“Catwalk Cares” – Virtual Fashion Show – Day 02

After a well-received and widely viewed first day showcase of six stellar designers, Catwalk Cares Virtual Fashion Show Episode Two slated to screen on Har Pal Geo and Catwalk Cares YouTube and Facebook pages is expected to create an equally exciting buzz with its bevy of seven leading fashion connoisseurs.

The first showcase Generation‘s creative director and head designer Khadija Rehman opined that “Catwalk Cares” Virtual Fashion Show was a groundbreaking effort to showcase the very best of Pakistani Fashion and to applaud the efforts of all those rising to the occasion to fight from the front lines against Covid-19 as well as a great start to feasible workable and beautiful ways to run the fashion industry while social distancing”. Generation’s formal luxury collection ‘lootera’ modeled by veteran supermodel Mehreen Syed and designed and styled by six-year veteran Generation designer Harris Masood is the brand’s sneak peak of its Monsoon collection for its concept Luxury line Mining. ‘Lootera’ refers to the beauty and finesse of pre-colonial subcontinental fabrics – one of the richest during that epoch – including chintz, bengali kalamkari block prints and fine-as-air muslin that were systematically ” plundered” by the British. Lootera is ostensibly a questioning for an apology that the Subcontinent never received. Using delicate cotton, zaris, organza and tissue in a rich color palette that pays a befitting tribute to the region’s heritage ‘Lootera’ comprises of regal flowy and belted silhouettes buoyed by painstakingly meticulous patterns and prints that are an indubitable homage to the Chintz craftsmen of yore and offset by an array of individualist hand embroidery. Generation was honored to be able to provide PPE suits to the Armed Forces as well as gifting four Eid suits to health workers under the aegis of Catwalk Cares and commissioning a tribute poster by Mariam Ibraaz to thank all the doctors.

Saniya Maskatiya’s versatile  three looks capsule  collection ‘yara’ was modeled by Alicia Khan “and dedicated to all the front-liners” comprised  of soft pastel ensembles rendered with intricate machine and hand embroideries  further embellished with lace details and elevating fresh floral prints  to uplift  the summer spirits. Using khaddi silk and organza. ‘yara’ included an eclectic range   of interesting   and innovative silhouettes including a classic kurta ;  a corner-dropping poncho, and a front-open shirt paired with a shalwar, “a truly versatile collection that has been carefully put together with a little something for everyone to play dress up at home and make the quarantine special for everybody.”

Pakistani Fashion industry maverick designer Ali Xeeshan posits virtual fashion and virtual life as “a temporary new reality that we must all adapt to and make peace with and become the flowers that come out of the cracks”. His three looks ‘kaafla, zuri and fame’ capsule collection modeled by statues-que supernova model Mushk Kaleem was inspired by Nature, the subcontinent’s heritage and inner peace. Using solid colours including neutral black and white and bright festive and summery easy breezy fabrics, cool festive silhouettes “for everyone and anyone to flaunt” included a flowy black and white striped kafran; slim pants paired with a motiffed white shirt and a floral embroidered lehnhga and sheer embroidered and embellished top. Mushk was also seen to be using and prepping with TREsemme products the Hair partner for Catwalk Cares. Says Ali Xeeshan of the collaboration “Great hair produced by using TREsemme products is like getting a great outfit from Ali Xeeshan!”

Participating in a fashion show after a gap of almost 12 years menswear connoisseur Ismail Farid reprises his favorite signature theme of monochromes in the three looks all black ‘Monochrome Memoir’ capsule inspired by Sufism and Bohemia and modeled by edgily bearded and artistic supermodel Hasnain Lehri using cotton and linen in noir ,the western capsule included menswear staples including a waistcoat a suit and a long short sleeved coat end-note with Fedora hats urban caps and stylish shades. The collection artfully mixed high fashion classic pieces with an edgy Boho-chic twist.

Elan‘s ‘Une Belle Journée’ (A Beautiful Journey) modeled by Rabiya Chaudhry is a three looks capsule collection that is evocative of Old World charm while retaining modern glamour and revealing women’s inner royalty; harking back to a time of elegant poise and impeccable social graces where even the act of serving tea could be a grand ceremonial occasion. This classic collection features prettily sedate hues including cool mint and white transposed onto impeccably tailored, timeless silhouettes including short flowy kurtas and sleeveless tunics and end noted with elegant intricate tonal embroidery. Elan’s creative director Khadijah Shah said: “Catwalk Cares’ is a great initiative that I am happy to be part of in my small way; paying tribute to the brilliant health workers who we owe so much with their keeping us safe and well and making our loved ones better . There is so little we can really do for the gratitude that we owe them”.

