In an endeavor to launch the new perfume Beauty by Calvin Klein and find its brand ambassador in Pakistan, the recently held Envisage Beauty by Beauty evening simultaneously provided an opportunity to 11 Asian Institute of Fashion Design (AIFD) graduates to display their designs in Karachi.
It was an encouraging initiative as the students were evaluated by an expert group of analysts who also chose the best designer of the evening. One feels that the students of Karachi’s fashion institute always miss out on a graduate show as a result of which they lose invaluable mileage that translates into better jobs. Students of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) in Lahore, on the other hand, have been fortunate enough to have graduate shows and the associated hoopla.
The PIFD graduates Akif Mahmood and Mohsin Ali, who showed at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week in Karachi, are a recent example. Envisage Beauty by Beauty event provided the AIFD students with a platform. And the platform was quite glamorous.
The breathtaking backdrop of the magnificent Port Grand added to the oomph of the event. The red carpet rolled on endlessly and the guests were seated under the open sky. A chilly Karachi breeze set the mood perfectly. Faizan Haq hosted the evening and introduced the lineup of models who graced the candle-lit stage flaunting eastern and western ensembles following a basic off-white colour theme.
Upcoming model Saima Haroon sported a beige gown with gold detailing designed by Shireen Ghazal while Tanya Fareed adorned an off-shoulder, asymmetrical gown created by Umaima Farrukh. Sidra Nasir designed a tube top paired with caprice pants (enveloped within a cape) and her outfit was modeled by a promising young model called Sherry. Eastern touches could be found in Imran Ali’s design worn by Zeba Ali, which was traditional sleeveless kameez paired with straight pants and coat, whereas Rizwan Ahmed fused a churidar sleeve with an off-shoulder gown worn by Zohra.
Two students — Nimroz Ali and Amna Iqbal — won the award for best designers and shared the cash prize equally. Amna Iqbal had designed an off-shoulder bubble mini-dress (worn by Isha) and Nimroz Ali’s halter dress had glimpses of a sari. The latter was carried gracefully by the only established model of the evening, Ayaan, who also became the face for the brand. One feels the jury’s choice of brand ambassador was a little orchestrated, however the designer selection was credible and befitting.
The jury comprised some distinguished individuals from various facets of the industry. It included Atiqa Odha, Ayesha Tammy Haq, Saba Ansari, Tooba Siddiqi, Deepak Perwani, Tapu Javeri, Zurain Imam, Azfar Rehman and AIFD principal Sanober Ahsan.
The event drew to a close with a musical performance by the talented yet modest Usman Riaz, who happens to be the grandson of the legendary Zia Mohyeddin. Playing the acoustic guitar and classical organ, Riaz’s performance was truly spellbinding. One hopes he will be given more music friendly platforms to play his talent. That said, providing the AIFD graduates with a solid platform to display their creations was a commendable effort and events like these give our young designers a much-needed boost.
The event was styled by Sabs Salon and coordinated by Tehmina Khaled