Top designers from Pakistan and India showcased traditional and contemporary collections on the final day of the 'Shaan- e-Pakistan' lifestyle expo here.
The colour gold dominated the theme for the event last evening, which marked the culmination of the three-day expo aimed at bringing the people of the two countries together through fashion, food and music.
Glamorous, elegant and flamboyant collections in bright colours inspired by the swadeshi movement and the orient made an appearance at the fashion show, which began with a delay of four hours.
"Gold is the main colour of the night. A lot of gold zardosi work is being used. My Braahti collection is based on Wagha which is a Pakistani cut. Pakistani Zardosi along with Indian handwork and it's a completely gold collection with fantastic colours like nude, beige and magentas," Huma Nassr, the founder of the design label Braahtii and the curator of Shaan-e-Pakistan said.
Umar Sayeed, a top designer from Pakistan presented a diverse and colourful collection on the runaway. Sayeed's collection had opened the show.
"I have showcased formal as well as bridal wear. It's a very small collection. Warm colour palette has been used for my collection which essential consists of yellow, orange, maroon and gold. I have basically got marodi work to this platform which is called resham here," Sayeed said.
Collections from the various designers included silk jackets, embroidered shirts, gararas, lehengas, smart formals and bridal wear, the evening bedazzled the audiences with a wide range of designs, cuts, materials and embroidery work.
"The collection opens with a pearl palette followed by topaz and slowly turns into deeper richer more passionate jewel tones. Alexandrites, rubies and garnets vie with sapphires and turquoise to finally transform into ebony. Each outfit is delicately embellished with burnished gold or silver through intricate embroideries and appliques," designer Poonam Bhagat said.
Bhagat was one of the leading Indian designers to showcase her collection at the expo.
"The silhouettes are layered and sheers mix delightfully with solids. Gossamer chanderis twirl and swirl under silk jackets and robes, some quilted and appliqued in gold, others merely appliqued. The pairing is interesting and complimentary. The anarkalis flirt outrageously with volume and a burst of colours while the linear robes try to keep them in check," Bhagat said.
Re-entering the pret market this season with a striking shoot featuring Indian model and actor Lisa Haydon, Sahar Atif set the stage on fire with her exquisite hand-crafted bridal wear creation with exotic embroideries like dabka, zarodsi, mukaish, tulle and their variants.
