STYLE: THE NEW BENCHMARK
In the generic wasteland of local fashion came Showcase; helmed by an industry veteran and a powerful TV network, collating a line-up of some of the country’s most creative people on the basis of merit and pure clout. The three-day-long event wrapped up a Spring/Summer fashion calendar that has simply gone on and on and fortunately, it was the proverbial pot of gold that one discovers at the end of traversing a tedious, rather uphill journey towards a rainbow.
Poetic references aside, Showcase packed in heavy-duty fashion punches like no event has in a long time. Sponsored by Hum Network and with stalwart designer Rizwan Beyg playing show director, a very illustrious montage of designers was enlisted to show their collections on a minimalist, classy catwalk. The model pool included nine international models flown in from London and South Africa and the well-edited fashion segments efficiently wrapped up around 10pm. There were no celebrity showstoppers to pump in publicity because ostensibly this platform was aiming to serve the higher purpose of elevating local fashion standards.
“We want to show unadulterated, real fashion on the catwalk without confining designers to retail aspirations,” Beyg had said before the event. “We want to provide them with a non-political, non-partisan, well-orchestrated platform.”
Hum TV’s new Showcase wowed with bona fide fashion. It should be allowed to spread its wings
Fashion forerunners
Beyg was, quite evidently, referring to the politics that can sometimes plague fashion weeks orchestrated by local fashion councils and the general demise of creativity due to a lack of editing and a focus on retail. Disillusioned by the scenario, the designer had long declined to participate in local fashion weeks. Showcase marked his return to the limelight with an all-white fashion fantasy dedicated to lace and three-dimensional florals with structured skirts, trails, fitted bodices and pants.
On a similar note, one could wax eloquent about so much more that scintillated and riveted on the Showcase catwalk. Quite an extensive procession of designers put their best foot forward and while the list is quite long, it would be quite sacrilegious not to highlight every one of them.
Faiza Samee, another acclaimed veteran, had frequently been known to mention that she would only want to take part in a fashion event where standards were maintained with a stellar line-up. Showcase, apparently, fit the bill where she put forth fine embellishments and a well-conceived mélange of layers. Bunto Kazmi, veritably the country’s most coveted bridal couturier and notorious for safeguarding her bespoke designs from the spotlight, opted to be part of the show and brought out her achingly beautiful formal wear.
Umar Saeed, openly selective about airing out his designs, gave one a rare glimpse of the funky flipside to his penchant for bridal-wear. In an ode to Karachi’s Zainab Market, the designer flirted with denims, kitschy imagery and all the colours of the rainbow.
Munib Nawaz made his catwalk comeback with subtle, well-tailored menswear.