Vivienne Westwood lived up to the hype as the most anticipated show of the week. Kate Moss made a successful return to the public eye by grabbing a front row seat (or a knee) — although that was laid to rest courtesy of a few tears down the cheek backstage. Sarah Brown, wife of British PM Gordon, eyed up topless male models while Pamela Anderson was spotted next to a mystery man as she sat busting at the seams.While it was difficult to keep your eyes off the audience, the runways at London Fashion Week (LFW) reminded one and all why black is n
ever deemed out of fashion, why being topless is considered fashion, hoodies are very much the ‘in thing’ and how the trend may very well be shifting from revealing to body conscious.And while the mainstream designers clocked up millions of appreciation and glitter miles in the on-schedule shows, Pakistan’s sole entrée — albeit in an off-schedule show — Omar Mansoor was busy revving up a heavy load of acclaim for himself barely five miles away.
“It is a gr
eat honour just to be part of such a high profile event — unexpected even — but one that has taught me a lot and will hopefully act as a launching pad for greater ventures in the future,” Omar said of his inclusion in the list of designers for LFW.Agreeing with the ‘black is back’ slogan, Omar’s glamorous blend of eastern upbringing and western influence once again proved a sensation.
Opting to lure a younger audience — read single and exuberant instead of mothers present at a Christmas Ball — Omar jumped in with knee-lengths while placing special emphasis on the black (five of the six outfits especiall
y designed for of the line designed especially for LFW were black) as well as a selected few from his successful showing at Wimbledon Fashion Week in June.“I’ve opted to go in with more of a ready-to-wear collection aimed at a younger generation, primarily in their 20s, trying to strike a balance between my knowledge of the East and the West,” he said.
Opting yet again to exhibit his work without availing services of any Asian models, it proved to be a case of seamless adoption of the East into the West, a trait he wishes to bring to Karachi in the near future.
“Even though I was nervous coming into LFW and felt under-prepared, I’ve been overwhelmed by the appreciation and well-wishes I received for my work. It wasn’t just the dresses being applauded but also how well, by looking at the outfits, one could see the Pakistani soul conflated into the knee-lengths.
“And I think I can very well take to Karachi and prove a big hit as the market over there will be very much open and welcoming to my designs and outfits.”
And as the fashion world moves to Milan — which in itself has a tough job keeping up with London after a howling performance — Omar plans to take his work outside the UK, ready to take on Pakistan in the near future.
© Faras Ghani 2008.
Published in Images (DAWN newspaper) Sep 28, 2008
