March issue 2011

Is a spectacular creation ever complete without that fantastical piece of jewellery to lift it to the realm of perfection? Can a stunningly crafted piece of jewellery ever be complete without the right fabric, moulded and designed to add that extra lustre to the ensemble? Surely these were the very thoughts running through Kiran Aman’s mind when she teamed up with designer par excellence Sonya Battla to collectively present their 2011 collections titled, ‘Meet Your Void’ and ‘Stellar.’ And the duo unveiled a galactic presentation which – gold and chrome, bronze and chrome, beaten gold, crushed gold, velvety ivory, brushed metal – fused together harmoniously and suspended starkly for maximum impact.

The PIA Planetarium has been an intrinsic part of Karachi’s landscape, but rarely does anyone venture there, nor has the fashion world been inspired to step out of their comfort niche. Kiran Aman has fast acquired the reputation of relentlessly pushing the boundary and whipping up events that are intrinsically hers. Remember the ‘Revived’ event at the now defunct Tollington Market Hall in Lahore two years ago? The remnants of Kiran Fine Jewellery displays during the launch of the Sonya Battla-KFJ partnership at 76 Clifton? That launch lives on in the many thousands of bronze and gold pencils — that she used to create effective displays — that each guest was invited to pluck and keep as mementoes. So when the pale blue invite complete with a box of customised M&M’s, plopped onto the doormat, you knew this was an A-list event.

Once inside the Planetarium, the reclining (PIA) seats, and what appeared to be sub-zero temperatures, set the tone for the impending galactic ride. Off we went on a journey of the planets and a glimpse of the oft-changing moods of the night sky. And just as you start to subsume yourself into the mysterious worlds of colliding planets and falling stars, the presentation came to an end and one was ushered out to the viewing area where the collections awaited.

Both the couturier and the jewellery designer were clearly thinking space colours and textures. Ethereal creations suspended on gossamer-thin strings wowed with their attention to fine detail, balanced structures and an almost seamless absorption of the galactic inspired theme. Each installation was a piece of art; a few could walk straight into fashion windows of uber-chic stores in any major capital city in the west. The headbands, the fantastical large rings and the broaches made from beaten gold were suspended against Battla’s master pieces. One ensemble in silver, weighed down with large stones depicting the world surrounded by falling meteors; another in metallic hues of copper and gold was embellished with the most miniscule of exquisitely embroidered strips on the neckline. If criticism has to be made at all, it was that the presentation could have had more pieces. But then making up numbers and over-the-top creations has never been the hallmark of either Kiran Fine Jewellery or Sonya Battla.