The pioneering Pakistan Fashion Design Council [PFDC] and L’Oréal Paris, the world’s leading beauty brand, presented Day-2 of the eighth consecutive PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018 – a platform that endeavors to define and present contemporary and traditional Pakistani Bridal fashion, while fusing hair and makeup trends to create looks for the upcoming bridal season of 2018-2019.
This year at #PLBW18, the PFDC welcomes a mix of established and contemporary designers within an enlarged scope of the bridal platform introduced last year, following two distinct set of shows.
To this end, the PFDC presents a set of collections in the evening segment from a diversity of mainstream luxury bridal ateliers. In the early evening, the PFDC brings to fashion week bridal and trousseau shows from popular, commercially acclaimed brands.
The second day of #PLBW18 started with early evening grouped bridal showcases featuring Lajwanti, Rici Melion, FAS and Ahmad Bilal. This was followed by evening bridal showcases featuring a solo show by Nida Azwer followed by a grouped bridal showcase comprising of Misha Lakhani, Zainab Salman and Jeem by Hamza Bokhari and a finale grouped bridal showcase featuring Farah & Fatima and The House of Kamiar Rokni, as summarized below.
EARLY EVENING GROUPED BRIDAL SHOWCASE
Lajwanti
Day-2 of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018 early evening grouped bridal showcase was opened by Lajwanti with their bridal collection ‘A tale of Spain’. The collection is inspired by Muslim influence in Spain during 799 AD. The motif work and details are also inspired from the rich and vibrant historic architecture and culture. The color palette is based in the shades of red, gold and green depicting the essence of traditional weddings. The collection makes use of materials and fabrics, ranging from pure silks, jamavar and tissue, meticulously worked with stone work, dabka and nakshi kaam.
“PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week is an exceptional platform to showcase a designer’s true creative and eccentric fashion ideas. With the evolving fashion industry this Bridal Week provides Rici Melion a remarkable opportunity to not only contribute to the progressing fashion industry of Pakistan but also exhibit the phenomenal craftsmanship of our skilled labour.”
FAS
FAS showcased the bridal collection ‘Sur Taal’ at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week. The collection draws its inspiration from Romantic Surrealism involving around classism of European architectural ornaments. It aims to redefine the classics of bridal wear by making use of luxe fabrics and 3D embellishments.
Film and TV actress Kubra Khan participated in the designer’s showcase as a celebrity showstopper.
Ahmad Bilal
Ahmad Bilal showcased ‘Noor-e-Nazar’ bridal collection at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week. The collection draws its inspiration from the love of art and concept of empowerment and liberation. It is based in fabrics such as jamawar, chiffon, organza, tissue and silk with fusion of resham work, tilla embedded with pearls & stones. The color palette for the collection is based in rouge, black and muted shades of golds. In line with the inspiration, the collection makes use of traditional embellishment techniques of kora and dabqa.
Film actress Resham participated in the designer’s showcase as a celebrity showstopper.
EVENING BRIDAL SHOWCASES
SOLO BRIDAL SHOWCASE
Nida Azwer
The evening bridal showcase was opened with a solo show by Nida Azwer who showcased her bridal collection ‘Rani Bagh’ at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week. The collection draws its inspiration from the royal courts and gardens of the Mughal era. The opulence of the courts is translated into fine embroideries made in zardozi, marori, wasli, gota, kamdani, mirror work and fine silk threads. Voluminous kalidars, angharkas, and peshwases have been paired with magnificent farshi ghararas, lenghas, izars, and chooridaars that are complimented with richly worked dupattas and chaddars. The collection stays true to Nida Azwer’s love for birds and horses, which are finely intertwined with delicate florals and paisleys. For the showcase, Nida has collaborated with Ali Javeri jewelers who have designed the ‘Mughal Treasures’ collection of fine jewelry with shoes (traditional khussas) by Soma.
