Best Hair and Make-up Artist
Nominees: Akif Ilyas, Creative Team at Nabila, Maram Azmat, Raana Khan, Shammal Qureshi at Toni&Guy
Shammal Qureshi and Raana Khan are valuable additions to the industry. Maram Azmat has done some outstanding work for magazines last year and Nabila’s Creative Team took bridal styling to a new level at PFDC’s first bridal week. Personally speaking, I feel that Akif Ilyas falls short on vision when it comes to having a creative as well as technical handle, like Rukaiya Adamjee who impressed critics at Islamabad Fashion Week 2011.
Winning streak: Always a difficult category to judge, Shammal Qureshi has a better chance of winning this year.
Achievement in Fashion Design—Pret
Nominees: Iman Ahmed @ Body Focus, Kamiar Rokni, Khaadi Khaas, Sanam Chaudhri, Sania Maskatiya
With the exception of Iman Ahmed (who did not show last year and has been judged on her presence in print and retail), Kamiar Rokni, Khaadi Khaas and Sania Maskatiya have very strong fashion week collections to their credit whereas Sanam Chaudhri won over critics with the prelude to her Bitten collection and showcased at the Veet Celebration of Beauty last year. All five designers retail in Lahore as well as Karachi.
Winning streak: The House of Kamiar Rokni (with Tia Noon) for the trend-setting, colour-blocked Minimalist collection.
Achievement in Fashion Design—Luxury Pret
Nominees: Adnan Pardesy, Ali Xeeshan, Khadija Shah @ Elan, Sania Maskatiya, Shehla Chatoor
Luxury Pret is a category that defines red carpet glamour and high-end sophistication, and under that umbrella Khadija Shah and Shehla Chatoor remain the strongest nominees. Adnan Pardesy showed two strong collections and has a handle on customised, detailed garments but he lacks the influence to make them holistically effective. Sania Maskatiya made a memorable breakthrough in October last year but 2012 is definitely her stronger year. One wonders how and why Ali Xeeshan—whose aesthetic inches towards theatrics and kitsch—was given preference over Shamaeel Ansari who showed two very strong collections last year and has a strong hold on luxury prêt. Sana and Safinaz are surprisingly missing, too.
Winning streak: For creating traditional silhouettes just as effortlessly as western and for having an unfaltering commitment to luxury, Shehla Chatoor deserves a win.
Achievement in Fashion Design—Lawn
Nominees: Deepak Perwani for Orient, Khaadi for Khaadi, Sana Safinaz for Sana Safinaz, Umar Sayeed for Al-Karam, Wardah Saleem for Wardah Saleem
It would be very easy to keep commercialism and sales as the deciding factor in this category but one has to remember that excellence awards should be handed to designers who push the creative envelope and in this case, designers to push fabrics towards fashion with the right campaigns, concepts and of course prints.
Winning streak: They may not have the highest numbers but they have the most loyal, devout following. For visibility and for setting trends nationwide, Sana and Safinaz are unrivaled.
Best High Street Brand
Nominees: Daaman, Fnk Asia, Generation, Khaadi, Sheep
Thankfully the Best Retail Brand category has been renamed Best High Street Brand, which is far more appropriate. Sheep, I feel, has lost the plot and its designs are suffering as are Generation’s. FnkAsia is consistently inconsistent and Khaadi has become predictable.
Winning streak: For the expansion Daaman has seen recently, it should pick up an award this year.
Best Menswear Designer
Nominees: Fahad Hussayn, Hasan Sheheryar Yasin, Ismail Farid, Jazib Qamar, Omar Farooq @ Republic Jazib Qamar is a welcome addition to Pakistan’s pool of menswear designers as is Fahad Hussayn, ever-popular amongst the youth. However, previous winners HSY and Ismail Farid face very strong competition from the consistent Omar Farooq of Republic.
Winning streak: Republic; Omar Farooq has done shows and shoots and he cuts the mustard.
