You’re at the helm of the fashion and design industry in Pakistan. Tell us about your journey; when did you realise this was the right profession for you? How much did you struggle and overcome obstacles to reach the pinnacle? We were young friends in our 20s living in Karachi and we felt a very tangible dearth of exciting and trendy designs. We knew then that we had something very special to offer and that’s when our journey began. We are very thankful to God and we really can’t complain our journey has been one that has gone from strength to strength with the encouragement of our incredible family, friends and support system. How did you both team up? Have you ever considered going separate ways and launching independent fashion careers? We’ve been best friends, business partners and sisters’ in law and have never once considered going our separate ways. Friendship has been the key to our success and that transcends to our entire team. Our entire journey has been based on friendship and that has been our strength. Whenever we’ve felt our interest fading in one thing we have moved onto a different segment of design and that’s how we’ve branched out into lawn, retail, formal and semi-formal wear, bridals and interiors. What’s the best thing about your team and partnership? As mentioned earlier friendship is the very essence of Sana Safinaz. It’s just wonderful to have a partner you can rely on 100 percent and bounce around ideas with. Coupled with a team that enjoys working together and has so much to offer is a blessing. Each team member has their own strength that they contribute and when it’s all combined, it’s truly magical. From exotic shoot locations to showcasing all over the world, which is your favourite vacation spot and why? We love travelling within Pakistan and all over the world. Each place has provided us with an abundance of inspiration and a treasure trove of memories. As for a favourite spot, we’re still exploring and we’ll let you know if we ever find just one. How has fashion evolved all over Pakistan from the time you started out up until now? Fashion has evolved by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. The competition is very cut throat and you have to be on your game 24/7, 365 days a year! There is absolutely no room for complacency. The entire platform has changed as a whole and it is truly thriving with an abundance of fashion weeks, TV shows, magazine publications and indeed social media which has changed the game entirely. “We’ve been best friends, business partners and sisters’-in-law and have never once considered going our separate ways” Which according to you has been your biggest achievement? By the grace of God we have achieved tremendous milestones in the last 27 years that we have been in this field, however our greatest success has been building this business from scratch completely independently. We have never had any kind of financial backing in any aspect of our business and neither have we had any mill backing for our lawn. We have arrived here through sheer hard work and commitment surrounded by a lot of love and support. We often hear how Indians are impressed by Pakistani designers and our fashion, etc. In Pakistan, it seems to be the other way around. Why is that? How much is Pakistani fashion different from Indian? It is wonderful to see how fashion is a platform that connects people across borders. It transcends prejudice and politics and that’s another reason to love it! At the end of the day, the two countries produce a very different fashion aesthetic and varying craftsmanship. That is why one can easily identify an Indian design from a Pakistani one. Indian designs tend to be associated with bolder and more vibrant colours, motifs and work and Pakistani designs tend to be a bit more understated, softer and striking in a more subtle way. We are always thrilled to be appreciated in India and in turn, we truly admire the creativity and talent from there. What is your vision for Pakistan? What does it mean to be Pakistani for you? Our hope and our most heartfelt prayer is for a safe, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan. There is no dearth of talent and ability in our country, however the unfortunate state of affairs, lack of political leadership and stability, truly inhibit us as a nation from flourishing to our full potential, which we believe would be absolutely boundless if we were to get rid of the constraints that bind us. Being Pakistani is everything to us. Our identity and culture is what defines us and we are devoted to promoting a softer image of Pakistan to the global arena. Where do you see the Sana Safinaz brand in the next 10 years? Are there any more expansion plans? We’ve got big plans for the future. You’ll just have to wait and see! We, at Daily Times, consider both of you our national heroes. Who are some of yours? In spite of and indeed because of all the pitfalls we face here in Pakistan, there has always been an abundance of heroism and triumph of the human spirit as so many people make sacrifices everyday for the betterment of Pakistan. Heroes are indeed all of you who live and work here striving to build our nation with a dream for a better future, Insha Allah. Achievements Market’s Favourite The designer duo’s coveted label Sana Safinaz is considered one of the country’s top-selling fashion brand, where there is something exciting and affordable for girls all ages. The Strength Of Their Friendship Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer are best friends, business partners and sisters’ in law. They have been in the market for decades and have never once considered going their separate ways over disagreements or fallouts, as their understanding is such. International Stars The prestigious fashion brand is not just a success in its home country but is recognised across the borders too for their versatile designing and unique sense of style.