KARACHI: Millennials are post-Gen-Xers born between 1980 and 2000 and have come of age in the digital era and Fashion Pakistan is taking the business of fashion a notch higher by supporting the young talent and their entrepreneurship skills. With these words reverberating between the walls of the impressive colonial structure of the Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, the Fashion Pakistan Council geared up for the upcoming Fashion Pakistan Week being held from Nov 25 to 27 by holding the Millennial Fashion Fall/Winter 2014 showcase.

It was also pointed out that like elsewhere around the globe, millennials make up the largest population of Pakistan and have a distinct manner of self-expression which led to the council seeking out millennials and providing them with a platform dedicated to the future stars of the fashion industry.

Fashion, glamour and youth all came together on Saturday evening with models, stylists and a debuting choreographer in the form of model Fayezah Ansari to showcase the works of five young designers. Aalish Mansoor, a graduate of the Asian Institute of Fashion Design, opened the show with a collection of retro designs titled Royal Soccer which was all about mankind’s oldest practice of competing in games. Digital prints encompassing the royal arts, architectural restorations and the football pattern featured on outfits with a play of black and white, especially an attractive zippered, structured jacket usually favoured by bikers and highlighted by funky make-up in shades of orange and pink.

Nitasha Yaqub chose to depict her theme of Vanishing Culture inspired by Anglo Indians of the British subcontinent. Termed a revival of bygone trends, she showed headgear and hats , crochet lace on a desi fabric weave of what seemed to be latha in a full-skirted outfit, embroidered sash, a standout button-down dress skirt with puffed sleeves and floral print lapels in her line comprising retro designs.

The only one to show menswear, Sameer Sain featured denim with jute patchwork with mix ‘n’ match jacket with baggy pockets and another worn with three-quarts pants and a fitted zippered jumpsuit among others.

Abel Emmanuel’s monochromatic Scarlet Night was all about whites, blacks and a splash of red brought together by Hebrew text and henna art prints in a full-length skirt with added frills, sari, snug jumpsuit worn with a black net top, black sequined pants with a double-breasted top with cape among others.

Finally, IVS grad Madiha Raza blew everyone away with Flight of Birds, which fused prints with textures and layers. Digital print dresses with capes with laser cut patterns inspired by tropical birds and featuring classical eastern cuts and accessorised by handbags denoting the same theme with extreme styling.

Overall, it was quite inspirational and a hot favourite of the evening, quite possibly enough to elevate her to the position of the winner who will enjoy the privilege of showing at the upcoming Fashion Pakistan Week after a full fee waiver. The hair and make-up for all the segments was by Raana Khan and featured Maybelline New York as the title sponsor.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2014