L’Oreal Paris’ Bridal Week 2013

The pioneering Pakistan Fashion Design Council [PFDC] and L’Oréal Paris, the world’s leading beauty brand, presented Day-1 of the third consecutive PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2013 [#PLBW] – a platform that endeavors to define and present contemporary and traditional Pakistani Bridal fashion and make-up trends, fusing to create the ‘look’ for the bridal season 2013-2014!
The first day of Bridal Week opened with couturier HSY, followed by Deena Rahman and an exclusive bridal hair trend show by L’Oréal Professionel, and a showcase by EXIST, Élan and Sania Maskatiya respectively as summarised below. Make-up for Day-1 of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2013 was done by the creative team at Maram & Aabroo, hair styling by TONI&GUY – Lahore with male models styled by Khawar Riaz. Indeed the success of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week has prompted private sector associates to engage the platform to launch new products, marketing campaigns and promotional activities. To that end, this year PFDC’s official bank, Bank Alfalah, are hosts to a custom-designed VIP lounge at PLBW. Leading global courier company FedEx – GSP Pakistan Gerry’s International are PLBW’s official logistics partner and are also hosting a lounge at the event. In addition to this, FedEx – GSP Pakistan Gerry’s International has collaborated with PLBW participating designer Ali Xeeshan for a one-off piece which was displayed at the FedEx lounge. Diet Pepsi is the official beverage partner for PLBW. In celebration of its 26 years of publishing, Libas International Magazine Limited, premier lifestyle and fashion magazine that celebrates the achievements of the Asian Subcontinent, are hosting the official black carpet at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week. Indeed, Libas encompasses the richness and versatility of Pakistani heritage and highlights its relevance in today’s world, playing a pivotal role in promoting the enlightened side of Pakistan. PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2013 Day-1 was opened by iconic designer, HSY, participating at the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week platform for the third time. HSY’s ‘A Tribute’ was a collection that paid homage to the independence, beauty and confidence of women featuring three unique segments: Vaneeza, Mehreen and Reema who were the collection’s inspiration and showstoppers respectively. Fluid silhouettes with an accent on structure at the hipline and detailed dart manipulated corseting and blouses, with a strong emphasis on silk velvets, diaphanous chiffons, delicate tissue and hand woven jacquards that created a look that was luxurious and opulent. Intricate handicraft and age old techniques had been revived for a bride who appreciates the richness of her heritage. The collection was a study of surface embellishments and textures that encompassed stitches from every province across the nation, such as pitta, gota, pippal girah, long girah, marori, Kashmiri tanka, crystals, mukesh, naqshi ganta, applique, hyderabadi phool, khichwa tanka, chawal tanka and paarsi gara. The collection incorporated the use of three strong colour themes which were showcased during three individual segments on the ramp; classic HSY Rouge; fresh luminous corals and hues of bright and oxidized golds; and daring midnight blues. For this collection, HSY had collaborated exclusively with Ahmad Haroon Khan, who had designed jewellery inspired by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Queen Noor Jehan to complement the collection. Each individual ornament in the accompanying collection was handcrafted in silver with gold formation and featured precious and semi-precious stones. Make-up looks for HSY’s collection showcase were created exclusively by L’Oréal Paris. Musician Junaid Khan also walked the ramp for HSY’s collection showcase segment, Mehreen. Following HSY, Deena Rahman made her ramp debut at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week with a collection titled ‘Old World Memories and other Inherited Objects’. The collection was inspired from a forgotten time; where vintage pieces from long ago were passed down from generation to generation to the designer, forming the basis of her inspiration. Primarily based in tissue, the ensembles were designed on velvet, kamkhab, chiffon, net and pure cashmere represented through a pastel colour palette based in pops of purple, black and red. The collection featured a unique take on embellishments, mixing many different mediums together to create distinct yet interesting textures. The label’s signature for its first major collection showcasing at the PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week was feminine, traditional, heavily embellished yet not overpowering – a throwback to our Mughal heritage and its splendour inspired from Mughal miniature art stories of beautiful animals. After the L’Oréal Professionel Hair Trend Show, EXIST made its PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week debut with a menswear line titled ‘The Masterpiece’ collection. The collection was inspired by the James Bond “007 series” where every piece was focused on design, material use, utility and intricate craftsmanship. The collection incorporated the use of a multitude of luxurious fabrics for its couture line; from superfine 120’s to classic Cashmeres for suits; plush Velvets for Jackets to Egyptian cottons for shirts going into hand-made silk ties. Hues of blacks, blues and Charcoals spelled the collection’s palette. Cuts for the line were classic for the contemporary man with a hint of elegance through use of non-conformist silhouettes. Couturier HSY was the showstopper for EXIST’s fashion presentation. The coveted House of Sania Maskatiya presented their exclusive bridal collection titled, ‘Tilism – Woven Treasures of the Magical East’ at the prestigious PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2013, during the finale of Day 1. Showcasing a bridal and trousseau collection for the first time on the ramp, ‘Tilism’ by Sania Maskatiya drew inspiration from the ancient and enduring romance with the East, the home of the rising Sun, where an absolute beauty has long resided in the subtlest details and the grandest designs. Indeed, ‘Tilism’ had been crafted to evoke precisely this quality, drawing upon the grandeur of times bygone. Combining centuries old embroidery techniques with highly sophisticated fabrics for which the Sania Maskatiya label is renowned, ‘Tilism’ endeavored to remember and respect Indo-Pak craft traditions, many of which are now nearly extinct. Staying true to the brands’ signature aesthetic of contrasting materials and patterns, ‘Tilism’ presented a host of playful separates, engaging both traditional as well as contemporary embroideries, from the intricate threadwork of zardosi, marori, tilla, and aari, to the shimmering texture of gota and kamdani. The collection featured a range of silhouettes, from lehngas and cropped pants, to cholis, capes and jackets.
The Sultanate Collection

After exhibiting the brand’s acclaimed‘An ode to a Nightingale’ collection at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week 2013, designer label Élan is set to exhibit their latest bridal collection titled ‘The Sultanate Collection’ at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week on 10thOctober 2013.
The collection draws inspiration from the pomp and pageantry of traditional easternroyaltyand features a fusion of classic and modern bridal wear. The ensemble creatively incorporates the use of nets, laces, organza and variations of sheer fabricsin a dynamic range of shades including pastels and jeweled tones. The silhouettes employed in the collection are a departure from established norms and feature a mixture of feminine cuts and shorter lengths. Pearl sequins, resham and gota have been imaginatively used as embellishments and highlight the overall fusion of traditional and modern bridal fashion. Speaking about her participation at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week, Creative Director ÉlanKhadijah Shah said, “It is always a pleasure to be a part of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week, a fashion extravanganza which heralds the onset of the Pakistani wedding season. It has become one the most prestigious platforms nationwide and has played an important role as a contributor to the livelihood of many by keeping the traditional art form of bridal embroidery alive’. Élan is a fashion label launched eight years ago by Khadijah Shah. She is respected for her combination of intricate embellishments, flattering silhouettes and attention to detail in the construction of each outfit. Indeed each collection is conceived with glamour, elegance and versatility in mind. Khadijah Shah inherited her design aesthetic from her mother Aneela Shah, who had a small atelier and a loyal clientele for many years before Élan was formerly launched. Khadijah has also just recently branched out in the sport industry by launching Élan Sport under her label Élan. In a short span of eight years, Khadijah has formalised and expanded the label and created an effective and influential place for Élan in the fashion industry.