LAAM Fashion Week Brings Kaleidoscopic Karachi to the Runway
LAAM Fashion Week presents Kaleidoscopic Karachi with leading Pakistani designers at IVS.
LAAM Fashion Week (LFW) brought its LFW Presents format to Karachi for the first time with Kaleidoscopic Karachi, a five-designer showcase at the historic Nusserwanjee Building of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS).
The second edition of LFW Presents featured Deepak Perwani, Wardha Saleem, Khaadi, The Pink Tree Company and Sana Safinaz. Photographer Tapu Javeri opened the evening with an archival exhibition covering four decades of Pakistani fashion.
The event presented Karachi through different fashion styles. Collections moved between heritage, craftsmanship, street culture and contemporary luxury.
Tapu Javeri Opens the Evening
The evening began with “Tapu Javeri – A Four-Decade Fashion Retrospective.” The exhibition drew from Javeri’s extensive photography archive.
His work documented major changes in Pakistani fashion and Karachi’s creative scene. The exhibition also connected the evening’s runway to the city’s fashion history.
Saad Ali, CEO and Founder of Design651 and Co-Founder of LFW, said the event reflected the need for a stronger fashion ecosystem.
He said LFW Presents aims to create opportunities for designers, brands and craftspeople beyond traditional fashion weeks.
Designers Present Different Faces of Karachi
Deepak Perwani opened the runway with Cocktail Hour. The collection drew inspiration from Karachi’s glamour during the 1970s.
Sleek silhouettes, sparkle and glitter shaped the presentation. Supermodels Frieha Altaf, Seemi Pasha and Atiya Khan also walked the collection.
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Wardha Saleem followed with Bander Road Se Kemari. Her collection drew inspiration from Karachi’s historic architecture.
Colonial buildings, balconies and traditional motifs influenced the designs. Actress and model Areeba Habib appeared as the collection’s showstopper.
The Pink Tree Company presented Hands That Craft. The collection focused on traditional craftsmanship and textile techniques.
Block printing, embroidery, gota and kaamdani featured prominently. Aliya Iqbal Naqvi walked as the showstopper.
Khaadi presented Karachi – It’s Complicated. The collection explored the contrasts associated with the city.
Contrasting colours, woven fabrics and bold prints shaped the presentation. Model Eman Suleman served as the showstopper.
Sana Safinaz Closes the Runway
The finale came from Sana Safinaz with Mastaani. The collection combined luxury couture with traditional festive design.
The presentation featured fluid drapes, couture lehengas and statement pieces. Javeria Hanif closed the show as the finale’s showstopper.
The five presentations offered different interpretations of Karachi. Together, they highlighted the city’s heritage, craft traditions and evolving fashion culture.
Karachi’s Fashion Community Attends
The event attracted personalities from fashion, entertainment, media and the creative industries.
Among the attendees were Bunto Kazmi, Faiza Samee, Fahad Mirza, Gohar Rasheed, Iqra Aziz, Kamiar Rokni, Kubra Khan, Nadia Hussain, Parishae Adnan, Saniya Maskatiya, Sarwat Gillani, Shehla Chatoor, Sharmila Faruqui, Sonya Battla, Zainab Chotani and Zainab Qayyum, among others.
The gathering also included designers, stylists, influencers, media representatives and corporate figures.
Historic Venue Adds to Fashion Showcase
The Nusserwanjee Building at IVS provided the setting for the event. The historic structure reflects Karachi’s architectural and cultural heritage.
The building was originally constructed in Kharadar and later relocated to the IVS campus. Its restoration created a link between Karachi’s architectural past and its contemporary creative scene.
Maheen Kardar, Executive Director of Designer Experience and Curation at LFW Presents, described Karachi as an important part of Pakistan’s fashion history.
She said the city’s layered identity inspired the concept behind Kaleidoscopic Karachi.
LFW Links Fashion With Global Commerce
LAAM Fashion Week combines runway presentations with digital commerce. The platform says its model connects Pakistani fashion with international consumers through technology, content and e-commerce.
Amir Iqbal, Co-Founder and COO of LAAM, said LFW Presents provides another platform for Pakistani fashion to reach global audiences.
Arif Iqbal, Co-Founder and CEO of LAAM, also highlighted the role of technology in expanding the reach of fashion events.
The organisers said the Karachi edition marked a new chapter for LFW Presents. The format is designed to take fashion showcases beyond traditional seasonal events and into distinctive cultural spaces.
Kaleidoscopic Karachi therefore brought together fashion, photography, architecture and Karachi’s cultural identity in one showcase.
