There are only a handful of fashion labels that have taken Pakistan’s industry by storm. One such exception is the unique brand Deepak & Fahad. Known for their unique personas reflected in their work of designing, particularly for men, I was lucky to have a serious fashion forward conversation with the dynamic duo. I, for one, believe that men’s fashion is not given precedence and that there is a dire need for some men to update their wardrobes and commit to the latest fashion trends, if they dare or are willing to. Deepak & Fahad received widespread acclaim across Pakistan in various fashion shows namely, Pakistan Fashion Week, Bridal Couture Week and India Fashion Week. I leave the rest to your imagination! As someone who loves fashion dearly, I asked Deepak and Fahad about their early start in the fashion industry. “We love the power that apparel has on a personality, and the transformative quality of dressing up. Clothing is a language of its own and that is something that has always enticed us. So, after completing our education, we thought of giving it a try, and I guess it worked out pretty well,” they maintain. I wonder who inspires them in the field of fashion being quite talented and driven themselves. “Tom Ford is quite inspirational. His designs look beautiful, with a nice silhouette and shape. There is nobody else in brands, high street, doing what he does,” Deepak says. Little did I know that Fahad had a legend in mind; none other than Vivienne Westwood! “I think her designs are funky and mad. They are out there, if you know what I mean. She is not scared to experiment and that is what I love most about her,” he said passionately. “What makes your brand label unique and distinguished from all the contemporary designers in Pakistan,” I queried. “We believe that our experimental design philosophy in menswear is what sets us apart, as we keep pushing the boundaries. We experiment with a lot of elements like embroideries, printing techniques, fabric treatments, silhouettes, etc. Every season, we try to bring something new to the table,” they tell me. I proceeded with a question on the latest fashion trends and asked the duo what was the one current fashion trend for men they thought was outdated and why. They responded, “Digital printed sherwanis. It’s done and dusted, and we don’t think it’s going anywhere further.” Speaking of trends, I could not have missed a question on some sizzling fall trends of 2017! Deepak and Fahad shared some interesting details from their new collection. “The hot trends are over sized shoulders, longline shirts, jumpsuits, graphic art, print on print and pastels. Our spring/summer 2017 collection has a lot of long line shirts with artistic prints and embroideries. We have played around with contemporary embroidery techniques and fabric treatments,” the duo ardently responds. I couldn’t have let Deepak and Fahad discuss their designer wear without asking them about the word ‘fashion’ itself. “What does fashion mean to both of you?” I queried. “Fashion should always reflect an individual’s personal sense of style, while keeping in tune the current trends. Not everything will suit everyone, so it all comes down to individual choices and style expressions,” they answered. Affordable fashion is something we hardly talk about, or we never did in the first place. “Contrary to popular belief, fashion doesn’t always have to be expensive. You don’t have to be rich to look good or fashionable. Globalisation has had an impact on street fashion as well and there are more ways than one to get on the fashion bandwagon,” they added. “In your opinion, what is a classic formal, semi formal and casual look for men overall,” I ask. “The tuxedo is the heart of formal wear for men. One can never go wrong with a well fitted jacket and pants paired with a white shirt and black bow tie. For a semi formal event, a tuxedo would not be appropriate, but it’s still important to remain elegant, sophisticated and neat. A dark suit and tie are accepted for semi formal events in the evening. During daytime, lighter suits, preferably in pastel hues, will always make a statement. Shoes should remain dressy, while accessories like pocket squares and wristwatches, should be understated. A casual look can be anything in which you feel comfortable,” they share. I ask them about their upcoming projects and collections and what has been keeping them busy these days. “We are currently working on two collections. Both are very different from each other. One is very high fashion and the other one is a traditional bridal collection. We are also doing the wardrobe and styling for a few upcoming movie projects.” Since Deepak and Fahad work together, the likelihood of ideas overlapping each other can sometimes become problematic. “Is working in cohesion a challenging work ethic especially when you have occasional disagreements on certain ideas or themes,” I queried. “Not really. It’s not challenging at all because we both understand each other’s aesthetics so well that we hardly have any disagreements. We do have creative differences regarding some pieces at times, which is healthy for a creative process. In such situations, we make two pieces of the same design and then decide which one better,” they tell me. There is a lack of appreciation for men’s wardrobe, particularly because no attention is paid to their designs, which is quite frustrating. That said, the same old monotonous designs are recycled over time! “Why do you think men have limited clothing options,’ I ask. “We feel it has a lot to do with the mindset of men in our society. Majority of them aren’t willing to experiment. They prefer safer options and tried and tested styles. This limits the designers to a great extent. We do see some bursts of creativity in the ramp but those are seldom seen in everyday life. We do try to bring innovation into the preferred styles to set our designs and clients apart.” “Pakistan’s fashion industry is making serious progress in the world’s fashion scene. It has and continues to grow and flourish with time. There was lack of awareness, support, funding and exposure but a dramatic shift in attitude, lifestyle and the socio-political climate of Pakistan has created an ideal environment which has enabled the fashion industry to thrive,” they sign off our rendezvous. Deepak & Fahad are one of a kind, let’s just put it that way! Their take on traditional and modern fashion is both progressive and impressive to say the least. Published in Daily Times, October 6th 2017.