Fakhra Rafique's Blog: PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week: Day 2 Journal

PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week: Day 2 Journal

[December 20, 2011]: The PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week is being produced by Catwalk Productions, with event coordination by R-Team, set design by Hamza Tarar, official photography by DragonFly and public relations by Lotus. The Black Carpet for PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week is sponsored by Damas.

Fashion Show: Fahad Hussayn

Day 2 of the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week was opened by Fahad Hussayn with his collection entitled ‘Raat Raakh’ which was inspired by an epic tale of a night traveller, a bride, who has lost love and is seeking another. Through this collection, Fahad Hussayn endeavoured to materialise the story of her journey and of all those who come between this world and her’s with his signature edgy grandeur and intricate couture detailing. A tribute to the beauty of the night with multi-cultural influences, Fahad Hussayn introduced his interpretations of the Christian bride, a Parsi bride, the friends who surround the bride, a Nawab, a Muslim bride and her family. Using a variety of fabrics for ‘Raat Raakh’ such as cotton, cotton nets, pure Mughal jamavar, chiffon, velvet, suede, faux fur and silks with sleek cuts and straight lines with volume and drapes, the embellishments used were resham, zardozi, crystal work and appliqué. The collection was predominantly black, but also highlighted shades of night fall.

Speaking about Bridal Week Fahad Hussayn said, “PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week is a really exciting blend. PFDC has proven to be consistent and is striving towards excellence, the shows are organised in a very industrial manner, taking fashion and the business of fashion to where it belongs.”

Born in Faisalabad, Fahad Hussayn graduated from Beaconhouse National University in Lahore with a degree in Textile Design. Adept in bridal couture clothing, formal and evening wear, Hussayn’s designs celebrate tradition and intricacy meshed with modern sensibilities. In 2007, he opened his atelier and is now successfully stocking his collections in stores across the country and internationally, in India and Dubai. Fahad Hussayn has been nominated twice at the Lux Style Awards in 2008 and in 2009 for Emerging Talent and Menswear Designer categories, respectively. Indeed, Fahad Hussayn’s couture looks to provide its clients with high end fashion and trousseau clothing; pure grandeur blended with the right amount of edge being their key design philosophy.

Jewellery Show: GOLD by Reama Malik

Following Fahad Hussayn’s bridal showcase was a jewellery collection; GOLD by Reama Malik. Entitled ‘The Mehr Collection', Reama Malik debut jewellery show was named after her daughter Mehreen, and was inspired by the concept of timelessness and what it means in the world today. Featuring a blend of traditional and modern jewellery, GOLD by Reama Malik presented a collection that was colour coordinated into red for rubies, blue for sapphires, green for emeralds in addition to crafting pieces with gold, pearls and diamonds. Traditional techniques in kundun and polki accented with meenakari as seen in the Mughal era were engaged alongside the more modern diamond settings as used in the West. Speaking about the Pakistan Fashion Design Council and its collaboration with L’Oréal Paris, Reama Malik said, “The PFDC, under the guidance of Sehyr Saigol, has established the Pakistani fashion designers as a serious industry in Pakistan. The bar is already set very high so people expect only the best from the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week.”

Reama started GOLD in 1987 in the United States. What first started as a hobby has now grown into a coveted jewellery brand, following Reama’s return to Pakistan. Her work includes a diverse spectrum of jewellery including rings, necklaces, bespoke pendants and chokers, with an emphasis on high end polki, diamond and pearl pieces. Reama’s biggest source of inspiration is the sheer beauty of the world around her and she is a strong believer in following traditions and not trends. Specialising in bespoke jewellery of the best quality, all her pieces are hand crafted in her Lahore-based workshop under her close scrutiny and supervision.

Fashion Show: Emraan Rajput

The third solo show of Day 2 presented fashion designer Emraan Rajput with his collection, ‘Vedaas’. For this collection, Emraan Rajput drew inspiration from Pakistan’s cultural heritage as reflected in the traditional colours of South East Asia. Emraan’s intention was to define ‘Vedaas’ from being a traditional symbol of vision into a representation of rich culture and aesthetic sense. With a firm belief that a mix of traditional colours has the ability to unite different cultures, Emraan’s ‘Vedaas’ included a rich collection of colourful embroidered sherwanis for men and traditional bridal lehengas for women.

Launched in 2009, Emraan Rajput’s vision is to create fashion that combines great personal style with long lasting utility. Clean, modern shapes, a nod to the classics, and an element of surprise are the fundamental principles of the label while elegance, simplicity, and enduring quality are all essential considerations when designing each creation. On being part of the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week, Emraan said, “PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week has provided me a grand opportunity to exhibit my vision, creativity and craftsmanship in showcasing a bridal collection of my own… Bridal Week is an exhibition of exquisite workmanship, latest traditional trends, rich elegance and classic fashion.”

Fashion Show: Maria B.

The final showcase for Day 2 was Maria B.’s bridal collection entitled ‘From Paris to Lahore’. True to its name, this collection started with an inherently French/Western signature showcasing modern, feminine cuts where the palette was subdued and sombre with a strong emphasis on elegance. From this French inspired segment, the collection moved into the traditional Sub Continental context where it celebrated Eastern culture in all of its opulence, colour and extravagance.

Maria B. is one of the largest manufacturers and retailers of women’s fashion in Pakistan. Her eponymous brand was launched with a vision to revolutionise women’s retail in the country and to create Pakistan’s first women's fashion brand after her graduation from the prestigious Pakistan School of Fashion Design [now Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design] in 1998. Today, Maria B. has 11 outlets across the country and five brands under the label including: Maria B. cottons, Mgirl, Maria B. Evening, Maria B. Lawn and Maria B. Brides. In 1997, Maria B. won an international fashion competition held in Belgium by the name of ‘Les Etoiles de la Mode’. Here, she was also named as one of the three upcoming designers in the world. Maria B. has always worked on an export-oriented strategy, for which purpose her product lines have been displayed at fashion events across the world including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Paris, Birmingham, Manchester and Bangkok. Maria B. is currently available in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Oslo, New Delhi, Dubai and Manchester.