The Asian Institute of Fashion Design (AIFD) celebrated a significant milestone, celebrating 24 years with a grand show called Fashion Odyssey. The event highlighted the creative achievements of AIFD’s students and alumni, while attracting an impressive audience of 1,500 attendees, including renowned celebrities, fashion icons, influencers, and corporate leaders.

Held last month at Iqra University’s Main Campus in Karachi, “Fashion Odyssey” not only showcased the artistic talents of AIFD’s students but also acknowledged the institute’s enduring infuence on the fashion industry.

Over the years, AIFD has solidified its reputation as a beacon of innovation and excellence in design education.

In her speech, AIFD Founder Sanober Ahsan reaffirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to excellence in fashion education. She attributed the AIFD’s success to its state-of-the-art facilities and distinguished faculty, who play a pivotol role in nurturing industry leaders. Reflecting on AIFD’s legacy, she expressed immense pride in the accomplishments of alumni like Zaheer Abbas and Adnan Pardesy, whose work has achieved international acclaim.

Sanober also emphasized the importance of fostering intellectual curiosity and innovation to propel the future of fashion, a vision exemplified by the students’ work showcased during the event.

The evening’s highlight was the creative work of AIFD’s final-year students of 2024, brought to life by 11 professional models. The runaway was also graced by recently trained AIFD students making their debut on the fashion stage. Their designs showcased a captivating array of artistic elements, ranging from handcrafted jewelry and intricate embroidery to fusion cuts and experimental textures. The runway, adorned with dusky lighting and autumn-inspired decor, perfectly encapsulated the creativity and vision of these emerging fashion talents.

Industry veterans Rizwan Beyg was the show director while Nabila’s team lent their expertise as the hair and makeup duty. Their combined effort ensured a flawless and sophisticated presentation. Rizwan Beyg praised the event for promoting cutting-edge fashion and providing a platform for young designers to experiment beyond the prevailing trends of bridal wear.

This vision materialized on the runway, where 60 couture pieces were styled by celebrity stylist Tabesh Khoja, an AIFD alumnus. Additionally, 10 exclusive wardrobe designs were displayed in a curated pictorial exhibit.

Asfa Sultan hosted the event, while Dino Ali hosted the red carpet. The Chairman of Iqra University, Naveed Lakhani, expressed his delight in hosting such a landmark event, noting that it reinforced the university’s dedication to nurturing future fashion leaders. He described the showcase as a testament to AIFD’s 24 years of creativity, passion, and artistry.

The showcase encapsulated AIFD’s transformative journey and its pivotol role in shaping the next generation of fashion visionaries.