The fashion industry of Pakistan is progressing in leaps and bounds, and the credit for it goes to the numerous fashion designers who have been active on the scene. And one of them is Nadya Mistry.

Some consider her the darling of the Pakistani fashion industry, while for others, she’s just another thorn in the side. Her work is often labelled as ‘The Spoilt Girl’s Collection’. But whatever the case, education plays a vital role in shaping success in one’s career.

Born in the city of lights, Karachi and educated in the city of fashion, Paris, Ms. Mistry has always been inspired by art and vibrant colours. In fact, designing her own clothes is something that she has been doing for a long time. She says, “As a teenager I used to design my own outfits and the tailors used to find those really difficult to understand. My parents noticed my interest and encouraged me to pursue it as a career. So what was just a fondness early on, transformed into a passion.”

Talking of taste, she takes a lot of pleasure in reading and would read anything that she would come across. Since, she is an adventurous person herself she rates Alice in Wonderland as her best loved book. Says she, “I read anything from comics to politics, I really enjoy reading. My favourite book is Alice in Wonderland. I can relate to the book as I, myself, am a curious and an adventurous person, ready to take risks and to try out new things. Another favourite (of mine) is Gita Mehta’s RAJ, an intelligent and fascinating saga of Princess Jaya Singh and her long moment in history.”

Taking risks is exactly what one can find in her work. She is always eager to try new things and is a pure trend-setter for sure. And somewhere in between, she is an avid collector too, not just of new designs and haute couture, but also of magazines. Says Nadya: “I also enjoy reading and collecting magazines. Sometimes I feel I live inside a magazine. I have enough magazines to build and furnish one entire room!” Wow, now that’s a whole lot of magazines!

Judging by her taste in books, one can easily say that she is not the kind to limit herself and this habit of hers becomes crystal clear when she talks about the music she likes to listen to.

“I listen to all kinds of music. Classical, semi-classical, eastern and western are those that I love the most. I am a huge fan of Ravi Shankar, the sitarist and Yo Yo Ma, the cellist. Music from the 80’s is close to my heart as it is reminiscent of my childhood,” she claims. She is the sort of person whose tastes leaves nothing unloved. She listens to everything with interest, maybe because she is fond of diversity. She says, “I listen to music from the past and present, from movies as well. I love European music especially Souchon and I am also a die-hard fan of Nazia Hassan.” From the late singer’s collection, the song that has really made its impact on Nadya is Teri Yaad. But sadly, the designer does not have a present local name on her list of singers she would like to listen. I guess she’s one who believes in not-so-old is gold!

Coming to her taste and flavour for movies, she has an infinite list and simply loves to watch the flicks. Genre doesn’t matter, all there has to be is a movie on the TV. In fact, watching movies is something that she can do all her life, as she excitedly reveals, “I am crazy about movies. I could spend my entire life watching movies and eating chips!” However, there have to be favourites, right. So, Nadya delves into her favourites list again and revels names that are a bit different from each other.

“Among my favourite movies are Ijazzat, Moulin Rouge, Cinema Paradiso, The Trilogy Rouge, Blanc, Noir, the classics that are everybody’s favourites like The Godfather trilogy, Dr Zhivago and so on.”

Everyone has some likes and dislikes but to my surprise, I couldn’t find much that this babe doesn’t like as compared to what she likes. She is the sort of person who would enjoy life in anyway she wants, no matter how complicated life tends to be.

Among her list of great performers and actors who she adores is the Australian born-British Actress, Cate Blanchet and the handsome Ed Burns.

But these aren’t the only favourites in there favourites list. There are others, lists, as well. Of the models that she likes to work with are Lulu Nana and Zoella. Sadly, they aren’t working anymore. However, there aren’t any favourites when it comes to photographers. ‘I like working with everyone’ is what she has been quoted as saying. About her work, she places something from her earlier pieces, the egg plant/emerald/ochre velour devori and tulle gharara. The work had big, ornamental peacocks, on the border of the gharara along with motifs from the Taj Mahal

Food is something that she relishes and here her favourite cuisine is seafood, in any shape, size or form. Other than that, she also enjoys Middle Eastern cuisine very much.

In her message to her fans, she has a nice one-liner “Believe in yourself, dream a little and follow your heart.”

FAVOURITE MOVIE: Moulin Rouge by Baz Luhrmann

FAVOURITE SINGER: Nazia Hassan

FAVOURITE BOOK: Alice in Wonderland and all magazines