Sania Maskatiya revels in fashion feats

Designer talks about her experience in India as she begins planning for her 2015 lawn collection.

KARACHI:

There is no gainsaying the fact that Sania Maskatiya has come a long way over a short span of time. From proving her mettle with her label to showcasing at one fashion week after the other, she is gradually evolving into a household name in the realm of fashion. As she rides high amid achievements across the border and beyond, The Express Tribune speaks to her to about her experiences and what the future holds.

Maskatiya was lauded for her ‘Sakura’ collection, which she recently showcased at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) amid Indian designers in Mumbai. Of her experience, she says, “It was excellent. It provided us (Pakistani designers) with great exposure. My collection received an overwhelming response.” She adds, “People in India looked after us well. I received a warm welcome from the Indian fashion fraternity and found that in terms of taste in fashion, India and Pakistan are quite similar.”

After her successful stint in India, Maskatiya hopes to open a store in the country someday. “As difficult as it may sound at this time, I hope my exhibitions will serve to be a hallmark and [stepping stone] for my label in India.” On dressing up Bollywood fashionista Sonam Kapoor for the cover of Cosmopolitan India’s October issue, she shares, “The process was sourced by Cosmopolitan. They took some outfits of ours and the next thing we know is that Sonam is wearing our label on the cover. That was an amazing surprise.”

Maskatiya holds that Sonam, known more for her eclectic fashion choices than her stints as an actor, epitomises her brand’s design philosophy. “Sonam is a good-looking Bollywood star and an Indian style icon. Her good looks are coupled with elegance. She is the face of the modern woman, something which our brand stands for,” she comments.

In terms of expanding her business, Maskatiya recently opened her store within a multi-label store named Ensemble in Dubai, which she claims will offer ‘vibrancy’ to potential clients. “This is a natural progression for a brand. We have been stocking at Ensemble [in Karachi] for ages. It’s just us upping our game. The store will offer more variety for the customers to choose from and place more orders for.”

Maskatiya had been stocking her collections at Ensemble for the past two to three years, but has now moved from a mere rack to full-fledged space for her apparel. According to her brother and the brand’s business manager, Umair Tabani, this is what sets her store in Dubai apart from such preceding ventures.



Although Maskatiya will not be showcasing at Fashion Pakistan Week (FPW) this season, she says she is gearing up for her lawn collection next year. “From LFW to the upcoming bridal season, I was so busy that I wouldn’t be able to showcase at FPW this time around. However, I am set to bring out my lawn collection by March 2015.” Of her current plans, she states, “For now, it is all about consolidating our brand and achieving that feat with flair.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2014.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.