Pakistani fashion celebrated at London’s Lancaster House

LONDON: The hall of Lancaster House was brimming with people who had gathered to celebrate Pakistani fashion at the two-day Pakistan Fashion Week.

On the occasion, budding designers told Geo News they were please to get such a chance where they were able to make more customers.

Around 40 fashion designers and top models from Pakistan were part of the show that was supported by Geo News and Jang Group. Pakistan High Commission and Riwayat, a company in the United Kingdom, collaborated to organise the grand event to mark the 70th independence anniversary of Pakistan at Lancaster House, where events for British government and the Royal family are held. It is from the same venue the Pakistani flag was sent for Pakistan's first-ever Mission at Lowndes Square in London.

Besides designers, a large number of diplomats from London-based diplomatic missions, parliamentarians, representatives of the media and a cross-section of the British society were in attendance at the event.

Umar Sayeed, Shamaeel Ansari, Sana Safinaz, Maria B and Maheen Khan headlined with leading Pakistani models Fouzia Aman and Eshal Fayyaz walking the ramp.

“This represents the cultural diplomacy of Pakistan at its best,” said Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Syed Ibne Abbas. “Today we have seen an exquisite display of Pakistan’s flourishing fashion and design industry, with leading designers and models present at this historic venue.”

He added the fashion week would not only introduce Pakistan’s beautiful culture but also promote the country’s exports in the apparel and clothing industry. “It will also help create a better understanding of our people and present the true image of our country.”

Riwayat Creative Director Adnan Ansari believed it was a matter of prestige to hold Pakistan Fashion Week at the Lancaster House. He said the event was a tribute to Pakistani fashion and how far it has come. Ansari added Pakistani fashion has made huge progress in the last decade and that was demonstrated through the richness and innovation of Pakistani fashion.

Designer MaazJee paid tribute to the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with a collection inspired by his clothing, whilst a fusion of east-west designs from Maheen Khan and Shameem Ansari stole the show.

The show was divided into two parts. The opening saw over 500 people attending the event, which included catwalk and live music session that went on for about three hours. The next day saw more than 2,000 people attending the venue through registration to visit dozens of stalls which were installed in nine rooms, and in the main hall where Pakistani designers had displayed their collections.

The designers who attended the fashion week included Hamna Amir, Agha Noor, Saadia Asad, Aisha Imran, Sadaf Amir, Moazzam Abbasi, Shirin Hassan, Zeshan Bariwala, Ayesha Aejaz, Amna Bibi, Miral, Sana Farooq, Sonia Mahajan, Ahmad Hassan, Rizwan Ahmed, Shazia Kiyani, Aminah Badar, Cheena Chapara, Hassan Riaz, Sana Rashid, Uzma Babar and Imran Khaliq.