KARACHI, March 29: Veteran fashion designer and style revivalist Faiza Samee opened the last day of Showcase 2012 with a collection that focused on the courtesans of Lahore back in the days of Nawabs when they were considered the epitome of poetic taste, etiquette and culture and embodied beauty, grace and aesthetic refinement. Colour, shape and style defined the clothes the designer put on the ramp with the jhoomar, teeka and beauty spot with co-joined eyebrows playing a central role and setting the mood for old world charm when it came to embellishments and traditional cuts along with resplendent saris.

Mian Naveed with Mela showed a mixed collection of menswear and women’s wear with solid colours and play of cutwork fabric used generously in sculpting the collection that comprised both classic eastern and purely western cuts. Showstopper Mehreen Syed in Victorian black looked both chic and elegant that the designer aimed for with his craft. The theme was a celebration of Punjabi culture and it scored on that count.

Sanya Muneer launched her first screen print collection together with her sister, Seveen, in what was defined as easy-to-wear and extraordinary in its design sensibility. Datch showed menswear in daywear titled Next Vintage with graphics inspired by the sea, Heritage freak for casuals inspired by safari/military trends and rockstar soul in Urban Chic with denim and knitwear fabric.

Feeha Jamshed touched a nerve with her sentimental value collection dedicated to the memory of her sister, Minnaal, who passed away in Paris last year, and also for Rooha Hafeez. It comprised silks, cotton, velvet, muslin and cotton jersey with cuts that were typical of the ‘90s — all showed by models who walked the ramp slowly with a long-stemmed red rose out of respect for the departed to the tune of music titled For an Angel by Mustafa Ali Jamshed. Mahira in a beige dress with a vibrant red long coat with Kashmiri embroidery was the showstopper in this segment.

During the 15-minute mid-break, Ayesha Tammy Haq took the opportunity to announce the competition between designers to design the new PIA uniform but owing to the city situation the deadlines could not be met. However, she reminded all those present that the designs would be presented to the authorities concerned at a later date.

She also announced the launch of the first holistic ethical fashion platform in South Asia, a region which is known for beauty and richness of arts and crafts. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be the countries to promote ethical fashion with Bibi Russell helping out in its promotion from Bangladesh along with Ajai Vir Singh from Sri Lanka, Nakul Sen from India and Rizwan Beyg from Pakistan, and joined by many others, including Agatha Ruiz de la Prada from Spain, around the world. The future of fashion is ethical and the tour starts in September from Columbo, Karachi, Dhaka and then Bangalore, she added.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada — a Spanish royalty whose designs are the most sought after commodity in Spain along with a large clientelle base that spreads across 120 countries — showed in Pakistan for the first time during the Showcase 2012 with oversize coats, tuxedos, wide-leg pants and jumpsuits, flared dresses and skirts in wool, cotton and silk fabric of choice. Her accessories included leather bags with heart motifs and colourful, transparent bags. Fluorescent colours with thick knitted fitted pants, matching platform heels set the ramp on fire as models serenaded to the tune of I Feel Love.

Mehreen Syed in a spectacularly mind-boggling full-feathered shocking pink and neon yellow long dress said volumes about the designer’s sense of heightened style.

Monia Farooqui showed her Chandni Bar collection dedicated to the bar girls of yesteryears.

The powerhouse that is brand Amir Adnan is singularly accredited with the revival of the sherwani along with flawless craftsmanship. He showed it as an alternative to the jacket with fine silk embellishments while retaining the commitment to high fashion and luxurious comfort.

Known as the Couture Queen of Pakistan, Honey Waqar presented Maharani Kohinoor with the liberal use of gota, semi-precious stones, dazzling sequins, Swaroski crystals, antique zardozy and embroidery with grace and beauty with jewellery by Bushra Aftab. The vibrant colour spectrum lent an added sense of style to the regal presentation fit for a princess, or in this case a blue-blooded maharani.