Avant garde createur Hussain Rehar’s four looks contemporary eastern fusion capsule collection ‘The Daughter of the Moon’ modeled by “perfect fit” Neha Rajput  in a bucolic outdoor garden-scape  takes a  departure  from Rehar’s usual outré aesthetic especially in the use of  the  loose and  flowy silhouettes ideal for the upcoming summer heat-wave. Using luxurious silk in a bevy of soothing pastel hues and imbued with fusion floral prints subtly embellished with pearl-work and semi-precious stones, innovative pieces include two over-sized blazers an organza sheer jacket worn with a mid-calf dress and an elegant power suit accessorized with loosely hung and romantic head scarves. The collection radiated a sense of peace and tranquility much needed during the angst-ridden Covid-19 pandemic.

Designer and philanthropist Asim Jofa  who has helped to provide protective equipment to over 400 hospitals all over Pakistan created his three-looks festive collection ‘Mystique’ modeled by Fatima Hasan specially for Catwalk Cares Virtual Fashion Show. Inspired by the voluminous peshwas of the Mughal era ‘Mystique’ uses pure luxurious fabrics including raw silk, chiffon and organza  in regal  hues including  ivory soft ,mint and  magenta speckled with hints of gold  and silver and transposed onto traditional voluminous and flowy silhouettes  embellished with subtle  delicate thread work zardozi kora, naqshi, pearls and sequins. Behind the scenes footage of model Fatima, who thanked visual director Asad-ul-Haq  for tutoring models on how to shoot the runway footage –  laboriously unpacking the extremely well-sealed and delivered outfits added a lightness to the sequence. Asim Jofa added that he could never thank the tireless efforts of the front-liners while Fatima called them all “real heroes”.

 

Watch Pakistan’s first ever “Catwalk Cares” Virtual Fashion Show Day 02/Episode 02 below : 

“Catwalk Cares” – Virtual Fashion Show – Day 01

Pakistan’s first ever ‘virtual fashion show’- the brainchild of Frieha Altaf CEO of Catwalk Event Management & Productions was postponed in respect to the memory of those who tragically lost their lives in the PIA A-320 jet crash including Pakistani supermodel Zara Abid. This ‘‘Catwalk Cares’’ Virtual Fashion Show will be airing on 05^th, 06^th & 07^th of June 2020 (on YouTube -@ 07:00 PM) and (on Facebook – 09:00 PM).

The innovative digital fashion show in which 19 leading Pakistani brands show capsule pieces from their latest collections began on Day One with a general overview of all the six participating  designers and  their models repeatedly spouting what may now be the new ground  reality in fashion show presentation: “virtual fashion show” which seemed jarring to say the least!

This was followed by more laudatory comments from participating designers and models espousing that the show is a tribute to the front-liners including Amir Adnan who said “designers care about them (front-liners) Catwalk cares about them and Fashion cares about them”

Show director Frieha Altaf thanked all the designers, models and front-liners and as a preview to the collections again reiterated that the show was dedicated to the front-liners and hoped that the Eid garments given as kind gestures of gratitude “put a smile on their faces”. Altaf further stated some statistics about the 364 Covid-19 affected health workers in Sindh seven of whom had lost their lives as well as five police officers who had passed away.

Day one kicked off with retail game-changer Khaadi whose collection ‘Bohemia’ described by KHAADI CEO Shamoon Sultan as all about “expressing one’s individuality in a fun way” was modeled by: Robina Khan. Set against a brightly-hued ethnic backdrop the four-piece capsule included  vibrant fuchsia  cobalt, citrine and tangerine  ethnic prints transposed onto short belted bell-sleeved tunics and layered  tasseled coats  offset with traditional carry-on bags  A vibrant and ebullient collection  that gave hope in these dark times . Both designer and model thanked the front-liners for their brave services and vowed to continue to support them.

