Lahore’s biggest fashion affair the four-day PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2015 ended with new hope and renewal of faith in the booming fashion industry. This was the eighth edition of the event held at Lahore Expo Center. The fashion gala marked the twelfth fashion week platform initiated by the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (with eight weeks of prêt-à-porter and four of bridal fashion). With the extravagant showcase of prêt, the four day event was full of glitz & glamour. The endeavours defined and presented trends for 2015, focusing specifically on fashion for the region’s long hot summer months.
For some years designer lawn and especially demand for prêt has gone higher and higher. Now prêt has become the top agenda of every designer. There was a time when PFDC was supposed to be the platform where only prêt collection were showcased but with the passage of time, the prêt concept changed into luxury prêt and now on the ramp we mostly see the showcase of luxury prêt in terms of local prêt. The fashion week just did not end by only saying thanks and goodbye to the audiences and fashionistas, this time the council shared new projects also the official spokesperson of the PFDC, Sara Shahid of Sublime by Sara announced the official dates for the Council’s next fashion week, PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2015 which is scheduled to be held from 15th September to 17th September 2015.
PFDC Mrs. Sehyr Saigol also made a special announcement on behalf of the Council and its Board Members that the council plans to establish Pakistan’s first ever craft based Design District, a multi-purpose specialized facility that would assist in developing and enhancing the arts and crafts industries, which are an integral part of Pakistan’s rich cultural legacy. In addition to being a centre for skill improvement and capacity building, the Design District would also house a first of its kind Textile Museum.
This year the line up of the designer was not as attractive as it have been since last years. The PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2015 team build three distinct platforms within PSFW with separate and dedicated showcase by Luxury/Prêt designers only on day 1, early evening High-Street brand shows followed by late evening Luxury/Prêt shows on days 2 and 4 with day 3 dedicated to shows for Textile houses only. We missed Elan, Ali Xeeshan and Deepak Perwani on the ramp.
In terms of show line up, expect Luxury/Prêt collections from Fahad Hussayn, HSY, Huma & Amir Adnan, Misha Lakhani, Muse, Nickie Nina, Nida Azwer Atelier, Republic by Omar Farooq, Saira*Shakira, Sana Safinaz, Sania Maskatiya, Teena by Hina Butt, Zara Shahjahan and Zonia Anwaar. The platform also introduced debut solo ramp showcases for designers Hassan Riaz, Natasha Kamal and Syeda Amera with their Luxury/Prêt collections. The fashion week kept the feel of summer alive with vibrant colours, cool hues and bold styles. The trends which were prominent on the ramp were skirts with crop tops, straight shirts, long dresses and nehru jackets.
Surprisingly this time the fashion week was very well managed in terms of time. The first three days show ended till 9 to 9.30pm. Only the 4th day was dragged till 10.30pm. It was good to see that all the production teams and management worked hard and finished it on time.
This time ramp was set in all new way. It was the longest ramp all set in simple way.
An exhibit area and media lounge was also set up for all the designers at the venue itself to showcase their collections allowing buyers, media and consumers to view the clothes off the ramp and journalist could have interaction with the designers. As atmosphere was heating up inside, those who were outside enjoyed the whole show as organizers had arrange a king size screen for them. Drivers who had to wait for hours definitely didn’t mind waiting. The red carpet which seems always crowed with the celebrities was dull this time. There were only few prominent attendances like Juggan Kazim, Nashta Saleem, Mesha Shafi, Maheen Ghani, Armeena Rana, Ayesha Omer, Mira, Ali Xeeshan, Kamair Rokhni, HSY, Mehreen Syed, Huma Adnan, Khadija Shah, Hajra Hayat and more designers of the fashion industry.
The heartthrob of millions Fawad Khan walked the ramp for Republic by Omer Farooq which made the audience go crazy. Hina Khwaja Bayat and Turkish personality Nur Maden were the showstoppers of the designer Natasha Kamal. Goher Mumtaz and his wife Anam Ahmed also graced walked the ramp for Erum Khan.
PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2015 was being styled by the creative teams at Nabila’s and NGENTS. Light design, set design, sound engineering, video packaging, choreography and show production from concept to construction was by HSY Events, front stage management by Maheen Kardar Ali, backstage management by Product 021, Sara Shahid of Sublime by Sara as the official spokesperson for the PFDC, logistics and operations by Eleventh Experience and photography by Faisal Farooqui and the team at Dragonfly, Hum TV/Hum Sitaray as the Official Media Partners, CityFM89 as the Official Radio Partners with all media management by Lotus Client Management & Public Relations.
