KARACHI: With a keen eye on boosting Pakistan’s export merchandise and services, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s (TDAP) ongoing 9th Expo Pakistan at the Expo Centre kicked off to a fashionable start with the two-day TDAP Fashion Show on Thursday evening at a hotel. The trade body hopes to further the business of exquisite prêt and luxury prêt wear to the participating 1,500-plus foreign buyers, diplomats and dignitaries through it.

In the opening act on Day One, Zaheer Abbas collaborated with Provincial Minister for Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani to bring to the ramp Ode to Thar, in an attempt to empower the women of the region through their indigenous handicraft and skills. The result was a tie ‘n’ dye, two-tone collection bearing floral symbols in trademark Thari colours of black and deep red. It was further accentuated with needle- and mirror-work of the region to create outfits that blended classic Eastern sensibilities with Western cuts and silhouettes. The men’s shirts featured a print version of the tie ‘n’ dye craft and the presentation was accessorized with chunky silver jewellery from the region worn by both the sexes.

The Sultanat collection by designer Sahat Atif underlined the drama of couture with relation to art and architecture with white on white, Islamic jali work, gold-on-gold tones to create off-shoulder cocktail dresses among outfits that were an amalgamation of old and new to be carried off a separates and stylized with velvet capes, etc.

The TDAP Mix featured designs by the effervescent Lahore-based label Karma Pink in a show of glamour and power with beige-black zigzag-print full skirts with minimal embellishments; Akif Mahmood showed worked tops on billowing skirts, gota work in his capsule collection; Nickie Nina’s take on fashion as elegant art was all about sheer wearability; Sublime by Sara’s high fashion featured interesting party/cocktail dresses; and Fifth Element put forth sleek and refined lines of style.

Couturier Adnan Pardesi was all about minimalism, structure and architecture. The black-and white outfits at times featured dragon symbols, basket-weaving technique finished off with miniscule pearls to create a complex pattern of lines that appeared eloquent and unique.

Indus Valley School graduate Madiha Raza shot to fame as the winner of last year’s Millennial Show with a capsule collection of her theme, The Flight of Birds. Here, she teamed up with Omer Rehman to showcase more pieces from her creative endeavour by fusing them with prints while playing up on the styling. Overall it was fresh, new and revolutionary and one hopes she maintains the pace.

The second round of TDAP Mix saw Sana Safinaz featuring Mohsin Ali in what was urban sensibility defined by boxy, oversized and fitted pieces; Gulabo’s Palestinian scarf keffiyeh-inspired prints for both the sexes and variations in colourful tops and breezy pants; and the refined lines of Deepak Perwani’s sleek, urban and jazzy chic in earth tones.

The finale on Day One went to Ali Xeeshan who was his usual wild and eccentric self and projected it on the ramp with bold and oversized red floral patterns on a brown base juxtaposed with gold sequin fabric sash.

Day Two designers are FnkAsia by Huma Adnan, Delphi, TDAP Mix (Sadaf Malaterre, Naushaba Brohi, Ahan, YBQ, Zeynub Chottani), Nauman Arfeen, PIFD, TDAP Mix (Saniya Maskatiya, Faraz Manan, Arsalan Iqbal, Misha Lakhani), Nida Azwer and Kuki Concepts.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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