Fashion Firsts of 2013

This year designers stepped away from the banalities of fashion and explored their options like never before.

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

The year 2013 was absolutely fashion-tastic! With experimental ideas and showcases transcending borders, designers stepped away from the banalities of fashion and explored their options like never before. To give you a rundown of the industry’s big moments, we have compiled for you a list of 2013’s fashion milestones. So, sit back and bask in the reflected glory of our fashion frontrunners.

Nabeel & Aqeel perfume collection

The designer duo Nabeel and Aqeel Iftikhar launched five new scents under their label. The scents named Rafia, Monarch, Phantom, Prestige and Inception are now available in the market.

Judith Leiber bags in Pakistan

Bringing Judith Leiber bags to Karachi for the first time was Ruquiya Khan, a stockist from Los Angeles. 40 of the designer luxury handbags were exhibited by Khan at Labels this year.

Sublime by Sara Shahid launches Sublime Sparkles for children

Twinkling for the little stars, the collection was a first of its kind and a raving success. Designer Sara Shahid used pure cottons and chiffons to create a line of casual and party wear for children. Staying true to her design ethos, she used simple cuts and floral designs. There is a dearth of good children’s wear and pre-teen wear in the market, and Sublime Sparkles took a remarkable step to fill the void.

Maria B Linen

Maria B’s designer linen hit the market this year. From hues of grey to tones of coffee, the collection had a variety of winter hues. Ms B says that she can see “a lot many designers jumping on the bandwagon of designer linen by next year.” Although the collection received mixed reviews, it was a sure-fire way to cater to the often forgotten winter market.

Nida Azwer experiments with Shahtoosh

Shahtoosh shawls have always been somewhat of a collector’s item in Pakistan. Since they are hard to make and acquire, the value and worth of Shahtoosh shawls are  much higher than most others. Seeing the gap in the market, designer Nida Azwer debuted her Toosh Collection in Lahore. “I love collecting shawls, and while the sellers here have beautiful shawls, they are not one-off pieces,” says Azwer. With the intent to make something this valuable readily available, Azwer introduced hand-embroidered Shahtoosh shawls.

Sania Maskatiya’s Sapphire lawn

Designer Sania Maskatiya made a debut in lawn this year. Launching her collection in March, she stated that she has stepped foot in the “lawn market at the right time.” Maskatiya remained true to her signature style and colour palette. With animal prints and a standout design named ‘Mohenjodaro’, the collection was a great addition to the lawn market and the closets of fashionistas around the country.

Vibrant Pakistan in Amsterdam

For the first time, five Pakistani designers and retailer Leisure Club showcased their collections at Amsterdam Fashion Week 2013. Fashion design heavyweights Faiza Samee, Adnan Pardesy, Sonya Batla, Durreshawar Nisar and Honey Waqar displayed their collections in Amsterdam during the Vibrant Pakistan segment.

Élan Sport

Élan has consistently supported sporting ventures and for the first time, the brand’s creative head Khadijah Shah introduced Project Pakistan — a special sportswear line designed for biker Moin Khan. Khan, along with two international biking enthusiasts Michael Phillip Stewart and Kyle James Haggmark,  set out on a biking adventure across northern Pakistan. The project aimed at projecting a softer image of Pakistan to foreign audiences.

Mahin Hussain’s debut in bridal designer clutches

With a clutch collection named ‘An Ode to A Bride’, designer Mahin Hussain won many hearts this year. Specifically meant for the 2013 bridal season, the line comprised eight jamawar and velvet clutches with qora dabka embroidery.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2013.

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