What designers vow to offer

We give a sneak peek into what fashion frontrunners have to offer at the upcoming Bridal Couture Week

KARACHI:

You may think it doesn’t get hotter than this but, with a bevy of fashion heavyweights set to show at the three-day Telenor Bridal Couture Week (TBCW), you might just be in for a sizzling surprise. As designers gear up to showcase their bridal collections, The Express Tribune speaks to some of the creative geniuses to get a sneak peek into what they vow to offer, latest bridal trends, and tips and tricks for brides-to-be.

Adnan Pardesy

Making his debut in bridal-wear, the designer shares he and his team are thrilled to be part of the showcase. He says his collection will feature mainly traditional apparel as he has always liked wedding apparel to be this way. “I’ve added my own interpretation to it and, hopefully, the audience will be able to capture and appreciate that,” he adds.

Pardesy shares his designs reflect his signature aesthetics in terms of silhouettes, attention-to-detail and finesse. But this collection will be a mixture of traditional and contemporary aesthetics, offering a diverse range, including farshi ghararas, straight-cut and flared pants, long and short jackets, ghagra choli, and paneled skirts. “It was all about diversifying and experimenting. I’ve used a lot of construction with chatapati but the emphasis this time is on the embroidery. We’ve used resham embroidery, traditional motifs and lots of kora and dabka,” he added.

Arsalan Iqbal

Of the latest trends and tips for the summer bride, he says, “Bridal trends tend to change rarely. However, with the heat-wave we’re currently facing, I feel the colours have toned down to pastels to give a cooler vibe to the brides this season.” He adds, “Summer-brides don’t need to tone it down a notch just because the weather demands it. Go all out as you may have always dreamt of doing on your big day.”

Uzma Baber

The designer, who is not new to bridal-wear, will showcase her ‘Floral Goddess’ collection as an ode to the summer-bride. “The inspiration behind this collection is the artistic fusion of eastern and western aesthetics. I believe women today can’t forgo the beauty of traditional artwork yet want something fresh and modern for their big day this season.”

She offers a colour palette that’s based on nudes, pastels, such as mint green, aqua, lime-green and yellow. A hint of gold gives the finishing touch to her ensembles. Baber has experimented with her signature style, as she says, “Looking at my previous collections, the colour palette is entirely different and we have used a lot of new techniques.” She adds, “It’s all about the fusion of modern cuts, designs and traditional artwork. We have experimented with the zardozi and the 7-mesh technique.”

According to Baber, the collection comprises shararas, ghararas and farshi ghararas, based on luxe fabrics, including silk net, French net, Chantilly net and organza net with pure chiffons, maysoori, brocade, jamawar and raw silk for edging and finishing. “The work and embellishments primarily feature kora, dabka, nakshi along with pearls and sequins,” she further says.

Baber feels bridal-wear will witness mixed trends this season. “Structured pants and ghararas with either short or long shirts will take over, as trends are changing but brides still want to wear long shirts with flares. So, it will take some time for the new trends to take effect.”

HSY

Known as a master couturier, HSY will showcase his signature collection for summer 2015 at TBCW. Remaining true to his aesthetics, his bridal-wear will reflect timeless elegance and traditional glamour. “Our collection pairs pure chiffon and silk with rich jewel tones along with traditional embroidery techniques and classic silhouettes to create a look for a timeless bride,” he states. The collection primarily focuses on intricately embellished lehengas and shirts with shorter hemline, as well as the classic floor-length gowns, which flatter almost every bride.

For HSY, this summer is all about going timeless. “Go for a classic and grand feel with royal arrangements that should translate not only in the designs but also in the festivities ... Whether you want to opt for a traditional ensemble of lehengas choli or take a more modern approach and opt for a gown, everything should have a majestic feel,” he notes.

Arsalan Iqbal

‘Indoi’ is what Iqbal’s offering at the showcase. “We have gone back in time in our little corner, a rich, fertile land that has seen a convergence of cultures, ethnicities and religions. Greek, Byzantine, Mongol, Arian, Gandharan and Oriental influences – all subtly allude to retain a timeless quality that’s both classic and luxe,” he says of his line.

Iqbal says he specialises in innovation, taking the old and time-tested and re-inventing it for a contemporary market and clientele. “Heavy use of kora and dabka, a bridal favourite, but with modern embroidery techniques for better weight-distribution and a more flexible feel to the overall garment will be seen in this collection. Choice of luxury and exclusive in-house fabrics is a cherry on the top,” he explains.

Zardozi, accompanied by touches of resham, pitta, jute work, Swarovski crystals and seed pearls, promises to make the collection stand out. Although the line primarily features menswear, it also includes designs on raw silk and organza and chiffon dupattas for women. Colours dominant in the collection are gold, beige, white, red and maroon.

Of what will be all the rage this season, Iqbal says, “We encourage our clients to take the kurti route this summer. Delicate sheer full sleeves with a gentle, scooped neckline to go with our standard 35-inch-long kurtis over voluminous lehengas. A bit of a dramatic silhouette for baraat and a more ethereal sleekness for valima are advised.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2015.

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