Zara Shahjahan breaks norms with her True Love collection

The collection was exhibited at Labels Karachi on Thursday evening.

KARACHI: A bride, who has been swept off her feet because she has finally found her one true love, is what Zara Shahjahan’s rather unusual bridal collection True Love is dedicated to.

The talented young designer fancies breaking traditional norms — she sported a contemporary white lehenga matched with a ’60s hairdo at her own wedding. She incorporated the same in her design aesthetics and presented a bridal collection that was risky, fun and truly unconventional.

After hitting the mark at PFDC L’oreal Paris Bridal Week (PLBW), Shahjahan exhibited her collection at Labels Karachi on Thursday evening.

Unlike most designers who stick to red because that seems to be the only definition of a Pakistani bride, Shahjahan is bold in her approach and experiments with royal blue and floral prints. “My aesthetics for the Pakistani bride in the end do not fall under the realm of being completely ethnic,” says Shahjahan. “True Love collection is all about a bride who is falling in love. The collection aims to give you a glow and the light pretty bridals will make the bride feel beautiful not like she has just stepped out of Jodha-Akbar.”



Focusing mainly on hues of white, red and blue, her collection extensively features Chintz-inspired patterns embellished with sequins, pearls and diamantes giving it a very regal, feminine touch. She added contemporary detailing like pockets to a rather traditional lehenga giving it a fresh and flirty appeal. However, it was her royal blue ensemble heavily embellished with gold wire work that caught everybody’s attention. “Yes, the royal blue was a hit at the fashion week,” she says.  “For two weeks right after the fashion week, we were taking orders and delivery was being done in four to six weeks. Now we are completely booked. If anybody wants to place an order they would have to wait 12 weeks for delivery.”

Better known for her prêt wear, Shahjahan is on the rise this year. She ventured into lawn designing and got rave reviews for elegant prints, she launched her high-street brand COCO and finally showcased her collection at PLBW, last month. When asked if she was given a choice to just stick to one particular type of clothing range, she said, “It’s not a choice, it’s business. If I am making both of them then I must want to do both of them,” she asserts.



It appears that Zara’s refreshing take on bridal wear has paid off because apart from Lahoris, Karachiites also seemed to adore the collection at Labels. “Shahjahan is a miniaturist and offers finesse in her work,” says Zahir Rahimtoola, CEO of Labels. “It is certainly different to see a collection on the ramp from seeing it up close. People have come forward and placed orders and she has had pretty decent sales. Though the figures are confidential,” he adds.

Price range

Rs150,000 to Rs600,000

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2013.

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