KARACHI: The third edition of the Pantene Hum Showcase kicked off on Thursday with an impressive line-up of 21 designers, both established as well as emerging, spread over three days, sans any loose ends, with tightly-structured shows that presented high fashion trends.

In its third consecutive year now, the showcase has become a credible and coveted event on the fashion calendar, which translates into boosted sales and better economics for the business of fashion, thanks to better optics.

Day one featured seven designers and opening the day was Zaheer Abbas’ strong, simple and dramatic ‘Conceptuelle’ with accent on colour, featuring cropped dresses with elaborate, busy sleeves giving a ruched look. Mostly in earth tones and sans any embellishments or a hint of print, other numbers in the collection featured floor-length dresses with asymmetrical hemlines. The intricate origami-inspired hand pleating in a few outfits stood out noticeably. His shocking-red pleated dress worn by a dark-skinned beauty scored high on the wow factor. Most of the looks were topped off with sombreros. All in all, it was a brilliant opening act with an indication of what can be the future potential and direction for Pakistani fashion.

The recipient of the Rising Star Award, 9 Lines’ Hassan Iqbal Rizvi and Saad Shahid’s ‘Pop Kitschry’ featured Pop Art sassy looks in neons with tassled pants and puffed sleeves, in what was a quirky, offbeat and innovative play with cuts and silhouettes. Patent leather short skirts with cocktail dresses showed both diversity as well as a sense for humour and rebellion against established norms during the debut show. Nausheen Shah walked for the designers in the segment.

Emraan Rajput’s ‘The Marquis’ menswear in brilliant white featured snug-fitting, body-hugging cuts set off by just a mere hint of colour that heralded the summer season with a full salute to fashion. The designer successfully managed to elevate his menswear status to a new level.

Zonia Anwaar’s ‘Reverdie’ was all about layered structural dresses with digital print botanical impressions in a myriad of moods, with accent on comfort and practicality, and to be worn either as daywear or for an evening out. For the more business formal look she raised the style quotient by sharper hues in jackets whereas the milder tones set the mood with print tunics and separates for casuals.

Fashion label Image with ‘The Return’ dived headfirst into heritage with a white palette and silhouettes that were strictly tradition with voluminous shararas and shirts finished off with flowing dupattas and gota work for that classic Eastern look — finished off with signature Chikankari embroidery.

‘Markhor’ by designer duo Deepak & Fahad sought to highlight the plight of endangered species in what was a strong environmentally-conscious and socially-responsible message sent out on the ramp to the country and the rest of the world in an attempt to start a conversation along these lines. With embroidered endangered species imagery and prints on accessories, the ills and dangers of over-hunting and depleting fauna as well as flora and natural resources was highlighted effectively and responsibly through the medium of fashion. Ali Rehman Khan and Hareem Farooq (lead pair of the upcoming Heer Maan Jayegi) walked for the designers and contributed to the cause earlier via social media platforms.

The fitting finale act titled ‘The Sublime Sunset’ presented by Sublime by Sara Shahid with a philosophical approach to the beautiful setting sun and all ending well and beautifully at the day’s end showed a vibrant yellow tone collection with free-flowing outfits as well as darker shades denoting the setting sun and tie ‘n’ dye prints. Orange hues with dramatic draping and textures featured freely here.

Show direction is by Rizwan Beyg and make-up and styling of the models by Nabila’s N-Pro and N-Gents.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2019