Lets have a look on the collections of the designers
- Fahad Hussayun:
The designer opened day 1 with his collection titled ‘Democrats Midsummer 2015’. Using dark tones like blue and black and bit nude tone, the ensemble was not giving so much feel of summer. He showcased his signature drapes, embroidered surfaces, statement accessories and exclusive embroideries along with his Print Musuem Live Digital Prints in silk and chiffon. Silhouettes were limited this time. The dress which Cybil wore as a show stopper gave the feel of bridal wear more than prêt as it was heavily embellished. The men wear jackets were a good addition in the collection.
- Nickie Nina:
The designer duo collection ‘Chambeli’ was flawless featuring luxe fabrics, cuts and embellishments such as organza, chiffon, silk net, georgettes, french laces, real pearls and 3D floral work based in a colour palette of white, ivory, beige, silvers and black. The collection has short and long shirts, bell bottoms, middies, summer coats, capes, ties, modified shalwars in an amalgamation of eastern and western styles.
- Muse
The collection displayed the MUSE woman’s traits with the choicest of palettes; confidence depicted in black and white and volatility in gold, silver and slivers of color. Set in fabrics of organza, Dupion and Gazar, ‘Discipline and Drama’ featured flared long pants, oversized dresses, pleated skirts, cropped tops layered with coats and metal belts with embellishments of beads, pearls and French sequins.
- Nida Azwer:
Nida Azwer showcased an exquisite collection. The ensemble title ‘The Iznik Collection’. The collection was based in hues of blue and teal with hints of saffron and was embellished with fine silk thread work, crystal and zardozi in luxe fabrics. The designer focused on structured construction across summer jackets, pants and tops along with flowy silhouettes.
- Erum Khan:
Erum Khan made her PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week debut with ‘The Untainted Shine’. The designer showcased high waist skirts to button up pants and sheer long dresses. With neat and straight structured cuts, Erum had used fabrics such as organza combined with silk, 3D flowers, patch work and antique katdanna in a collection which was based in a white colour palette.
- Sana Safinaz:
Sana Safinaz’s collection was inspired by monochromatic structured looks with pops of colour. The collection was based in luxe fabrics such as kattan, silks, fine silk organza and dutches satin in a colour palette majorly based in black and white with strong vibrant pop infusions. Simple cuts could be seen with effective embellishments.
- Huma&Amir Adnan
Huma & Amir Adnan showcased a joint collection for the first time. Huma and Amir had used a mix of fabrics, textures and embellishments with a complex collection of weaves, prints and embroideries in silk, linen, cotton and microfiber. The color palette included midnight blue, emerald green, wet earth, aubergine, ivory, old paper, turmeric, leaf and magenta. The collection featured long shirts, double layered shirts, printed vests and jackets, textured pants, colored shoes for men and layers of multi-textured fabrics, tighter silhouette, vests and jackets for women.
Debut designers at PSFW15
- Natasha Kamal
Natasha Kamal made her debut on the ramp with her collection ‘Le Nouvel Esprit.’ The collection featured deep hues of blues, bourdeaux and gold accompanied by softer tones of woodbine green, nude and white. With great focus on silhouettes, cuts and symmetry the collection featured trends of floral prints paired with bold stripes, a couture take on geometric designs, which looked to symmetry rather than asymmetry and to the rectilinear rather than the curvilinear. The ensemble was based in pure silks, chiffon, organza, suede and net with art deco inspired embellishments and patterns using gota, cut-work and applique alongside crystals, sequin, beads and studs.
- Rayya Gillani:
The collection titled ‘Vintage Luxury’. The designer showcased graphic prints, vintage/floral prints, high waist skirts, straight pants, straight knee length Jackets/boxy jackets and straight silhouettes.
- Syeda Amera
The collection ‘The World of Sea’ was Inspired by love for the enchanting underwater, the collection was based in premium quality organza, jersey, nets and silks with delicate cuts and embellishments consisting of beads, sequins and feathers to reflect the collection’s aquatic theme. It featured a palette of aqua marine, scupa blue, powder pink, grey blue, tequila sunrise yellow, orange and lagoon green with trends that employed skirt layering, frills and ruffles and flared pants. Some of the pieces in the collection were heavily embellished which were giving the feel of couture.