Currently, the star shooting steadily through the couture stratosphere is Saba Waseem of the designer brand La Chantal.

“Chantal is old French for ‘stone’ which signifies the target woman for the brand — strong and bold,” explains the designer.

Formed in 2009, Saba hails from a family which has roots in the textile business for well over three decades.

Celebrity faces endorsing her magical creations make all her shows look like fairytales. I bear witness to Saba La Chantal appearing on the fashion map, delivering her stamp on Dubai Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011, where Dino Morea added star value to her showing, and then again the same year at the Pantene Bridal Couture Week in Lahore where she showcased a magnificent trousseau collection with super stars Reema Khan and Shaan walking the finale for her.

Saba believes in designing classical dreams which are fabulously regal. Her clients are women for whom splendid elegance is everything. Says she, “I love surprises and I adore it when my fans and followers are enchanted and enamored with what I create. These heavyweight stars are the perfect choice for my target client. I promise even greater surprises in future.”

Over a relatively short span of time, La Chantal has becomes synonymous with glamorous styling, dramatic silhouettes and exquisite details which feature contemporary art, whimsical elements and rich embroideries, making the collection one of the most exciting and sought-after luxury labels in the Middle East and the UK. In Pakistan, it is available at Saba’s studio in Lahore, along with a presence at Fashion Pakistan Lounge.

With her new collection premiering in Images on Sunday courtesy Gia Ali who embodies the attributes the brand represents, Saba claims her ensembles are the last bastion of quality — clean and minimalist with unusual detailing, jersey dresses with adaptable necklines, zipper-fitted tops, lean pants and for the evening, liquid gowns and light-flowing boleros to create striking chic silhouettes with the use of gold finish, luxurious fabric and an impeccable fit to give a haute couture feel. With most of her clientele focused on her bridals, she is currently working on an intricate collection inspired by the Mughal women of South Asia.

Saba Waseem has dressed a clientele from young debutante models to dowager in styles elegant, pure, sculptural, refreshing, lady-like and attractive. While working for her dreams and continuously dreaming of things in the future, she confesses how she wished of dressing up the late Benazir Bhutto and would love to design for Angelina Jolie some day. — MK