A BOLD STATEMENT

interview

Parishae Adnan is on a mission to break stereotypes. Parishae, a couturier and designer by profession is making waves and statement with her unique take and outlook on fashion.

Recently, Parishae presented her Ahankara Spring/Summer 2023 collection in a fashionable event. This was the young designer’s second collection after she debuted her first collection, ‘Un-gaze’ last November.

She firmly stands for sustainability, slow fashion, empowerment, and expression of self. “There is a difference between rules and tradition; one must be extremely well versed in the rules before attempting to break or bend them. Fashion today is rigid and a little biased. The goal is to be able to push past the boundaries of society while still maintaining tradition. I firmly believe in the right to freedom of expression - I do not believe that anyone can be happy when trying to please others. I aim to push social norms and barriers in a beautiful way, rather than just doing it to be disruptive,” shares Parishae.

Several notable names walked for the designer including actress Noor Khan, fitness pioneer Nusrat Hidayatullah, singer Maria Unera, influencers Zainab RJ, Anzela Abbasi, Sabah Bano Malik, Dua Hamid, actor Maryam Fatima, entrepreneur Sara Saifi, and actor Nida Khan.

The sprawling Arabian Sea played the backdrop for the glamorous event. The sound of the waves crashing along the shore, the faint noise of seagulls in the distance, and the welcoming sea breeze added to the show’s majestic ambiance. The collection was highly appreciated by the attendees, who couldn’t stop raving about Parishae’s vision and her execution. We got hold of the designer behind this thought-provoking collection, and sat down with her for a chat. Read on…

You! When did you start your brand ‘House of Parishae’?

Parishae Adnan: I started ‘House of Parishae’ in my head far before anyone else could really see it. For the world, the brand was established on 3rd November, 2022.

You! How did you get into fashion design?

PA: I was born in it, moulded by it. I didn’t know anything else really until I left for university and by then everything else seemed a little pale in comparison.

You! Where do you look for creative inspiration?

PA: I don’t know, an artist lives surrounded by inspiration just like a fish lives submerged in water. Most recently, my dreams, history, architecture, love, softness, everything.

You! Can you tell us about your recent show?

PA: Ahankara SS23 by House of Parishae was Pakistan’s first ever couture solo fashion show at the beach. We all made a little bit of history on March of this year. The name of the show, ‘Ahankara,’ was derived from the Sanskrit language and refers to the evolution of ego. The underlying theme ‘Evolution of Ego’ is used to depict the veil between reality and perceived reality as it relates to womanhood and femininity in society.

You! What was the inspiration behind the collection?

PA: The inspiration behind this collection actually comes from discovering soft love. The process of redefining and reconstructing your gendered beliefs in order to evolve into something only you are able to define. There is a softness in this process or discovery which we capture in the delicacy of the textiles. There is also a strength and groundedness in this process depicted by recycled steel, ocean waste plastic and broken shards of glass. All of it comes together is this beautiful amalgamation we refer to as the ‘evolution of ego’.

You! Can you give us a rundown of some of the pieces in the collection? And your favourite one?

PA: The show stopping piece, a glass blouse with mechanical wings, was worn by the Canadian Pakistani actor Anika Zulfikar to an original mix of the classic song ‘Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho’ - the lyrics signifying the veil that can be broken through. The track was composed by DJ Khayal Khan, who is a London based artist that collaborated with the fashion house on various original unreleased tracks, heard throughout the show.

I’m really fond of the multifunctional saari, the steel blouse, and the recycled glass lehenga choli.

You! You strongly advocate the need for sustainability, how do you incorporate that into your work?

PA: The collection emphasises the need for sustainability and green living at the forefront. I worked with an environmental-friendly approach while designing the capsule couture collection. The fabrication for the new collection made use of soft, upcycled textiles to depict the ethereal state of dreamlike existence, a space where anything and everything is possible. This was juxtaposed against the structure of hard materials such as recycled plastic, metal, and glass to portray how one must simultaneously remain grounded in order for them to keep breaking barriers.

You! How do you walk the line between being unique and having commercial appeal?

PA: At the moment, I don’t think I need to walk that line. My clients come and find me based on the aesthetic sense that I showcase. I do not feel the need or desire to please anyone.

You! You’re both the creative and the business head of your company. How do you balance your time between the two?

PA: When you run your own business, everything is work and everything is play and then there is sleep. So, I don’t actively create a separation in my mind about what is creative and what is business, the two overlap inseparably.

You! How would you define fashion?

PA: It is a medium, in a perpetual state of flux.

You! How do you think fashion should make people feel?

PA: It’s art, it’s an expression of self, and it’s highly subjective.

You! Who are your style icons and why?

PA: I don’t really have any. I think giving one person so much importance creates a hierarchy of aesthetics and perhaps it also prevents you from falling in love with other aesthetics.

You! What are your favourite fashion trends?

PA: I don’t have a favourite fashion trend. Everything changes far too quickly to hold onto.

You! Fashion, just as everything else is about learning and growing, what are the two key lessons you bank on always?

PA: One, that black is a classic colour. And two, accomplishment is whatever you are willing to declare.

You! How do you handle criticism?

PA: With a grain of salt. It has taken me many years to realise that not all criticism is valid, and not all praise is true. And none of it should stop you from doing what you do, and none of it should be louder than your own intuition.

You! What does a typical day for a fashion designer look like?

PA: Well, I like structure and routine, so my day starts at 9 am at the office. The first half is usually creatively spent; innovating, designing, planning, strategy meetings, and of course lessons with the masters. The second half is more execution, appointments, follow through and that’s that.

You! What advice can you give to young designers?

PA: Just keep swimming.

You! What’s next for you?

PA: Everything is right on track. Let’s watch it unfold shall we?

CREDITS: Music: DJ Dr Hassan Mallick (Nirvana Principle) l Choreography by: Sabrina Furqan l Coordination: Hira Haq on behalf of District 19 l Setup: AM Creatives l Makeup & Hair: Team Nabila