South Asian fashion designer Yousaf Bashir Qureshi has a prominent place in the Pakistani Fashion Industry both as a designer and a proficient photographer. He is also the owner of the Commune Artists Colony which is a space for artists in Karachi, Pakistan. If that isn’t enough to keep him busy he is also running a remarkable design concept studio. What makes YBQ so fascinating his eye to detail, artistic flair and passion for art and fashion. read more…
Having graduated from the University of California at Berkley with major in Finance and corporate law, Shamaeel Ansari digressed from her initial plans of joining the family business, turning instead to her creative side, giving in to her passion for textiles, cultures and fashion design. From Eastern to Western, vintage to contemporary chic, leisure and decadence, Shamaeel has combined the essence of all these into her collections over the past couple of decades. Years of hard work, passionate dedication and immense creativity, Shamaeel has brought her talent to international fashion forefront. read more…
Aliya Ali (Nickie) and Nabila Junaid (Nina) are two sisters behind the brand name Nickie and Nina which was launched in 2000, and has since enjoyed immense success. Immediately after their debut, the duo was invited to the MTV Awards in Delhi, India to showcase their fashion and creative talents.
Does it not seem these days everywhere you turn around there is a fashion show or a fashion exhibition taking place? Many of these shows have been taking place for years – others have just started getting recognition recently. One such event is the PFDC Fashion Week in Pakistan. This year it took place in Lahore, Pakistan showcasing the talent of some of Pakistan’s finest fashion designers, models and makeup artists.
Tangerine and citrus bright colours are a big fashion trend for the new season ahead. Not only do these colours look striking when worn, but they also make the overall appearance look bright and fresh – and which one of us doesn’t want that?
The best part about wearing the various shades of citrus is that they can be paired with almost any other colour, from black to white and everything in between, and still look extremely stunning.
Arnab Sengupta is a name that is starting to cause ripples throughout the fashion world. This Indian born designer who has his base in Kolkata, India, started his career teaching at various fashion schools. He has much to say on fashion in general and has a particular determination to change the face of fashion in South Asia, which currently places more emphasis on entertainment than on fashion.
This desire to make his mark has resulted in collections that are making their way out of the niche Indian market and into the wider fashion world. Sengupta’s first collection was shown in 2003, with his own label successfully launched a couple of years later. His success in the 2010 IAFA awards, where he was awarded Best Male Fashion Designer and Best Fashion Accessories, highlighted even further the attention to detail and creativity that is the base of his designs. Arnab describes his inspiration as coming from Rajasthani style with elements of Kashmiri and Parsi traditional clothing and the resulting fusion look features intricate detailing and an explosion of colour.
He is due to exhibit a collection at London Fashion week, an event that he dubbed ‘the BAFTA of the fashion industry’. With his desire to update the attitude of fashion amongst his countrymen and his flair for wearable styles that don’t rely heavily on the many accessories traditionally favoured by the Indian fashion scene, Arnab Sengupta is a designer with a clear vision of the future. The Indian Premier Fashion Week, due to be held from May 7th to 12th will be a stepping stone in determination to bring Indian fashion out of obscurity.
Check out some of Sengupta’s Spring / Summer 2011 collection from the runways of Dubai Fashion Week below.
Arnab Sengupta Spring / Summer 2011
Arnab Sengupta Spring / Summer 2011
Arnab Sengupta Spring / Summer 2011
Arnab Sengupta Spring / Summer 2011
Arnab Sengupta Spring / Summer 2011
Zainab Sajid is widely recognised as one of the most talented designers on the South Asian fashion scene. Their main focus is bridal wear, but other designs combining a fusion of eastern culture with a more western feel have been acclaimed as chic and modern with an air of sophistication. Their designs are intricate and elaborate, with a high attention to detail in the execution of the garments. Beautiful materials in an array of lively colours form the basis of their collections, highlighting their desire to produce work that is both elegant and a delight to wear.
