PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014: Day-2

Day 1 – PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014
Day 3 – PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014

The pioneering Pakistan Fashion Design Council [PFDC] and L’Oréal Paris, the world’s leading beauty brand, presented Day-2 of the fourth consecutive PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014 [#PLBW2014] – 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 2014-2015!

The second day of bridal week opened with early evening bridal showcases by Shamaeel Ansari and Fahad Hussayn, followed by the Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent Show featuring Akif Mahmood, Seher Tareen, MAHGUL, Wardha Saleem and Sofia Badar. After the debut show, Zara Shahjahan, Ammara Khan and the Ali Xeeshan Theater Studio featured in the late evening shows as summarized below. Make-up and hair styling for Day-2 of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014 was done by the creative team at Nabila’s with male models styled by NGENTS.

All Photo Credits: Faisal Farooqui and his team at Dragonfly

Black Carpet Images

This year, the PFDC L’Oréal Paris team also take bridal hair and make-up trends to a whole new level where the bridal week make-up teams exhibited their interpretation of bridal hair and make-up trends for the season using L’Oréal Makeup Designer Paris products. In addition to this, L’Oréal Paris showcased its PLBW Bridal Make-Up Kit, which can be used to recreate favourite make-up looks from PLBW 2014. In continuation of the trend set at the debut PLBW by the brand, L’Oréal Paris also published their signature newsletters each day of Bridal Week showcasing looks created by the PLBW make-up teams using L’Oréal Makeup Designer Paris products. Along with this; special editions on Day-2 and Day-3 of the Event featured the revolutionary “Revitalift Laser X3” anti-ageing skin care range and custom content pertaining to “Bridal Season Hair styles” with L’Oréal Paris hair care and Excellence Wild Ombrés hair color range.

Raising the bar for social media integration at a fashion event, L’Oréal Paris amplified the PLBW2014 digital experience for fashion enthusiasts by creating Pakistan’s biggest Live Social Media Wall at the venue.

Indeed the success of PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week continues to prompt private sector associates to grow in their engagement of the platform to launch new products, marketing campaigns and promotional activities with a common vision with the PFDC of developing and promoting Pakistan’s fashion industry. In this same spirit, this year the PFDC welcomes Official Jewellery Sponsors Waseem Jewellers, one of Pakistan’s premier creators and masters of the art of jewellery since 1979. Also new to PLBW are Rose Petal, who are considered industry leaders of design and innovation in sanitary paper products. Continuing the tradition of using the PLBW platform to launch campaigns, Rose Petal celebrated Pakistani Art & Fashion through the introduction of a new range of paper products named ‘Rose Petal Canvas’ at PLBW. Warid Telecommunication also made its PLBW debut as the Official Telecom Partner and Black Carpet Host for the platform. Leading real estate and planned communities authority New Lahore City, a project of the Rafi Group, partnered with PFDC for the first time at PLBW 2014. In continuation of their support for the platform, leading global courier company FedEx – GSP Pakistan Gerry’s International participated as PLBW’s Official Logistics Partner, Diet Pepsi as PLBW’s Official Beverage Partners and Bank Al-Falah as the Official Banking Partners. Bank Al-Falah, Warid Telecom, Rose Petal, FedEx – GSP Pakistan Gerry’s International and New Lahore City all hosted a custom-designed VIP lounge at the event.

PFDC’s dedicated Media Relations Department is headed by the Council’s Official Media Relations Manager Haiya Bukhari. The new Media Relations department also had a dedicated space at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week to facilitate members of the press at the venue of the bridal fashion platform. PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week [#PLBW2014] is produced by the in-house PFDC production team with show production and choreography by HSY Events, front stage management by Maheen Kardar Ali, backstage management by Production 021, Sara Shahid of Sublime by Sara as the official spokesperson for the PFDC, logistics and operations by Eleventh Retail, digital support by Pakka Papita, photography by Faisal Farooqui and the team at Dragonfly, Hum TV as the Official Media Partners, CityFM89 as the Official Radio Partners with all media management by Lotus Client Management & Public Relations.

