Pakistan’s highly competitive fashion industry seems to be attracting more and more young and creative people without fear of failure. The most recent name added on to the designers list is Ayesha Hasan, who recently launched her spring/summer 2013 debut collection. Inspired by the Mogul era, Hasan exhibited her collection at her DHA residence, where celebrities and guests appreciated her aesthetic sense.
The neat display of Hasan’s formals and casuals seemed traditional and trendy — embellished with gota, zardozi, wasli, marrori and resham work. She infused block prints and screen prints in her collection, mostly in deep gold, and reiterated that they were inspired by Mogul designs.
While Hasan never refuses to make Western clothes, her real passion is to create Eastern wear. She takes immense pride in Eastern architecture, patterns and designs.
“Passion,” says Hasan, is what brought her confidently into the Pakistani fashion industry. While she talks about her love for creating intricate designs, she also comments on what drives her forward. “I love to paint and I love to colour designs.”
Being a recent graduate of American University of Sharjah with a business/marketing degree, Hasan has the tools to manage her position in the fashion world. She started her line over a year ago, offering prêt couture and bridal wear.
The designer shares that her inspirations have been Islamic arts, deep inlays of Mogul art and architecture. “My forte is Eastern clothes, though I make some Western wear too,” she continues. “Since my designs have a traditional touch, they get beautifully incorporated in Eastern wear.”
Her target market includes women of all ages — ranging from teenage girls and young brides to older women.
With two fashion weeks (FPW4 and FPW5) behind her, Hasan comments on her experience. “It [FPW] was lovely. I am thankful to the council [Fashion Pakistan Council] for making an effort and allowing young designers to participate,” says Hasan.
There were rumours in the air that her FPW5 collection was deeply inspired by Sania Maskatiya’s designs. She defends herself by saying, “My collections was based on a Moroccan theme, which has been greatly misunderstood by the press.
