Mastering her flair for bridal wear

Designer Yasmin Zaman soon to open e-store and show at Bridal Couture Week by year-end

KARACHI:

With winter weddings just a hop, skip and a jump away, designers seem to be working at full throttle to bring forth bridal wear that sets the tone for the fashion season. Yasmin Zaman, who started off five years ago with prêt she made for her friends, has been creating bridal outfits that are gradually making their way to the frontline. As she gets set to jump on the e-tail bandwagon this week and show her collection at Bridal Couture Week (BCW), slated to take place this December, she tells us about her designs and what we can expect from her.

Zaman shares her upcoming line will take the viewer back to the medieval era as it draws inspiration from Spain’s Moors. Most designers are recently experimenting with materials, such as net and lace fabric, but Zaman is not one to follow trends. “I have my own taste, my own style and my own touch. I innovate with embroidery, cuts and embellishments in my designs,” she shared.

The designer currently stocks her outfits at Labels in Faisalabad and is in talks with other multi-brand stores to house her semi-formal collections. With a studio located in Defence, Zaman now plans on expanding her design house. “I like to have my own studio space, which is my comfort zone, where I can give enough time to every young bride who visits,” she shared.

Crafting a new way forward

When it comes to designing bespoke bridal wear, she finds it better to discuss preferences directly with the bride instead of other family members. “I want to be more involved with the bride since it’s her big day. I give her advice and suggestions and we lay out details of the outfit out together,” she added.

“The bride is involved in every stage of designing the outfit. I don’t keep my clients in the dark and feel they should be kept involved. Planning is the fun part of the game.” On whether or not she has ever faced issues when dealing with clients, Zaman said, “I’m always nice to brides and try to de-stress them. For the past five years, no such issue has taken place where the bride has stepped out of my studio in tears. One needs to listen to them calmly and make them feel at ease, letting them express exactly what they want,” she noted.

Zaman’s collections have been a frequent sight at bridal couture weeks with her 2014 BCW ‘Khanum’ collection reminiscent of Mughal art and architecture. “I created my pieces on block-printed fabric designed at my studio,” said Zaman. When she first participated at BCW in 2013, her range was titled ‘Suzani’, which was inspired by Central Asian arts and crafts. “This collection was more focused on hand-embroidered fabric, which used to given from a bride to her groom as part of her dowry.”

Going places in the fashion world

Having graduated with a degree in fine arts, Zaman stays involved in painting, and making sculptures and ceramics apart from designing outfits. “I can’t let go of any of these art forms because they’re all a part of me. But for now, I’m enjoying designing too much. I feel proud to give happiness to people in the form of my outfits.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2015.

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