WEB DESK – After a well-received and widely viewed first day showcase of six stellar designers ,Catwalk Cares Virtual Fashion Show Episode Two slated to screen on Har Pal Geo and Catwalk Cares YouTube and Facebook pages is expected to create an equally exciting buzz with its bevy of seven leading fashion connoisseurs.
The first showcase Generation’s Creative Director and Head Designer Khadija Rehman opined that ‘Catwalk Cares’’ Virtual Fashion Show was a “groundbreaking effort to showcase the very best of Pakistani Fashion and to applaud the efforts of all those rising to the occasion to fight from the front lines against Covid-19.as well as a great start to feasible workable and beautiful ways to run the fashion industry while social distancing.”
Generation’s formal luxury collection ‘Lootera ‘ modelled by veteran supermodel Mehreen Syed and designed and styled by six-year veteran Generation designer Harris Masood is the brand’s sneak peak of its Monsoon collection for its concept Luxury line Mining. ‘Lootera refers to the beauty and finesse of pre-Colonial subcontinental fabrics – one of the richest during that epoch – including Chintz, Bengali Kalamkari block prints and fine- -as -air muslin that were systematically ” plundered” by the British. Lootera is ostensibly a questioning for an apology that the Subcontinent never received.
Using delicate cotton, zaris, organza and tissue in a rich color palette that pays a befitting tribute to the region’s heritage ‘Lootera ‘ comprises of regal flowy and belted silhouettes buoyed by painstakingly meticulous patterns and prints that are an indubitable homage to the Chintz craftsmen of yore and offset by an array of individualist hand embroidery.Generation was honoured to be able to provide PPE suits to the Armed Forces as well as gifting four Eid suits to health workers under the aegis of Catwalk Cares and commissioning a tribute poster by Mariam Ibraaz to thank all the doctors.
Saniya Maskatiya‘s versatile three looks capsule collection ‘Yara’ modelled by Alicia Khan “and dedicated to all the frontliners” comprised of soft pastel ensembles rendered with intricate machine and hand embroideries further embellished with lace details and elevating fresh floral prints to uplift the summer spirits. Using khaddi silk and organza. ‘Yara’ included an eclectic range of interesting and innovative silhouettes including a classic kurta ; a corner-dropping poncho, and a front-open shirt paired with a shalwar, “a truly versatile collection that has been carefully put together with a little something for everyone to play dress up at home and make the quarantine special for everybody.”
Pakistani Fashion industry maverick designer Ali Xeeshan’ posits virtual fashion and virtual life as “a temporary new reality that we must all adapt to and make peace with and become the flowers that come out of the cracks”.His three looks ‘ Kaafla Zuri and Fame’ capsule collection modelled by statuesque supernova model Mushk Kaleem was inspired by Nature, the Subcontinent’s heritage and inner peace.Using solid colours including neutral black and white and bright festive and summery easy breezy fabrics, cool festive silhouettes “for everyone and anyone to flaunt” included a flowy black and white striped kafran; slim pants paired with a motiffed white shirt and a floral embroidered lehnhga and sheer embroidered and embellished top. Mushk was also seen to be using and prepping with TREsemme products the Hair partner for Catwalk Cares. Says Ali Xeeshan of the collaboration “Great hair produced by using TREsemme products is like getting a great outfit from Ali Xeeshan!”
Participating in a fashion show after a gap of almost 12 years menswear connoisseur Ismail Farid reprises his favourite signature theme of monochromes in the three looks all black ‘Monochrome Memoir’ capsule inspired by Sufism and Bohemia and modelled by edgily bearded and artistic supermodel Hasnain Lehri Using cotton and linen in noir ,the western capsule included menswear staples including a waistcoat a suit and a ong short sleeved coat endnote with Fedora hats urban caps and stylish shades.The collection artfully mixed high fashion classic pieces with an edgy Boho -chic twist.
Elan’s ‘Une Belle Journée ‘ ( A Beautiful Journey ‘ ) modelled by Rabiya Chaudhry is a three looks capsule collection that is evocative of Old World charm while retaining modern glamour and revealing women’s inner royalty; harking back to a time of elegant poise and impeccable social graces where even the act of serving tea could be a grand ceremonial occasion. This classic collection features prettily sedate hues including cool mint and white transposed onto impeccably tailored, timeless silhouettes including short flowy kurtas and sleeveless tunics and end noted with elegant intricate tonal embroidery.
Elan’s Creative Director Khadijah Shah: “Catwalk Cares’ is a great initiative that I am happy to be part of in my small way; paying tribute to the brilliant health workers who we owe so much with their keeping us safe and well and making our loved ones better . There is so little we can really do for the gratitude that we owe them.” Avant garde createur Hussain Rehar’s four looks contemporary eastern fusion capsule collection ‘ The Daughter of the Moon’ modelled by “perfect fit” Neha Rajput in a bucolic outdoor garden-scape takes a departure from Rehar’’s usual outré aesthetic especially in the use of the loose and flowy silhouettes ideal for the upcoming summer heat-wave.
Using luxurious silk in a bevy of soothing pastel hues and imbued with fusion floral prints subtly embellished with pearl-work and semi-precious stones, innovative pieces include two oversized blazers an organza sheer jacket worn with a mid-calf dress and an elegant power suit accessorized with loosely hung and romantic head scarves.The collection radiated a sense of peace and tranquility much needed during the angst-ridden Covid-19 pandemic.
Designer and philanthropist Asim Jofa who has helped to provide protective equipment to over 400 hospitals all over Pakistan created his three-looks festive collection ‘Mystique’ modelled by Fatima Hasan specially for Catwalk Cares Virtual Fashion Show. Inspired by the voluminous peshwas of the Mughal era ‘Mystique’ uses pure luxurious fabrics including raw silk, chiffon and organza in regal hues including ivory soft ,mint and magenta speckled with hints of gold and silver and transposed onto traditional voluminous and flowy silhouettes embellished with subtle delicate thread work zardozi kora, naqshi, pearls and sequins , Behind the scenes footage of model Fatima – who thanked visual director Asad-ul-Haq for tutoring models on how to shoot the runway footage – laboriously unpacking the extremely well-sealed and delivered outfits added a lightness to the sequence. Asim Jofa added that he could never thank the tireless efforts of the frontliners while Fatima called them all “real heroes.”
