It’s been a long wait, but Deepak Perwani finally flew off to the Bulgarian capital this week, to receive the Sixth Most Innovative Design House in the World award from the European Fashion Council and Camera Moda Bulgaria. His achievement is being celebrated at a grand reception at the National History Museum in Sofia by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr. Jamshed Iftikhar. The award, which was announced in July 2014, was won after weeks of public voting and scoring by a panel of judges in mid-2014, during which Deepak was up against a pool of 285 nominations from nine continental regions. Deepak Perwani is the first Pakistani design house to receive the International Bulgarian Fashion Award.

"This award isn’t just an honour for our brand," Deepak said to Instep, "But it’s a great thing for the country too." Indeed, Deepak Perwani’s win at the Bulgarian Fashion Awards raises the profile of Pakistani fashion abroad. The design house has been extended an offer for a four-year participation in Fashion Week Bulgaria as well as five-year participation as a celebrity fashion stylist at the Bulgaria Music Awards. At a time when there is little exposure to Pakistani fashion in Europe, Deepak Perwani’s long-term engagement with its fashion industry will go a long way in registering the presence of the Pakistani aesthetic and design philosophies.

Deepak Perwani’s recognition is already bearing fruit for the fashion industry at home, as the Fashion Pakistan Council is now signing a Memorandum of Understanding with European Fashion Council and the Bulgarian Fashion Council. Deepak will be signing the MoU on behalf of the Fashion Pakistan Council.

Before his flight to Sofia, Deepak had said to Instep, "I’m going with an open mind to reap benefits from any opportunities that come our way. For the future, I’d like to see our young generation going abroad for exposure."

As a label Deepak Perwani has also been recognized for its popularity as the fans’ favourite, its involvement in charitable initiatives and the unique accomplishment of making the largest designer kurta in the world, for which the brand has also gotten an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.