Mera Anwar launches her Western-wear brand at Labels in Karachi. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
Anwar joined J Crew “fresh out of the oven”, as she says. However, as a result of too much workload, since she was running her label side by side, she finally quit her job to allow her own brand to grow.
Having faced a number of restraints to her designing, she does not enjoy her work being edited. “All I ever wanted was to have the freedom to create. I wanted to design freely and not have my stuff edited at the end of the day,” she says.
For Anwar, fashion has always been very functional and she loved dressing up as a kid. With an urge to create timeless pieces, she finds true inspiration in the work of Coco Chanel.
“Her out-of-the-box thinking for those times was truly remarkable,” asserts Anwar. Presently, the designer seems fond of socialite Daphne Guinness. “She is a socialite who dresses up every day and I am in awe of her persona.”
Mera Anwar launches her Western-wear brand at Labels in Karachi. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY
The US-based designer believes that Pakistan has “a great market for Western wear since a lot of people appreciate my outfits.”
Talking about her latest collection, Anwar says, “It’s a contemporary line meant for different occasions. Like my previous collections, this, too, is inspired by my travelling experiences.”
The capsule collection, showcased at Labels, included a range of short shirts which were mostly sleeveless and shimmery gold coloured pants — seemingly targeted at a specific class and not the masses. Her collection was inspired by her recent visit to the Middle East.
Anwar believes in the “well-functionality of clothes, with little embellishment and a subtle look,” since she believes that “nobody can rush home from work and get dressed instantly for an evening out. This collection will serve the purpose.”
She strongly believes that MIRI is a brand for girls who are ‘careless, free-spirited and never take things too seriously’.
“The MIRI girl is modern, edgy, downtown and chic,” adds Anwar. Hence, it does not come as much of a surprise that Anwar eagerly wants to dress up model and actor Mahira Khan some day.
“She looks great and always owns what she wears. Hers is a personalised look and she does a great job at that!,” says Anwar.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (6)
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@arzoo you should go to school or read the article again.
I guess Karachiwala is right and arzoo is one of a kind hence she felt insulted.. maybe she dont understand english or maybe she did not read the article.
OK i will break it down for you. 1-The US-based designer believes that Pakistan has “a great market for Western wear since a lot of people appreciate my outfits.”
do you read US-Based designer believes.....since a lot of people appreciate "HER" outfits?
your comment: after having graduated from a very distinguished design school, and after having worked for a prominent apparel retailer, has struck on her own at a young age of 28.
2-Included a range of short shirts which were mostly sleeveless and shimmery gold coloured pants — seemingly targeted at a specific class and not the masses..
do you read, seemingly targeted at a specific class and not the masses.. i repeat "targeted at a specific class and not the masses"
3- She strongly believes that MIRI is a brand for girls who are ‘careless, free-spirited and never take things too seriously’.
There it goes to my mentioning of Defence / clifton low self-esteemed Youth. who will only care about gucci belt or armani t-shirt, rather think about innovating something of value.
I do have a very narrow mind for them, since they got all the perks in their live, they are more responsible for the betterment of our country and as a whole society. But their actions are totally selfish in nature...
if she is so genious, why can't she promote Pakistani culture into west...rather making easy bucks selling their stuff to us.
She is no genious- she simply can't bring anything new into western world..so she did that.. and many people do that- its all about - do you have money to do advertisement- some thing like renting a gallery in arts council, or pay ET!
having 40 million to start a business like this , great achievement.. ET how much they pay u for this ??
@Karachiwala: You have a very shallow, bigoted, and narrow minded outlook on life to be able to come up with a comment like that. The article does not say anywhere that the designer "after failing miserably in big apple" came to Karachi for her show. What is apparent from the article is that here is a very talented designer who, after having graduated from a very distinguished design school, and after having worked for a prominent apparel retailer, has struck on her own at a young age of 28. What any sane and healthy minded person can do is to wish her well and be happy about the success of a compatriot. And, whoever gave you the idea that all of the people living in Defence and Clifton are "low self esteemed people of defence and Clifton?" I really do think that you need to take a look at a mirror. You will not see a very pretty picture there.
after failing miserably in big apple, she embarked on to attract and try to make bug by offering western style "no clue" fashion to low self esteemed people of defence and clifton.
I wonder, when will be the time when westerners would feel it fashion to wear kurta shalwar with dupatta, or maybe its going to be from us always trying to mimic western culture.
is exposing more translate into more fashionable? why not have great ideas within our cultural environment suiting... who will cater to that?