LAHORE: Retail brands and voile shows dominated the ramp on Day Three of the ongoing Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) Sunsilk Fashion Week, while the lounge areas also saw a flurry of activity with both the PFDC and Sunsilk corners involving guests and fashionistas alike in social activity.

Retail giants such as Gul Ahmed and AlKaram showed their collections that will make it to shelves soon after the presentation at the fashion week, according to an official communication.

Gul Ahmed played the ethnic card with mirror work on women’s wear on a fusion silhouette, chunri prints, men’s jackets and choice fabric known for its summery and breezy appeal.

Shubinak was all about empowering the artisans, revival and restoration of fading crafts and the weaving together of the very fabric of life in the indigenous areas of northern Pakistan. The fine needlework of Chitral made an appearance here as did patchwork and rilli craft. Flared pants in organic deep red dye, handwoven fabrics that allow one to breathe during harsh summers as well as patchwork on men’s jackets along with themes of reforestation and restoration worked into the very weave of the fabric. The political boundaries of Pakistan also played into the design element in coarse fabric which in itself was an education in revival.

Warda Prints played with paisleys in sheer capes with mix ‘n match prints and separates, short dresses, textures, while a strong Western theme ran throughout the collection.

Alkaram Studio had digital prints and played it safe with jumpsuits, vibrant men’s kurtas and, in particular, a fetching light peach blouse with overlapping panels.

Harmony by Hang Ten again had men’s kurtas in all-too-familiar tones and painfully stark while the more exciting women’s wear featured flashy frills on sailor-stripe tunics, a sheer gold sequin top, Egyptian hieroglyphic prints and Venetian architecture imagery.

The Summer Rouge Collection and I-Man saw HSY for the House of Ittehad with short shirts and skirts in scramble prints with a more traditional menswear.

Day Four on Tuesday (today) will feature the House of Arsalan Iqbal, Erum Khan, Chinyere in retail brands followed by a second half featuring luxury/pret by Sana Safinaz, Republic by Omar Farooq, Syeda Amera, Huma and Amir Adnan, Sania Maskatiya and HSY.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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