PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, coming up!

 

The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2016 line-up promises some sharp and cutting edge style.

 

By Aamna Haider Isani

 

 

The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week kicks off very soon and it reveals a line-up that promises some sharp and cutting edge style for women always on the lookout for trends.

 

The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2016 lineup

 

Now in its eighth year, #PSFW (the fourteenth fashion week organised by the PFDC) has been monumental in starting and consistently maintaining the need for seasonal collections to streamline trends and establish market leaders in the country. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that almost every major designer has shown on this platform. This year’s event will feature 16 of Pakistan’s biggest fashion brands and 11 textile brands that will showcase on the last day. Four new designers will be introduced in the Bank Alfalah Rising Talent Show, now a regular segment of the event, out of which people will vote for one winner. Here’s what I’ll be looking out for…

 

Day One

 

Feeha Jamshed will be showing after three years and from what I’ve heard it will be an exciting collection.

 

The first day of fashion week boasts one of the strongest line-ups. I can’t think of anyone better to open fashion week than Sana Safinaz; their shows are always crisp and contemporary and offer innovations in design. Feeha Jamshed, who’ll be showing after a PSFW break, is sure to impress because never has she shown a bad collection. And now that she has a standalone store in Karachi, the runway to retail transition will be speedy and sublime. Speaking of Sublime, Sara Shahid will also be taking a break from her council duties to do what she does best: design! And after showing a spectacular collection last year, Muse is also a hotly anticipated show. The Bank Alfalah Rising Talent show is important in terms of supporting new designers, which brings us to the finale. There’s one word that comes to mind when you mention Maria B and that is Ladak. Let’s just hope she’s working on those lines too!

 

Day Two

 

Ali Xeeshan is doing some of the most distinct, visually striking shoots in the country.

 

Nomi Ansari always has something up his sleeve so Day 2 will begin on a high note and will continue to rise with the theatrics that Ali Xeeshan’s Theatre Studio will inevitably deliver. That’s two shows of high-energy action, which will be followed by Sania Maskatiya. I’m intrigued to see whether Sania shifts to solids (after her last, structured collection that we loved) or will she commit to her signature prints. I do hope she surprises us. I’m also delighted that Mahgul, a rare and creative young spark from Lahore, has taken up a full show instead of being allocated capsule slots. It was high time. Nickie Nina and Karma Pink are the two concluding shows of the day and while Maheen Kardar has the potential to pack a very powerful punch, I do fear monotony from Nickie Nina. That said I am eager to see some fresh energy (from Nickie’s daughter) inject itself into the brand ethos.

 

Day Three

 

The House of Kamiar Rokni showed this collection at Fashion Scout in London and will be adding several pieces before showing it at PSFW this week.

 

Again, this is a day that begins and ends on a high note with enough content in between to retain excitement. Following the pattern, the day will begin with a Karachi-based design house, in this case Khaadi Khaas. Shamoon has gone on record saying this will be the “best show”. The House of Kamiar Rokni will elaborate its Fashion Scout, London collection, which will be available at their studio for ordering. Then we have Zonia Anwaar, who impressed last year but then disappeared so her fabulous tribal collection never really made it to retail (at least not effectively). Saira Shakira, proud owners of a recently inaugurated flagship store, will definitely want to throw in their best and then Zara Shahjahan is always an exciting show. The PSFW Grand Finale, as always, is HSY and there’s not a doubt that this will be a high octane show. Not only will it (probably) be the only showcase of menswear (as well) but a little bird has revealed that HSY will be unveiling a new male brand ambassador (hinting at Bilal Ashraf) at the show too. That’s some guaranteed eye candy for the ladies.

 

PS. Four high street brands – Ten, DSS, Umar Iftikhar and Denizen – will be showcasing earlier in the evening and they make one wonder what happened to brands like Coco, MK Nation and Generation that reflected the ethos of fashion week with seasonal trends and styles? I’m unsure as to how fashion forward these current four can be. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

Day Four

 

Deepak Perwani, who’s also designed one of the Sunsilk bottles this year, will be opening Day 4.

 

Day Four will open with Deepak Perwani, who’ll be showing his Spring/Summer 2016 pret collection, after which the day will proceed to lawn. Al Karam, Khas, Warda Prints, Ittehad Textiles, Harmony, Gul Ahmed, MBM, HSY Limited, Shirin Hasan and Sobia Nazir are the names on the line-up. I’m desperately missing Shubinak on this list because that’s a brand that impressed in its debut last year.

 

The names are big and the line-up is impressive but what remains to be seen is how memorable are the collections. What one looks for, season after season, is innovation in design; patterns that are unique and have the capacity to change and modify trends are what catch the eye when it comes to prêt a porter. Design skill and technique is another thing; we need to take style out of the embellishment bracket and think of tweaking silhouettes and offering shapes and structure to garments. Another thing that I’m always interested in is political referencing and contextualizing current affairs in fashion. Fashion in the anthropological sense of the word is what makes it relevant. Are we thinking global warming, deforestation, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Oscar or more significantly, the cause she’s fighting for: honour killings. Everyone wants to wear pretty clothes but it’s always clothes that stand out that stay in the mind. Let’s have more of those!