Before the next designer Maheen Karim’s showcase ‘Parizad’ which is artfully juxtaposed behind-the-scenes communications between Maheen and her chosen model   Rahhima Ali, which added a bit of interest and showed the art of coordination via social media ‘Parizad’ was supposed to have been showcased at the cancelled Hum Showcase but Maheen believed Catwalk Cares was the perfect platform to showcase the capsule. Maheen had collaborated with Image Fabrics and transposed their materials into classic Maheen Karim silhouettes creating a collection   “made by strong independent women two from Image Fabrics and three at Maheen Karim”  Parizad was ostensibly all  about empowered women and the all-white five piece capsule included  swirly one-shoulder lace evening gowns; three-layered  bolero tops worn with jodhpur pants and a gorgeous  sari/stole hybrid evening look offset with traditional ethnic jewelry including teekas  To reiterate the fact the show was a CSR activity  with Fashion indubitably “caring” both designer and model  again gave out thankful shout-outs to  the front-liners including  “doctors, nurses and policemen and women”.

The next designer Amir Adnan a forerunner of the Pakistani Fashion industry called show director Frieha Altaf a pioneer and was happy  and excited to be part of the innovative digital fashion show that was “’paying tribute to the front-liners” His  four looks Summer Festive Eid collection was modeled by enthusiastic rising star Subhan Awan and used a simple palette of lilac and deep purple juxtaposed with black and white and  was transposed onto slim long and short shalwar kameezes and elegantly coordinated  plain and printed waistcoats and buttoned prince coats  Ironically it was a male model who was highlighted using the make-up kit Zero Make Up by NABILA which is the official hair and make-up partner for Catwalk Cares!

 

Huma Adnan called Frieha Altaf ‘a powerhouse who needs no introduction” as she explained why she chose supermodel Abeer Rizvi for the tribal-influenced collection because of her indigenously tribal features.  The  five looks ‘Kuchi’ collection was inspired by Kandahar Afghanistan and included long flowing white  kuchi  skirts worn with short embroidered tops  and kuchi kaftan dresses in cerise, black, and pink florals organically hand-printed by Afghani refugees whom Huma closely works  with. and was also paying tribute to , The festive fusion and easily translatable resort wear collection was  accessorized with signature Huma Adnan handmade jewelry  made by the same Afghan refugee women, Well-edited behind the scenes looks of Abeer trying on the festive tribal jewelry was  energizing.  Keeping in step with the dire pandemic times we are living in, Huma also showcased matching reusable and washable masks which are also available for sale while calling the front-liners “our true heroes and patriots”.

 

The ever eloquent and pioneering couturier Shamaeel Ansari: said she was delighted to be part of Catwalk Cares and was happy that Catwalk was “taking the first lead and that her went out to the front-liners” The opulent three piece capsule collection ‘The  Light of Darkness’  was  elegantly modeled by Fahmeen Ansari  in myriad well-lit and close-up shots and included   black and silver backless short bell-sleeved tunics worn with   slim cropped cigarettes pants;  scarlet one shoulder frilly tunics  worn with coordinated protective masks and a luxurious gold and black  high-collared opera coat with slit kimono sleeves  replete with leather gloves that exuded high voltage drama and glamour!

The sixth and last designer of Day One Nida Azwer spoke about the virtual show as “the new way forward to accepting and adapting to the new normal and Catwalk Cares as a way   to keep us entertained in these trying times”. Model Fahmeen Ansari before showcasing Nida Azwer’s luxury formal collection Anemone’ highlighted the versatility of TRESemmé hair products – TRESemmé being the official Hair Partners for Catwalk Cares – with a fun montage of her washing and blow drying her tresses The four piece ‘Anemone’ capsule included timeless pieces carefully hand-embroidered using the finest quality fabrics enhanced with delicate crystal,  traditional intricate resham & zardozi embroidery. The season-less separates that included kalidars and jackets which can be paired in multiple ways radiated in soft hues of pinks, gold silver and ivory and are indubitably collector items.

Day one ended with a heart-warming photo montage tribute to supermodel Zara Abid (1992-2020) and “all the precious lives lost on the tragic PIA A-320 jet crash” against a lilting soundtrack of iconic Pakistani band Strings 2018 hit ‘urr Jaoon’ (fly away) . The montage included glowing tributes by friends and  colleagues who  had worked with the late super model including designers Sana Safinaz, Khadijah Shah of Élan and Nomi Ansari and models and actresses Mushk Kaleem, Abeer Rizvi and Saba Qamar who had narrated the debut short film ‘Sikka’  in which Zara acted in a double role.

Deft, edgy, well executed and well-edited and genuinely highlighting the fact that Fashion and Catwalk truly cares, day one was an encouraging and inspiring  harbinger of more great fashion with heart to come.

Watch Pakistan’s first ever “Catwalk Cares” Virtual Fashion Show Day 01/Episode 01 below :