Feeha Jamshed, House of Kamiar Rokni. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY
KARACHI:
Multi-label store The House of Ensemble, the only label carrying bridal couture collections by giants such as Tarun Tahiliani, Ritu Kumar, and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, organised an in-store bridal showcase last month. The event displayed staggering bridal collections from the House of Kamiar Rokni, Feeha Jamshed, Sabyasachi, and the label’s in-house line Shehrnaz, along with a lifestyle exhibit of home accessories by La Maison and Good Earth.
The event was tastefully done and offered a gratifying opportunity to view awe- inspiring intricate designs by these artists up-close, as opposed to seeing them on the ramp, where details are often lost and cannot be fully appreciated.
The live commentary by Kamiar Rokni during the course of his showcase was an added pleasure; he explained the roots of his inspiration and memories to the audience.
Mahira Khan
The Autumn/Winter 2013 Sabyasachi Mukherjee collection displayed his signature traditional, layered Indian cotton angarkhas that were appealing because of their classic charm. Whereas, his bridal showcase offered rich antique zari, mirror work, and gota detailing on saris and heavy iconic thread works on full-pleated, structured silhouttes using tulle and velvet. The capsule collection carried the Indian designer’s distinct stamp that was a joy to witness up-close.
Mehreen Akbar of La Maison
The House of Kamiar Rokni had everyone buzzing over the sheer miniature detailing and multitude of elements on a single separate. The jackets were supremely divine and the dupattas cast a spell as Kamiar laid them out for the crowds to scrutinize. We heard a discerning fashionista remark that the collection was so precious that it ought to be exhibited in a museum, and we couldn’t agree more. Kamiar Rokni took the audience on a journey from Kabul to the Orient with his interpretation and deep understanding of cultures from the past and present. The Orientalist was just showcased at PFDC Bridal Week 2013, however, it was an absolute pleasure to witness it live; feel and hold the work of art. While the silhouettes were dramatized for the runway, Kamiar is well-aware of how to cut and shape the originals to translate them for commercial wear without offending their intrinsic beauty.
Shehrnaz Husain
Shehrnaz by Ensemble showcased a delightful play on festive colors and traditional cuts with gota and zari-filled ghaghra cholis, in neon pink and green, using tassels as accents. The capsule collection was balanced with glamorous chic saris in red and black with statement border embellishments as well as vivid feminine net colour-blocked drapes. The line was young, ethnic and refreshing. The collection may be custom-ordered via appointments at Ensemble.
Feeha Jamshed, who is acclaimed for her strong grasp on contemporary fusion prêt wear, proved her versatility as a designer with a creative bridal wear debut that held its own weight with poise. While Feeha admitted that this was merely a small glimpse put together with pieces on hand due to lack of time to design a complete collection. Nonetheless, it gave us a good feeling about what we can expect from the young artist once she puts her mind into something.
Shehrnaz by Ensemble
The theme of the collection was ‘The Princess of Oudh’ drawing inspiration from ‘mystic royalty’ and the will to ‘reinvent old traditions with a modern twist’. The selling point of her collection lay in innovative aspects with reference to both silhouette and craftsmanship while the graphic modern saris were simply an epic touch. We have long been waiting for a designer to fill the glaring void for futuristic luxury prêt saris and it seems we have found our solution.
Sabyasachi
Ensemble home also presented a lifestyle exhibit of La Maison by Mehreen Akber and Good Earth by Ensemble eclectic home accessories. These included a host of refined and unique crockery, cushions, and decoration pieces that are available on the upper level of the store. The selection was bursting with beautiful hand-painted China, fine leather and textured pieces.
The writer blogs at online fashion portal secretcloset.pk, and tweets
@secretclosetpk
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.
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