January issue 2010

The wildly applauded Fashion Pakistan Week held in Karachi in October marked a milestone in the history of the country’s fashion industry. It propelled centrestage a brand new breed of extremely talented young designers who wowed fashion aficionados and style gurus with their collections. But this year wasn’t just about Fashion Pakistan, it was also about the young trend-setters who are creating a niche for themselves.

It’s safe to predict that 2010 will be the year of this innovative bunch of designers who are not scared to experiment and push the boundaries of fashion further and further.

Newsline heralds the new year by spotlighting a few of these savvy youths: James Abidi, Mahin Hussain, Tayyab Bombal, Feeha Jamshed and Rizwanullah.

James Abidi loves the unexpected. Drawn towards fashion from the 1920s and 1930s, Abidi’s designs are dramatic and extraordinary. She draws inspiration from Coco Chanel and her life. Her label is more about the cuts and the draping of the fabric since she prefers clean silhouettes to embellishments. “I focus on the design by first sketching it and then move towards the technical aspects.” When asked about fashion disasters, she is quick to respond: “My blonde hair! What was I thinking?”

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Mahin Hussain

Mahin Hussain’s accessories are bright, vivid and reminiscent of pop art. Her handbags and the latest addition to her line, scarves, are “loud, playful and serve a purpose.” Some of the handbags also have names that add to the appeal of her label, like Orbit, Psychedelic, Jamaica, Bell-Bottomed and Giant (Shades of Pink). A graduate from the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, Hussain plans on diversifying her label to include a wider range of accessories.

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Tayyab Bombal

Tayyab Bombal stepped into the fashion market simply with a range of ties, but soon his label encompassed all menswear items, from jackets to suits — and now even leather handbags. This promising young designer is drawn towards the sharp, sleek look which is reminiscent of secret service agents, and he indulges in the subtle details evident in old British and German military uniforms from the 1940s. His creations are certainly not just for the martial types. The only prerequisite to suit up in a Bombal design is easy charm and confidence, as Tayyab himself exudes in this photograph.

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Syed Rizwanullah

Syed Rizwanullah’s muse is life. Everything that surrounds him — even if it be his own little farm of goats and chickens — is a source of inspiration. Rizwanullah is a realist who prefers to be surrounded by friends and family and avoids the idiot box since he feels it hinders creativity. His creations are “quirky, fun and ethnic.” He is a firm believer in innovation and is not afraid of experimenting with designs and colours: “After all, out of every 10 disasters comes one brilliant idea.”

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Feeha Noor Jamshed

Feeha Noor Jamshed is a focused and passionate young woman who knows how to steer her creative energy into coming up with innovative designs that underline the TeeJays signature style and maintain the invincible continuity of the brand. Jamshed asserts that at TeeJays “we don’t follow trends; we create trends.” And she has certainly made waves this year with her collections which are, at once, understated, demure and downright sexy. Jamshed wishes to illustrate that the Pakistani woman can be modestly attired and still have her own sense of style.

Hair and make-up: Saba Ansari at Sab’s
Photography: Mustafa Abidi
Coordination: Umer Mushtaq