Bridal Showcase: Shamaeel Ansari

Day-2 of PFDC L’Oréal Bridal Week 2014 was opened by Shamaeel Ansari who made her PFDC platform debut with her bridal couture collection, “The Wedding”. The collection comprised of pieces for all wedding functions including bridal outfits for trousseau, mayun, mehendi, bari, nikkah and even for sisters of the bride and groom. The ensembles had been designed on rich silks, thread embroidered surfaces, antique vintage gold coiled work, recreation of embroideries and antique tankas in zardozi with thread work. Shamaeel had used shorter cuts for young girls, dramatic moods and dramatic coats wearable by all ages and lengths in the formal regalia. With a distinct color palette including shades of saffron, burnished metallic, dramatic black, marrakesh reds and pristine ivory, the collection focused on mother of pearl tones for nikkah wears, bright vintage looks for main events and saffron incorporations in embroidery and threadworks. Jewellery for the designer’s showcase was provided by Waseem Jewellers.

Bridal Showcase: Fahad Hussayn

Following Shamaeel Ansari, Fahad Hussayn presented a bridal collection titled “Putlighar” at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014. A visual comment on socio-political anthropology, hierarchies and the rise and fall of love lost to war, Fahad Hussayn’s bridal collection featured a wide spectrum of print museum couture editions hand embroidered with 3D cutouts, vintage tones and amalgamation of traditional craft with new age techniques and cuts to make beautiful, timeless and elegant pieces. Traditional zari work, 3D embellishment, threadwork and vintage tone of tilla on printed bases had been used. With a colour palette inspired by Cholistan and Thatta dolls, it depicted the royalty ruins and leftovers throughout the region. This collection also portrayed a bit of Cholistan, offered some glimpses into colonialism and the Ranjit Singh era which comes with the signature Fahad Hussayn trousseau and bridal looks for both men and women with a perfect blend of aristocratic grandeur and avant-garde glamour. Renowned TV personality Wiqar Ali Khan participated in the designer’s showcase as a showstopper.

Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent Show

The Bank Alfalah Rising Talent Show commenced with a collaborative capsule collection featuring 5 ensembles, each designed by the individual participating designers using the Bank Alfalah signature blue and white corporate theme as their inspiration. This was followed by individual presentations by each designer.

The Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent Show commenced with designer Akif Mahmood’s collection ‘Virasat’. The womenswear collection took its inspiration from an imaginary character envisaged by the designer; a Queen of the Sub-continent who was influenced by different ruling families that have been in power in different eras of the Sub-continent, such as the Sikhs, Nawabs, Rajputs and Mughals. The capsule collection featured 5 unique ensembles based in chiffon, velvet, Jamawars, net and silks embellished with meticulous gota embroideries, zordozi work, beautiful appliques and intricate sequin and stone work. Dynamic shades of maroons, golds, greens with hints of purple on cholis, organza and other layered sheer fabrics were observed during the showcase.

The second showcase in the Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent Show was presented by designer label MAHGUL, who showcased a collection titled “A Wild Rose”. The collection was MAHGUL’s first bridal ramp showing and endeavoured to explore the designer’s interpretation of modern femininity; a femininity that speaks of comfort in one’s own skin and where elegance is effortless. With a colour palette inspired by the hues of the setting sun, one observed silhouettes that were based in the concept of layering and bridal wear as separates. Indeed synonymous with the name of the collection, the silhouette and embellishment inspirations metaphorically drew on the wild rose that grows unabashed by its own vivacity, reveling in its bold bursts of colour – strong, yet delicately balanced in its layered assemblage. The collection was predominately based in fabrics such as nets and heavy silks with embellishment in silk and gold threads, feathers and mother of pearl. For this debut bridal collection, MAHGUL also introduced bespoke bridal footwear clutches and pieces of jewellery. The five looks shown by the brand at PFDC L’Oréal Paris Bridal Week 2014 are five aspects from MAHGUL’s complete luxury couture version of ‘A Wild Rose’ collection, which will be available to order at their Lahore studio or online as of October 2014.

Following MAHGUL, was designer Seher Tareen who made her bridal debut at the Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent show with a collection named “The Emperor’s Assassins”. The collection drew its inspiration from the Chinese cult motion picture ‘Hero’ which was directed by cinematic master Zhang Yimou. The capsule collection of womenswear featured Chinese motifs such as dragons, cranes and calligraphy meticulously embroidered on rich textures such as velvets with layering in luxe fabrics such as net and organza. The colour palette of the collection followed the colour theory incorporated in the film; starting with black, then red, followed by blue, going into green and finishing off with white, with each look showcasing one distinct colour.

