From abayyas to saris, Designer’s Lounge offers it all

Housewife turns designer and entrepreneur with multi-brand store.

KARACHI: Meet Nighat Tariq, yet another housewife who has taken up fashion design as a full-time occupation. From looking after four children, her husband and home, Nighat has now decided to design clothes and retail those made by other designers.

Her retail outlet Designer’s Lounge was recently launched at Ocean Tower. According to Tariq Puri, former Chief Executive of TDAP and a friend of Nighat’s husband, “Bhabi [Nighat Tariq] had a hidden talent inside her. We are seeing it highlighted today.”

Nighat explained that she has, in the past, designed clothes for close friends and family, and is now pursuing it full-time as her children are “married and settled”. “It was time to start something new in life,” she said with a smile, referring to the opening of Designer’s Lounge, that also houses the collections of  Shaiyanne Malik, Trevor Castelino, abayya designer al Aneeq, Ruby Shakil and Shaista Barry.

Nighat’s line displays cotton and georgette shirts, along with some fine chikenkari saris. She also stocks Explora, her husband’s denim export line including jeans and jeggings. Overall, the store showcases a variety of fabrics and designs, from pure cotton, georgette and raw silks to block and digital prints. Embellished abayyas are also available.

But with only five designers on display, her venture does not look like it will be attractive to a walk-in client. Nighat says that there is more to come. “As many as three more designers will be added this year,” she said, as she greeted friends and family who walked into the newly opened store.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2013.

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