Karachi has long been hailed as the ‘city of lights’, flaunting a diverse palette of modern and vintage architecture. But amid the growingly, fast-paced life in the city, we often forget to appreciate it for its rich cultural history, as its colonial architecture will always be reminiscent of. Artist-photojournalist Khaula Jamil, through her brand K for Karachi’s recent exhibition at the Sania Maskatiya Store in Dolmen Mall, Clifton, called for Karachiites to embrace the city’s offerings.
Exhibiting photographs and jewellery items featuring Karachi’s landmarks, Jamil expresses her penchant for the metropolis. “All my work revolves around Karachi,” she says about her label, which was launched in March 2013. “Initially, I started out with pendants and rings,” adds Jamil, who is now venturing into designing earrings for women and cufflinks for men.
Her latest collection titled ‘Qissa’ is currently on display at the store. Commenting on how her designs depict her awe of the city, she shares, “I have tried to capture the true essence of Karachi. When you live here, you feel passionate about it. Diehard Karachiites go on the defensive when it comes to protecting their city.”
Of her collection, she says, “‘Qissa’ is nostalgia for me. In the old areas of Saddar, where you find people of diverse characters, you also find buildings that take you back in time.” She adds, “From PIDC to Hotel Falcon to Jehangir Kothari Parade, these buildings depict eternal beauty. But I wonder what will happen when these areas get stuck in the rut of commercialisation.”
Maskatiya expresses her delight over showcasing Jamil’s collection in her store. “Khaula and I have been friends from school days. I find her to be truly artistic. When this idea was first proposed, I got excited and just went ahead with it,” she says, adding, “I have been familiar with her work and as she wanted to exhibit it, I really wanted to be a part of it. So, I thought, why not here?” Maskatiya’s favourite piece from Jamil’s collection is the ‘Golden Saddar’ bracelet that she now owns.
When enquired about whether in the future Maskatiya plans to collaborate with her colleague on the ramp at fashion weeks, the designer was optimistic but uncertain. She stated, “That would be a very exciting collaboration. No set plans yet, but we can certainly look into it.”
After Qissa, Jamil is all set for her next collection of ingenious images of Delhi and Mumbai, which she has photographed recently. For her Indian fans and friends, she plans to showcase her work soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.
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