachi.

The promising designer was also given the title of ‘Best Emerging Talent in Fashion’ at the Lux Style Awards earlier this year. The decision was based on an online poll conducted on Etihad’s Facebook page and votes received from members of Fashion Pakistan Council.

“Zaheer truly deserved it. It was a very mature collection, one that was easily sellable as well — I am talking from production point-of-view,” Chairperson Fashion Pakistan Council, Shamaeel Ansari said.

With beautifully stitched outfits in varying silhouettes, Abbas inspired fashionistas across the nation at FPW4 as he showcased his ‘Virgin in White’ collection. Using ivory cotton and subtle embroidery done in coarse thread, he garnered the attention of the young and old both. While he may have used a limited colour scheme, the cuts and varying styles incorporated in his collections helped balance it out and allowed the audience to see that he is confident with his craft.

“I am very proud and pleased that he was able to showcase such a fun collection and ended up winning this award,” said Maheen Khan, CEO of Fashion Pakistan Council. “Our council is all about excellence and unique designs and this is exactly what he has proven with his collection. I am really proud of him.” Deepak Perwani’s spokesperson also remarked on Abbas’s achievement and said: “It is great — our heartiest congratulations to him for winning the award.”

Although he received mixed responses from fashion critics, Abbas said that he was overjoyed with the positive feedback regardless. “I wasn’t completely surprised when I won this award because Facebook revealed I had a lot of people’s support,” he said. “The support was overwhelming and there was a huge response and appreciation for my collection. This experience was something I have never felt before.”

Commenting on what inspired him to create this trendy collection, he said: “From the age of innocence to the age of maturity; from lust to desire; from the young to the old; from when you are nothing to when you become something — this was my journey. This was ‘Virgin in White’ for me.”

Abbas’s collection will also be showcased at Pakistan Fashion Week (PFW3) in London. “I am really excited about going to London,” he exclaimed. His collection will be showcased on the final day of this two-day event on November 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2012.            

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