Kami, the Parson connection and Pakistan’s very own Alexa Chung!

Kamiar Rokni is back in the game!

Pakistan’s most creative and talented design whiz has been on a very long sabbatical – blame it on his flailing heath, he says – and he’s been sorely missed from red carpet and runway action. There were fears that he was retiring from the fashion action altogether. Thankfully, that’s far from the truth. Tia Noon and Kamiar Rokni are back at the drawing board, working on their first collection for the upcoming PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week.

“For the couture Tia came up with a concept a while ago and that slowly developed into something interesting for the current collection….hope it turns out good!” he says.

And here’s the nugget of news: Rehan Bashir, Kami’s cousin who you may have seen with him at fashion weeks, has joined the troupes and is now one of the design team at the House of Kamiar Rokni. As the Punju connection would have it, Kami, Tia and Rehan are all related through Kami’s maternal family.

L’Oreal’s Moazzam Ali Khan, Kamiar Rokni and his co-designer, Parson-trained Rehan Bashir

Rehan’s claim to fame, other than an interesting dress sense (yes, we have been noticing) is that he’s just returned from NYC with solid training from Parsons.

“Rehan was in NYC for his Fulbright to Parsons,” Kami shared with me, “and thankfully joined us when he got back. He has an art background but we all work well together so hopefully the new stuff will be reflective of that.” One look at Kami and Rehan’s love for vintage added to their eye on contemporary style and we are very sure it will be!

While we’re looking forward to the House of Kamiar Rokni making a PLBW debut later this year, I was delighted to see him reviving some dapper twenties action with Zara Peerzada on his arm. Zara, petitie intelligent and style savvy, could very well be our own Alexa Chung, Pakistan’s new IT girl. I first spotted her at the last PLBW in a white bustier paired with a red Ali Xeeshan bridal skirt. She was quite the image. While conventional (meaning lawn) appearances have done nothing for her personal style, I did think she was the best looking person on the Lux Style Awards red carpet.

Zara Peerzada and Kamiar Rokni, my choice for Best Dressed on the Lux Style Awards red carpet last week.

 “After a very long time we have a girl who is modern and contemporary and I wanted to showcase that,” Kami shared Zara’s look with me. “I do think she has the Alexa Chung Factor because she makes what she wears her own by adding her own elements and personal style. She is smart and funny which always adds more to a persons appeal as far as I’m concerned. Its always beauty and brains for me.”

“I chose this look for her because she is super tiny and very young so I did not want her to drown in excess.”

Kami may be working on couture right now but he promises that his return to pret is not far and he will start stocking at Labels and Ensemble by next year.

Photography by Faisal Farooqui at Dragonfly