…or to die of. This glass is half empty and half full, depending on how you want to see it. That’s all I’m saying right now. I may not be able to blog in detail because of time restraints and the fact I am officially on assignment but I will surely put up pictures of all collections with my honest critique.
Until then, here’s the line up…
Day One
Sonya Battla one always looks forward to
Sonya Battla: this one ensures that fashion week starts on a good note. It’s hard for Sonya Battla to go wrong, even if she tries.
DnF: Unknown to me
Maimoona Hussain: Young designer from Dubai. Looking for retail options in Karachi but one has not seen her work to be able to pass judgement.
Ayesha Hassan: Unknown to me
Kuki Concepts: Creative
Nargis Hafeez: Commercially safe. Can she improvise for the runway?
Ishtiaq Afzal Khan: Unknown to me
Wardha Saleem: I do have great expectations from Wardha because she injects youthful energy into fashion.
Day Two
Sanam Chaudhri, always has great ideas.
Sanam Chaudhri: a shibori collection that promises to impress, because Sanam has strong style & aesthetic.
Arsalan Yahseer: Creative
Debenhams: High street
Bani D: showed great potential in their fashion week debut and hopefully will sustain it.
Zaheer Abbas: sound though one needs to see his pret go beyond runways.
Amir Baig: Not exactly unheard of but has not registered
Nine West: shoes and bags
Adnan Pardesy: Great expectations from this Rafustrian inspired Rilli collection but will it be available in the stores?
Day three
Maheen Karim is welcome back on the fashion week runway
Maheen Karim: Good to have her back on a fashion week runway
Emraan Rajput: Has not impressed so far
Delphi: classic crochet
Rizwanullah: what comes on the runway, stays on the runway
Fnk Asia: high retail value
Misha Lakhani: this debut is promising, from what one has already
Karachi 8 (or 6 or 5, it keeps changing): capsule collections from Maheen, Shamaeel, Shehla Chatoor, Amir Adnan and others who couldn’t focus long enough to design complete collections but didn’t want us to forget how good they are.
That’s a wrap. What do you think? There are potential hits and ominous misses. One should not pass the verdict until it happens. Let’s see which way the ball rolls for Pakistan Fashion Week that’s happening without Karachi’s strongest names that did show last time: Body Focus, Maheen, Shamaeel, Shehla Chatoor, Nomi Ansari, Bunto Kazmi, Sana Safinaz and not to mention those who didn’t even show last time: Rizwan Beyg, Faiza Samee, Khaadi, Sania Maskatiya etc . Sigh. Why, is all I can ask in resignation, are they not showing this time around?
