We have mixed feelings about the showcases in the run up to FPW’s grand finale. While it was generally ‘pretty’ and ‘nice to look at’ – there was little to no innovation in the traditional bridal collections. It was one predictable collection after the other. Sana Safinaz, however, put together a finale that will be spoken about for months to come.
Sana Safinaz
FASHIONWeek
Very safe, very commercially viable showcases were followed by Maheen Khan’s elegant quintessence and finally, that stellar Sana Safinaz grand finale.
Karachi: We have mixed feelings about the showcases in the run up to FPW’s grand finale. While it was generally ‘pretty’ and ‘nice to look at’ – there was little to no innovation in the traditional bridal collections. It was one predictable collection after the other. Sana Safinaz, however, put together a finale that will be spoken about for months to come. The turnout for the latter was impressive with the exclusive hall jam-packed with their friends, family and media alike. The throngs of people that came out went home satisfied to have braved the crowds and traffic jams outside the venue. Their finale definitely made the entire day worth sitting through.
Tena Durrani’s aptly titled Platinum Series was a showcase of her silvery aesthetic that she’s known for and has established herself with in the wedding wear market. Durrani’s clothes have been seen doing rounds every shaadi season for their aesthetic appeal to the masses. For this collection, she played within the same range and showed a predictable but well-designed collection.
Adnan Pardesy
Nauman Arfeen’s Carnation collection was a throwback to the 20s in its styling but with roaring Bollywood music and a direction of design that left us bewildered. The womenswear was uninspiring and the menswear turned out to be much better in comparison. The blush tones for men were refreshing in eastern wear especially since it’s a colour men generally don’t wear to weddings but that was about it.
Saira Shakira’s A Monsoon Wedding was another pretty to look at but predictable collection. We miss the days of their androgynous experimentation. The duo did want to make a commercially viable collection and achieved that goal. Favourites from the collection included the belted tops with beads which was a new-ish silhouette we could get behind this wedding season. Sana Javed closed the show for them; she’s become quite the catwalk sensation this fashion week.
Adnan Pardesy’s Rivayat collection had its moments in the black and gold and gold and white numbers. The ones on Areeba Habib and Saheefa Jabbar Khattak were ensembles that we sat up to notice. The rest of the collection veered into pretty pastels that we desperately want to move on from. Albeit intricate, with great craftsmanship and commercially viable designs, we reiterate it’s not the stuff of fashion weeks. His menswear was well constructed and ticked off all our boxes; good fabric, well fitted with subtle additions.
Maheen Khan
Maheen Khan’s The Lion and the Muse collection was the penultimate collection of fashion week. The collection was quintessential, classic Maheen Khan – understated, refined. Her signature jamawar cholis (bustiers) are impeccably cut and fitted and her years of experience in drapery and construction did show in many of her designs. Two standout numbers from the lineup were the jacket on top of the gharara and the plain golden sari on Sadaf Kanwal. As ever, Maheen’s collection was more about silhouette and form than embellishment. This was a refreshing and contemporary showcase after the bling central designs we saw preceding this. We must give a nod to the makeup look on the models – glittery eyes and dark vampy lips with hair up was the ideal beauty look for Khan’s ensembles.
There could not have been a more befitting finale on the last day of fashion week. A solo show, done up and decorated in quintessential Sana Safinaz style. With this show, the duo returned to their glamour of days past. It was notable for its fabric, cut and fit as well as for the quality of embellishment and finishing. A true bridal extravaganza with 60 designs on display, Sana Safinaz really upped the ante with this showcase, showing all kinds of wedding wear from gowns, kameez and pants, lehengas and even debuted their new capsule menswear collection. They had added some noteworthy accents in their ensembles from flitting feathers, frills, fringes, tassels and 3D embroidery.
This was highly charged end to a four-day long event that has seen some great fashion. FPW ended on a wonderful note and the council deserves praise for making it possible for two designers to put together noteworthy solo shows and a smooth and timely running for others. If there was criticism to give, we just wish the collections could be edited better for innovation by fashion week standards.
– Photography by Faisal Farooqui @ Dragonfly