Zainab’s 2010 collection, ‘The Forgotten Era’, was reminiscent of days gone by, with a regal feel that leant an air of opulence to the proceedings. The Mughal era was beautifully re-created, with delicate, floating fabrics coupled with heavier velvets and brocade and the long, flowing lines of the entire collection had an air of sophistication. Their inspiration is drawn from the beauty of nature and their designs reflect the dynamism and movement that is to be found all around us.
Zainab Sajid established themselves as ‘one to watch’ when exhibiting in a number of joint fashion shows as well as one or two solo offerings, but it was when they exhibited alongside Zaheer Abbas, another relatively new talent, that their flair and creativity was given a real chance to shine. The collection they showed at the launch of label ‘Pret’ was well received, with its chiffon and silk animal prints making a real statement. Heavy embroidery once again showed how attention to detail is high on this designer’s list of priorities.
Zainab Sajid's Bridal
Zainab Sajid's Bridal
Sari by Zainab Sajid
Zainab Sajid will be show casing her collection at O’nitaa.
O’nitta is delighted to invite you to an Exhibition for a brand called Fasion ComPassion, showcasing an exquisite & unique collection of accessories & women’s wear by Beshtar, Paleystyle, Polly&me & Savannah Chic. Fashion ComPassion will also be launching their Baby and new accessories range. All items are made by talented women artisans from Asia, Africa and Middle East.
Date: March 17 and March 18, 2011
Time: 11 am – 8 pm
Location: O’nitaa (16 Glentworth Street, London NW1 5PG)
Please RSVP to the event on O’nitaa Fan page on Facebook.
A bit about Fashion ComPassion…
Fashion ComPassion is an ethical fashion house that represents socially responsible luxury brands. The company was founded in November 2010 with the aim to be a unique online/ fashion business that provides a platform to skilled and creative women artisans.
Fashion ComPassion works with social enterprises from the developing world; Asia, Middle-East and Africa. Fashion ComPassion’s brands contribute towards developing communities, empowering women and alleviating poverty.
Fashion ComPassion currently works with four social enterprises, Palestyle, Beshtar, Polly & Me and Savannah Chic, and is bringing in few more socially conscious labels under its umbrella. These social enterprises work towards enriching the lives of the women by providing them with jobs, enhancing their creative skills, giving them design guidance, paying them fairly, giving women a percentage of profits in the company and hence instilling a sense of worth and purpose in the women and transforming their lives.
As most of our collection is made by the artisans by hand, the process takes weeks and months. Fashion ComPassion’s collection is exquisite and a work of art. All our products are made to order and take up to five weeks to be created and delivered. We produce a limited number of pieces, making our products unique and highly desirable.
Since Fashion ComPassion launch in November 2010, it has gained momentum rapidly has received media coverage in Newspapers, Magazines, TV and Radio in UK, Dubai, Lebanon & Pakistan. Recently, Observer Magazine featured Beshar’s Burqa Dress and Livia Firth wore the dress to Vogues’s Pre-Bafta Dinner and at Oscar parties in LA.
Livia holding a Fashion ComPassion Beshtar Burqa dress
Fashion ComPassion Clutch
Fashion ComPassion Clutch
Fasion ComPassion Clutch
For more information visit: www.fashioncompassion.co.uk
Email: info@fashioncompassion.co.uk
Deepak Perwani is one of South Asia’s leading fashion designer and fashion icon. More than any other fashion brand in South Asia, Perwani sells his brand as a lifestyle, ranging from fashion apparel to furniture. Perwani’s outfits are undoubtedly designed with the latest fashion trends and styles in sync. However, every piece of clothing produced by Perwani bears the unmistakable stamp of his personal style and aesthetic.
The latest collection by Perwani has both the Eastern and the Western elements to it. Traditionally embroided, vibrantly coloured, below-the-knee kurta’s worn with dark coloured leggings – not only will this collection look stunning on the fashion runway, but also as an everyday outfit. This fusion of cultural fashion is what makes this collection so traditionally contemporary and hence, very much wearable.
Deepak Perwani is now introducing this collection at O’nitaa in London. For more information, visit O’nitaa’s website on www.onitaa.co.uk or pop in at the store to try some of Perwani’s latest pieces.
