No man’s land: Arsalan Iqbal ventures into women’s wear

Best known for designing menswear in Pakistan, designer feels his peers are missing something.

Well-known menswear designer Arsalan Iqbal has now stepped up in the scene as a women’s wear designer, and in due course will have a complete design house under one roof. He is super excited about the Arsalan Iqbal-Woman collection, which will be unveiled on September 5, 2013 at all Arsalan Iqbal outlets. He promises to showcase the new collection at upcoming fashion weeks separate from menswear.

The collection promises to be high street and luxury prêt for “an internationally metropolitan woman, who is fashion savvy”. It consists of silks and chiffon, with lace in malai lawn and tweed fabric. Judging by the teaser shoot, the collection is doing what many others are, trying to bring back the short shirt. It flirts with pastels and prints, and also bears jeweled stones and earthy tones.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal said there was a need to enter this domain, “The brand is evolving into a complete design house now and women’s wear is obviously a big market.” When asked about his current strength in menswear, he said: “I’m still going to continue designing menswear, and due to my lack of experience with women’s wear, I deemed it appropriate to bring in the most technically and aesthetically sound team together.”

One question that’s been on our minds is if entering the designing domain for women’s wear has anything to do with Iqbal’s recent split from fellow designer Yahseer Javed. When asked about this possibility, Arsalan refuted the statement, “First of all, the idea of the complete design house has nothing to do with my split from Yahseer. The idea of the complete design house rose from my sheer ambitious nature,” he said. “In this context, the split from Yahseer is irrelevant. I have set myself goals that I need to achieve in my career, and expanding my brand into a complete design house is just a next small step,” Iqbal stated.

When asked about his design philosophy, Iqbal had the following to say “We are inspired by everything colorful, and we are following international trends. The brand is new and at an evolving stage.” He also said that “The label is going to be bringing innovative and unique, out of the box ideas to the market. The inspiration behind this sub-brand is the woman of Pakistan.” Also, he tells us that with “design dynamo Fayez Agariah behind the cutting table and fashion critics watching every move, he plans to make it a better project”.

Iqbal thinks there is something lacking in Pakistan’s fashion industry, “We are lacking moderately plausible imagination. My colleagues are either going over the top, or being run-of-the-mill.” He said. “With AI Woman we aspire to break that monotonous cycle and create a style which is edgy yet timeless.”

Prices of an average prêt outfit at competitive stores

Arsalan Iqbal Woman

Rs6,000

Junaid Jamshed Pret

Rs5,500

Maheen Karim for Bonanza

Rs4,000

Sanam Chaudhri for Bonanza

Rs4,000

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.