T-Diaries: Maha Burney

A glimpse into the world of Pakistani powerhouses.

One thing you have that no one else does?

I worked in New York as an Accessories Fashion Designer for DKNY Jeans. Not only was it really creative and fun, it honed my skills and eye for fashion. I gained work experience that is unmatchable.

What’s your secret beauty regime?

I drink lots of water and eat fruits every day. I also believe in a good under-eye cream and organic face masks which are great to revitalise your skin.

An idea that changed your life?

While working as an architect in New York, I applied to Parsons School of Design for a post-graduate degree in fashion, purely on a whim. I had always loved fashion and thought why not pursue it. Luckily, everything worked out for me.

Marriage is…?

Marriage for me is amazing, inspiring, comforting, hard and chaotic all at once!

You are a working woman with family. How do you maintain a work-life balance?

I don’t manage and I need to get better! I’m lucky in that I work with my husband. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t see him much either.

The Superwoman Syndrome is the desire to do everything perfectly, without any time to yourself. What do you have to say about that?

I am a perfectionist to the core and believe in giving every aspect of life my all. Living in New York taught me an unflinching work ethic which I still live by. However, that being said, I must admit that once a year I burnout and need some time off from work to get my head straight. There is nothing like a good vacation  (with lots of me time) to get the creative juices flowing again.

What’s the best way to deal with failure?

Get back on the horse!

What’s your personal style?

I generally prefer to keep my outfits paired down with a pop of colour, texture or interesting bag or trendy shoes.

How does it feel to be one of the leading names in the glamour industry?

We are blessed to have come so far in such a short time and being in the same league with other talented photographers /stylists is truly an honor.

Describe the journey of Maha Burney, the celebrity stylist and creative director?

NFK Photography is something I started as a side business to utilise my experience in fashion and photography. I have studied photography at Columbia University for two years so I have a good eye for pictures. At that time, my husband Nadir Feroz Khan was working in the corporate film arena with clients such as DHL and Standard Chartered Bank, etc. In the meantime, I was approached by Zahir Rahimtoola of Labels who was well aware of my credentials – he wanted me to style, conceptualise and coordinate a shooting with the great Mahira Khan. I thought it could be something fun for Nadir and I to do together.  Next thing I knew, NFK Photography was born. We went on to shoot some more prominent celebrities and the rest is history.

What do you have to say about the current fashion/photography scene in Pakistan? How has it changed over the years?

I think the Pakistani fashion industry still has great room for expansion. I have only been in the industry for three years and I’ve already seen massive growth in such little time. There are many talented new people doing a lot of creative experimentation and I think that is great! The fashion outlook is constantly changing which inspires us to push the bar in terms of the work we do.

How has doing what you do changed your life?

Having a business is something like having a kid: you’re always tired and on call without enough time to do the million other things you need to do. But despite the chaos and the lack of sleep, the gratification of building upon and growing something of your own is incomparable.

Looking back over your styling career, what do you think is your best work?

It’s too hard to pick! Some of my favourite shoots have been with Amna Ilyas, Sana Sarfaraz, Annie Jafri and Amna Babar. Bonanza’s Satrangi Winter Collection is also a project close to my heart as it was the first time I could visualise a big project from start to end. It was super fun being able to coordinate the styling with the concept and set design and getting into the details of the shoot like trying the print of the curtains and colour props on the set. Then there was styling the models as well as devising looks that were complimenting visually. I loved it!

Any advice for aspiring female fashionistas?

Don’t be scared to experiment and have fun with fashion. Your twenties are all about experimentation, your thirties are about being true to your own style.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, June 29^th, 2014.