The fourth showcase of the Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent show at PLBW 2014 was presented by designer Sofia Badar, formerly known as Sofia Chishty, with a bridal collection named “Tilism”. Tilism, which means magic, was a bridal collection inspired from the wardrobes of royals of the east and west and a fusion of both together. In Tilism, the label had used chiffons, charmuese silk, organza and net with cuts that were an amalgamation of soft form and very structured silhouettes. The embellishments were also a mix of traditional beading and salma work with silk thread embroidery that featured the use of Swarovski crystals for a modern feel. The collection’s colour palette comprised of Midnight blue, hot pink and pale powder pink with accents of pistachio green and orchid. The bridal collection endeavoured to showcase that what consumers seek now, outfits that are both traditional and modern at the same time.

The final showcase of the Bank Al-Falah Rising Talent show at PLBW 2014 was made by fashion designer Wardha Saleem who showcased her new bridal collection, ‘Madhubani by Wardha Saleem Bridal 2014’. The exclusive womenswear collection took its inspiration from Madhubani Paintings, a unique style of Indian painting which is one of the oldest art forms originating from the Mithila region of Bihar. One observed cropped jackets, long nets and ensembles based in pure net jamawar, chiffon and silk in a dynamic colour palette featuring gold and other vibrant shades. The collection incorporated the creative use of layering of different separates to create diverse and distinct looks.

Bridal Showcase: Zara Shahjahan

The late evening shows began with designer Zara Shahjahan who showcased a new diverse range of bridals under the name “A Folk Tale” on the second day of PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week 2014. “A Folk Tale” was an amalgamation of dramatic colors, oriental prints with heavy eastern embellishments and marked a significant departure from Zara Shahjahan’s past collections. The collection featured 25 innovative designs set in a rich color palette of Indus inspired shades featuring saffron, black, red, fuchsia, pink and more. One observed a diverse range of luxe fabrics including raw silk, cotton net, tulle and jamawar embellished with rich traditional handiwork featuring naqshi, dabka, sitara, pearls, French knots, colored resham and mukesh. In addition to womenswear, the collection also featured 5 accompanying menswear pieces.

Bridal Showcase: Ammara Khan

The next designer label to follow was Couture House ‘Ammara Khan’ who made their runway debut on day 2 of PLBW2014 with a collection titled “The Winter Palace: A Celebration of the Russian Tsarina”. The collection, inspired by the luxurious and opulent lifestyles of the Russian Royalty, comprised of structured jackets, tapered long trousers, floor-sweeping gowns, voluminous skirts, A-line flowing tunics and classic saris. The materials used included silk brocades, French laces, net, velvet and organza. Ammara Khan had employed exquisite age old techniques of embroidery using silver and gold thread with meticulous craftsmanship, embellished with crystals, semi-precious stones and lustrous pearls. The color palette was inspired by the festive colors of the historic Winter Palace and the gowns and uniforms of The Tsars and Tsarinas, featuring hues such as rich gold, silvers, soft pastels, amber, taupe, Prussian blues, coral and ivory.

Bridal Showcase: Ali Xeeshan Theater Studio

The finale of Day-2 was presented by the Ali Xeeshan Theater Studio who showcased a bridal collection of men’s wear and womenswear pieces titled “Baghawat”. The collection was inspired by a mix of the Ancient Roman civilization, warriors and the idea of defiance, which stemmed from the designer’s ambition to rebel against perceived ideas about beauty, elegance, propriety and most importantly, against the designer himself as an individual. One observed lush fabrics such as customised Shinghai, French velvet, French raw silk and jacquard in floor length jackets with high necks and beautifully tailored two piece sleeves, mid-calf length body-conturing dresses and corsets made with French patrons and boning, which provided structure and held the garment to the body. The ensembles were embellished in a vast array of motifs reminiscent of the Ancient Roman culture and were based in a vibrant spectrum of shades and hues that depicted passion and rebellion.