Patriotic accessories: Bag Pak

A burst of colour from all things Pakistani turns up in designer bag collection.

Swaying under a shimmering disco ball is a young girl dressed in a boho-chic outfit, clutching on to a bottle of our well-loved Pakola. And taking his place beside her, dressed in a gypsy-style outfit, is an Elvis Presley lookalike, high on life with a sitar in one hand and a beer bottle in the other.

While this could very well be a scene out of a 70s-inspired music video, it is actually an animated image, illustrated by Sana Nasir and screen-printed onto a faux leather clutch bag. This one, among many others, was featured at Sidra Nasir’s ‘All things Pakistani’ bag exhibition held on the 66th Independence Day of Pakistan and could be yours for Rs7,000.

After the pre-election fever of Karma’s MK Nation kurta, that had every woman wearing Imran Khan close to her heart, Sidra’s bags are paying a tribute to all things that constitute Pakistani culture. “‘All things Pakistani’ to me is all forms of art around Pakistan and everything fun and colourful that [our country] has to offer. Be it pottery from Hala, truck art, the Ajrak or even traditional embellishments,” says Sidra, who has used this aesthetic to create a colourful array of clutches and cross-body bags.

With an undergraduate degree in fashion design from the Asian Institute of Fashion Design, Karachi, Sidra ventured into bags five years ago. “I felt there was a need in the market for accessory designers, as most people who I target were buying their bags abroad,” she explains. In contrast to her previous four exhibitions, Sidra stayed close to her roots for inspiration this time. Her exhibit ranged from a literal depiction which included weaving the Pakistani flag on to a clutch and screen printing the map of Pakistan, to more subtle elements such as intricate mirror-work embroidery and ethnic brooches. Her camo clutch with skull detail was such a knockout that every piece was sold out by the end of the exhibition.

“I have always appreciated and enjoyed Pakistani arts and crafts, however I was never drawn towards buying traditional designs available in the market,” she says. “I felt that they were too direct in terms of design and not so much inspiration.” Sidra’s aim was to incorporate everything Pakistani with a modern and chic twist into her designs, with her personal favourite being the turquoise clutch, embellished with lace and a blue pendant. “I love this piece because it is traditional in the material that has been used, and paired with a modern, western outfit it adds just the right amount of desi to the look without being too obvious.”

While catering to a fashion-conscious and trendy lot, Sidra ensures that her customers are never far from their homeland. “I [designed] the map bag so [that] people travelling or living abroad could proudly point out [Pakistan’s location] when asked. I thought it would be a fun way to identify where we are from without having to say it.” And as it turns out the design was one that resonated well with her customers.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, September 1^st, 2013.

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