Ensemble opened a new outlet in Lahore at the centrally located and renowned 10 Q. Having first opened their boutique in the city about two years ago, the newly opened Ensemble outlet now retails a diversity of Karachi’s and Lahore’s premier designers and is in keeping with the brands’ commitment of providing a comfortable retail experience, with an evermore extensive fashion selection.
The Ensemble launch was attended by media, designers, fashion and social personalities alike, including: fashion designers Nomi Ansari, Faryal and Moeed of Muse, Honey Waqar, Ammar Belal, Fahad Hussayn, Munib Nawaz, Kuki, Zarmina, Mehdi, Faraz Manan and Rana Noman Haq; stylists Khawar Riaz, Shehzad Raza, Nabiha Bukhari of The Square, Annie of Allenora and Jenny; jewellery designers Shazia Deenand Shafaq Habib, among others.
As one of Pakistan’s pioneering multi-label boutiques, Ensemble’s relocation to larger premises was in line with their expansion within Karachi, with the opening of Xander’s Café within their premises, and also follows the success of their recently held Fashion’s Night Out. Ensemble’s new boutique in Lahore also marked the introduction of Nomi Ansari, Umar Sayeed and Ritu Kumar’s separate spaces within the outlet.
The multi-label boutique in Lahore currently hosts numerous coveted fashion brands such as Ali Xeeshan, Ammar Belal, Deepak Perwani, Delphi, Fahad Hussayn, FNK Asia, Hunar, Maheen Karim, Mahin Erum, Mahin Hussain, Muse, Nida Azwer, Nomi Ansari, ONE by Ensemble, Pencil Sketch, Preen, Rana Noman Haq, Rehana Saigol, Ritu Kumar, Rizwan Beyg, Sabyasachi, Sadaf Malaterre, Sana Safinaz, Sana Tariq, Sania Maskatiya, Sanya Muneer, Sarah A Jilani, Satya Paul, Shehrnaz, SozanKaar, Tarun Tahiliani, Umar Sayeed, Zara Shahjahan, Zahra Habib and Zarmina.
Speaking about the launch of the Ensemble boutique at 10 Q, Ensemble Creative Director Shehrnaz Husain said: “We at Ensemble are proud to expand within Lahore, which has always had such a vibrant fashion retail scene. The response to the opening was humbling and we hope the buyers will enjoy the shopping experience offered at the new Ensemble store. Our new space at 10 Q will make fashion more accessible to our clients, given its central location. We look forward to introducing more additions to the Ensemble brand in Lahore next year.”
Ensemble is one of Pakistan’s premier independent luxury boutiques and houses designer prêt-à-porter apparel from over 40 top Pakistani and Indian designers. Located in the upscale neighbourhood of Block-4, Clifton, now with a newly relocated store in Lahore and a presence of its in-house line in various fashion capitals, it has in the past four year grown into a recognisable Pakistani label.
Indeed, Ensemble’s new and expanded premises in Karachi as of 2010 offer a larger outlet, additional personalised services and a more extensive collection of apparel. Some features of the new location include a bridal room by appointment and a full service salon on the mezzanine level, with the newly introduced Xander’s Café. Ensemble looks forward to bringing the same innovations and personalised services to their new Lahore outlet in 2012.
As a pioneer in the industry, Ensemble was the first to bring seasonal fashion shows to Pakistan and the first multi-brand store to host its own shows. The House of Ensemble’s debut show was the relaunch of design stalwart Shamaael at a critically acclaimed November event in 2007, followed by the launching of Kamiar Rokni’s solo label in Karachi the same year. Ensemble’s Spring/Summer showcase was held in 2008 where Umar Sayeed, Sadaf Malaterre and Kamiar Rokni took to the ramp for the first time ever and where Nilofer Shahid also showcased her debut Prêt collection. This was subsequently followed by a Fall/Winter fashion show the same year where the iconic Bunto Kazmi showcased her Prêt collection for the first time in her career and young designer Adnan Pardesy debuted. Ensemble also recently adapted the international Fashion’s Night Out concept, bringing it to their boutique in Karachi in 2011. The Ensemble brand has also in the past held two fundraising fashion shows in aid of the Teacher’s Resource Centre (TRC) in 2009, thereby putting fashion’s socially responsible foot forward to promote education and progression in Pakistan.
Zeba from Ensemble has been supporting charity through fashion initiatives such as Carnivale De Couture in aid of TRC, the MALC annual ball and fund raisers and balls in aid of the Kidney Centre and the Lady Dufferin hospital. In 2010, Ensemble Karachi organised a fundraiser qawwali and charity sale to raise funds for the assistance of flood relief affectees and their 2011 Fashion’s Night Out also channelled a significant percentage of sales to the flood affectees.