“We are very delighted to showcase our collection at a solo show on the platform of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week.” said Nida Azwer
GROUPED BRIDAL SHOWCASE
Misha Lakhani
Misha Lakhani showcased her bridal collection ‘Ab-e-Rawan’, meaning running water at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week in the grouped show category. The poetic name given to the various flowy muslins from 16th century Mughal India, ‘Ab-e-Rawan’ celebrates the bohemian nomad in a mix of Persian and Central Asian textiles, hand-woven fabrics that coexist with the finest quality needle-craft to create looks that are steeped in old-world charm, yet versatile and effortless.
The fabrics range from hand-woven muslins, silks, gauzy nets, velvet, organza and tissues. The colour palette includes ivory, blush pink, daffodil yellow, peach, carmine, duck egg blue, midnight blue and black with pea green accents. An eclectic mix of old crafts and modern ideas, the collection featured pre-draped dupattas, hand-crafted sandals, voluminous crushed gagras layered looks using versatile separates, off shoulder blouses, jodhpurs and angarkhas.
“I love looking to centuries past to inspire collections, but always with my current context in mind; the clothing has to be as effortless as it is beautiful.” said Misha Lakhani
Zainab Salman
Making her bridal ramp debut this season at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018, Zainab Salman showcased her debut bridal collection titled ‘Bazeecha-e-Ishq’ – The Game of Love. Showcasing in collaboration with Shafaq Habib, the inspiration behind the collection came from “the desire to raise the deep voice of love that resides within all of us. Love can be in the form of a person or it can be the divine love for God: the unconditional, infinite and eternal love.”
The collection is a blend of rich fabrics, soft hues and bold patterns and craftsmanship adopting unique embellishment techniques to create original, heirloom pieces. Featuring intricate hand embroideries that are derived from fresco art embedded in our traditional architecture, Zainab has used embellishments such as mukesh, gota, mirror and thread work. Using light and pastel shades, the silhouettes have been kept predominantly classic. The collection also featured five menswear pieces.
Musician Ali Noor and Actress Iqra Aziz participated in the designer’s showcase as celebrity showstoppers.
“We are extremely excited to be showcasing this year since this is our debut bridal collection. I believe that the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week is a great platform for designers to get a broader reach in terms of clientele, not to mention the encouragement designers receive to grow as artists and brands.” said Zainab Salman
Jeem by Hamza Bokhari
Jeem by Hamza Bokhari showcased his bridal collection ‘Mizaaj’ at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week with Samreen Vance as the jewellery partner. The collection draws its inspiration from the crafts and grandeur of South of Pakistan and mixing it with sparkling floral poetry and animal motifs into his hyper feminine silhouettes in a palette of wintry jewel tones. Set in fabrics of silks, brocades, organzas, zardozi work, block printed textiles ‘Mizaaj’ features traditional silhouettes such as angrakha, jama and azaar. The color palette is also inspired from the vivacious colors of Southern Punjab. The collection also featured select menswear pieces.
“It is always super exciting being art of the most prolific show of the year, PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018. I started my career on this platform so it surely holds a special place in my heart.” said Hamza Bokhari
GROUPED BRIDAL SHOWCASE
Farah & Fatima
Farah & Fatima showcased their bridal collection titled ‘Dastaan’ at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018. The collection was a display of timeless beauty and rich traditions.
The House of Kamiar Rokni
One of Pakistan’s leading fashion houses, The House of Kamiar Rokni showcased the brand new A/W 2018/2019 bridal collection titled ‘Moonrise’ as the finale on Day-2 of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2018 in Lahore. The collection draws its inspiration from moon which is universally a feminine symbol representing the system of time and pays homage to this symbolism. The collection comprises of pieces that respect tradition but are made for the woman of today. They are heirlooms; a legacy that is passed on from one generation to the next.
“To be a part of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week means to be presenting at the best platform for bridal couture in the country. The event stands for excellence in fashion and it is an honour and privilege to be a part of this. As usual we are very excited to be presenting this year.” said Kamiar Rokni
