KARACHI: In their search for a market in Asia, well-known British labels shared the ramp with top fashion and accessory designers in Pakistan at the Dolmen Mall in Clifton here on Friday evening.

Marking the opening of their ‘Great Festival’ organised by the British Deputy High Commission, the fashion show was a rare occasion as many British dignitaries easily mixed with the general public in the mall instead of holding the event at Runnymede, done usually for safety reasons.

Philip Barton CMG OBE British High Commissioner to Pakistan, who had especially flown down to Karachi from Islamabad for the show, said that holding the programme at the mall demonstrated their “faith in the great city of Karachi”. About the show, he said, it would go a long way in establishing links between Pakistan and Britain and not just in fashion but in culture, music, shopping, cuisine and business as well.

Hence, Debenhams, Clarks, Next, FHS by Hub, Toni&Guy and Accessorize joined hands with Gul Ahmed, Gulabo, Deepak Perwani and Jafferjees as Pakistani female models with petite figures and rosy pouts boldly stepped on to the ramp in flat pumps or high heels while adorning clothing previously not even available in their sizes. No bearded male model raised suspicion while looking smart in designer suits, blazers worn over slacks and T-shirts.

There were striped ties, pink ties, mufflers. Silk tops with British landmarks printed on them or loose white chiffon blouses were worn over skinny jeans, dhoti shalwar or black tights. Elegant black cocktail dresses and mini skirts went well with yellow, orange, red and green leather handbags and purses from Jafferjees or truck art Gulabo bags.

With hair styled neatly with gel or high buns with some hair left to flow freely in loose tresses all praise to the hairdressers of Toni&Guy, these models were not just selling designs, they were making a statement that British and Pakistani fashion is all the more glamorous when combined, merged and blended.

Baroness Nosheena Mobarik CBE said UK companies were already doing good business in Pakistan. “Pakistan and the UK are trading countries and the UK is willing to invest and contribute in areas of education and culture as well as transfer of technology,” she said.

Published in Dawn October 3rd, 2015

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