KARACHI: The three-day Fashion Pakistan Week Autumn/Winter 2014 got under way at PC Marquee on Tuesday, with an impressive line-up of designers on all the featured days.

Emerging as well as established designers will be showing their seasonal collections on the coveted FP ramp with professional make-up artists giving their signature looks to the models and choreography by Hasan Sheheryar Yasin.

Day one opened with Athar Ali Hafeez for Sana Safinaz showing a collection based on bohemian and retro sensibilities in bold patterns. The outfits bore a strong resemblance to elegant chic resort wear especially when it came to accessories such as eye shades and satchels casually slung over the shoulder. Mix ‘n’ match prints in earth tones and starker shades gave it a very ’70s appeal yet with strong undertones of present style aesthetics. Overall the collection won hands down and especially fetching was an embroidered cape featured in the segment.

Emerging designer Ishtiaq Afzal Khan showed a mix collection of short dresses with long sleeves, saris and dresses in various colour tones that he described as morning sky shades. Leatheriite seemed to be the dominating fabric here with geometrical and circular stitch patterns. Pastel green, beige and a strong midnight blue were the chosen colours for the collection that featured both menswear and women’s wear.

Levi’s winter gear was up next and did not disappoint with its outlook towards winter fashions. Adnan Siddiqui was the choice of show stopper in this segment.

After a short break, Ayesha Farooq Hashwani opened with a rich, opulent baroque tradition-inspired line with a smattering of black embellishment on deep red, pristine white in classic cuts that spoke of epic luxury and divine elegance. More than the metallic work, it was the cuts that remained the centre of attention and stole the evening’s show.

Geometric prints and adornments featured in the Gul Ahmed show along with short, sleeveless quilted vests and paired with floral prints to denote the ‘it’ look for the approaching winter months. Jumpsuits worn with paisley print jackets, a chequered print blingy long skirt and many others of the like comprised the print paradise that the collection was all about.

Aamna Aqeel showed the essentially formal western ‘Black on Fire’ which had bursts of coloured prints to add zest to the collection.

The Day One finale featured Zaheer Abbas with Neo Nude in which he showed a muted colour palette that was strongly feminine in cuts and structure with just a hint of bling elements. The cascading silk gowns especially drew immediate attention to design symmetry and won accolades for the fairly young designer who also showed a vibrant red pallette offset by black and an overall funky basic black as well with stunning structuring.

The designers and brands who are showcasing on all the three days are Aamna Aqeel, Ayesha Farooq Hashwani, Adnan Pardesy, Deepak Perwani, DnF, Emraan Rajput, Faraz Mannan, FnkAsia, Ishtiaq Afzal Khan, Gul Ahmed, Levis, Maheen Karim, Maheen Khan, Nauman Arfeen, Nida Azwer, Sadaf Malaterre, Sana Safinaz, Sanam Chaudhri, Shehla Chatoor and Zaheer Abbas. The hair and make-up of the models is being done by Nabila (N-Pro) and N-Gents with backstage management by Production 021, Hum TV Network as the media partners and Latitiude CRS for PR.

Anoushey Asharaf was the official FPW red carpet host.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014