Daily Times

LAJWANTI

Lajwanti showcased its collection LAJWANTI – Lajwanti showcased its collection titled A Tale of Spain. Traditional reds made a comeback with lots of heavy gota and appliqué work. The colour palette was based in shades of red, gold and green depicting the essence of traditional weddings. The collection made use of pure silks, jamavar and tissue, worked with stone work, dabka and nakshi kaam.

titled A Tale of Spain. Traditional reds made a comeback with lots of heavy gota and appliqué work. The colour palette was based in shades of red, gold and green depicting the essence of traditional weddings. The collection made use of pure silks, jamavar and tissue, worked with stone work, dabka and nakshi kaam.

MISHA LAKHANI

Misha Lakhani showcased her bridal collection titled Ab-e-Rawan. The designer who has her own niche market, broke away from the stereotypical moderna and traditional colours for bridals and played with blacks and golds for the main day. It is all about setting trends and the designer was successful in doing just that. I loved the voluminous farshi ghararas and light embellishments however jewellery items could have been added to added to look so the outfits appealed more. The fabrics ranged from hand-woven muslins, silks, gauzy nets, velvet, organza and tissues.

RICI MELION

Debuting brand Rici Melion showcased its menswear collection titled Mansiraj. What I liked the most about the collection was the use of bold colours for men sherwanis, complemented by gold turbans. Even the embellishments were subtle, appropriately placed and solid. The wedding collection was creatively conceptualised using a variety of hand woven ultra-fine brocades, modernised appliqued cotton silks and velvets. With traditional cuts, the collection featured a variety of embellishments. The outfits were enriched with ganna jamni work to the slightly modern 3D embellishments. The collection comprised of 15 groom looks for various wedding occasions along with a bridal wear look. Showcased in collaboration with jewelry designer Grace Jewelers, this collection had a color palette of tones of reds, blues, greens and off whites. The collection was conceptualised from the evolutionary patterns of the Mughal era garments. Modern and trendier form of the Mughal sherwanis were showcased in the collection.

ZAINAB SALMAN

Debuting designer Zainab Salman’s Bazeecha-e-Ishq was one of the better collections of the night. The colour palette was bright and lively, the combinations were fantastic the quality showed. The collection was a blend of rich fabrics, soft hues and bold patterns and craftsmanship adopting unique embellishment techniques to create original, heirloom pieces. Featuring intricate hand embroideries that were derived from fresco art embedded in our traditional architecture, Zainab Salman used embellishments such as mukesh, gota, mirror and thread work. Using light and pastel shades, the silhouettes have been kept predominantly classic. The collection also featured five menswear pieces. Ali Noor and actress Iqra Aziz showstopped for the designer.

FAS

FAS showcased their bridal collection titled Sur Taal. The cholis came out as ill fitted and not in harmony with the lehngas. The cuts were haphazard and not in sync with an overall traditional garment. Off-whites, ivory and gold are unconventional colours and to try to make a typical desi bridal out of it could land the designer in trouble. The collection aimed to redefine the classics of bridal wear by making use of luxe fabrics and 3D embellishments. Leading actress Kubra Khan showstopped for the brand.

JEEM BY HAMZA BOKHARI

Jeem by Hamza Bokhari showcased his bridal collection Mizaaj. Stunning outfits with detailing and lush patterns turned heads. The designer is immensely talented. The cuts were a fusion of east meets west and the designer pulled it off with aplomb. To fuse black, red and gold together and create an artistic piece of lehnga choli with cotton net intricately embellished duppata showed the designer’s skill. Jeem by Hamza Bukhari was definitely one of the best collections of the night. Set in fabrics of silks, brocades, organzas, zardozi and block prints, the collection featured traditional silhouettes such as angrakha, jama and azaar.

AHMAD BILAL

Ahmad Bilal showcased his collection titled Noor-e-Nazar. The designer tried to fuse bold reds with beige and somehow the combinations did not come out right. Floral embellishments at the front of the choli with improper volumes did not work on the ramp. It was based in jamawar, chiffon, organza, tissue and silk with fusion of resham work, tilla, pearls and stones. Veteran actress Resham showstopped for the designer.

FARAH & FATIMA

Farah & Fatima showcased their bridal collection titled Dastaan. Less embellishments, more intricate work and pastel shades were the highlights of the collection, which aimed to make the fabric and the colour more prominent.

NIDA AZWER

Esteemed designer Nida Azwer showcased her bridal collection titled Rani Bagh. The colour palette was unique and stood out for its sophisticated traditional appeal. The work was intricate and subtle. I did not know Nida Azwer had a knack for men’s sherwanis as well, and just seeing light grey sherwanis with beige turbans spoke volumes of the designer’s aesthetic. Voluminous kalidars, angrakhas and peshwas were paired with farshi ghararas, lehngas, izars and chooridaars that were complimented with richly worked duppatas and chaadars. Ali Javeri Jewellers deserve a special mention for the stunning chunky polka pieces.

THE HOUSE OF KAMIAR ROKNI

One of Pakistan’s leading fashion houses, The House of Kamiar Rokni showcased their bridal collection titled Moonrise. If we were to see the pieces as separates only, the vintage appeal exuded by burnt pinks, light gota bordered lehngas and bold red ghagras stood out. However to pair a red lehngs with a soft pink choli with elaborate embellishments did not work. The jewellery pieces were stunning.

Published in Daily Times, September 7^th 2018.