Pak designers go the traditional way Pak brands and designers show salwars and kurtis at Lifestyle Expo

Pak designers go the traditional way

Pak brands and designers show salwars and kurtis at Lifestyle Expo

New Delhi: Fashion may be getting bolder in Pakistan with Western trends and cuts dominating the ramp, but it is traditional ethnic apparel that its designers are flaunting at the ongoing Pakistan Lifestyle Expo in the Indian capital. “Pakistani fashion is undoubtedly experimenting a lot nowadays. But for the Lifestyle Expo, we deliberately chose to go for traditional clothes because we wanted to show our designs in the purest form,” Ayesha Ahmed Mansoor of the label Mausummery Lawn said. “Pakistan is known for its embroideries and surface texturisation and this will only look best on ethnic garments. We wanted India to see our best designs and remember it for days to come,” added the designer who is participating in the four-day event that started Thursday at the Pragati Maidan fairgrounds. At the Pakistan Lifestyle Epo, 100 lifestyle companies and designers from across the border are participating. Top Pakistani brands Gul Ahmed, AlKaram, Hub Leather, Khaadi, Chen One and designers Sahar Atif, Deepak Perwani, Kamiar Rokni, Faiza Samee, Maheen Khan and Rizwan Beyg are showcasing their collection, a mix of salwar-suits, palazzos, kurtis and accessories. For Asad Sajjad, managing director, Textile Links, Pakistani culture is still rooted in tradition. “For us, the tradition is restricted to salwar-kameez. Yes, pants and shirts are worn as daily wear in both the countries, but for us, the real garment is traditional clothes,” Sajjad said. Some designers say fashion-conscious women across the border are more on the heavier side and that is why Western garments are not so popular. “We (Pakistani women) are more on the heavier side and this leaves little scope to experiment with different cuts ... Yes, we are blessed with beautiful faces and we can happily flaunt that,” said designer Noureen Khan. Fans, however, say a couple of Western silhouettes would have been appreciated. Pernia Raizada, a fashion enthusiast, has come all the way from Mumbai to shop for Pakistani clothes. She said: “The designs are so refreshing that I want to buy all of them, but if that be the case, I will end up buying all the traditional attires. “I wish there were a few Western designs in Pakistani fabric, especially in lawn (a fabric),” said Raizada.