PANTENE HUM BRIDAL COUTURE WEEK POWERED BY TUC RETURNS TO THE CITY OF GARDENS WITH A STAR-STUDDED DAY ONE
Lahore (Muhammad Yasir (NUT-Chief Editor) The 17th edition of the country’s biggest and most sought-after bridal extravaganza, Pantene HUM Bridal Couture Week (PHBCW) unveiled its red carpet here in the City of Gardens on December 6, 2019. Organized under the banner of Pakistan’s numero uno entertainment network HUM Network Limited, launched in 2010 the Bridal Couture Week (HBCW), the large format event which is the most opulent and highest profile bridal event in Pakistan. It leads the bridal fashion industry through creative influence and has been strategically repositioning Pakistani bridal fashion in the global fashion economy for the last nine years. The event showcases latest trends and designs in bridal couture by leading as well as emerging fashion designers of the country. It has become the most aspired presentation for Pakistan’s top designers, couture lovers, influential individuals, buyers, celebrities, socialites, and legacy brands. This year, with Pantene as its title sponsor, PHBCW will be showcasing 29 designers on the runway.
Show one of the bridal extravaganza kicked off with Fahad Hussayn’s collection Labyagawachi trousseau bridal collection, followed by Aisha Imran’s Shadi Mubarik in romantic hues for the charismatic classic bride. Next in line was Almirah with its collection Ethnic Seams which drew its inspiration from the splendour and intimacy of Eastern art, followed by Samsara Couture House’s Hayal, inspired by the tulip era in the Turkish Ottoman empire. Zonia Anwaar came next with her modern collection Zoella infused with traditional techniques with her signature cuts for the young millennial brides.
Pantene unveiled its new bottle at PHBCW’19 on the ramp at the end of a dazzling hair show where the models flaunted inspiring hairstyles alongside a mesmerizing performance by Maria Unera. The new Pantene advanced hair fall solution reduces hair fall in just 14 days making one enjoy more open hair days without worrying about hair fall. This segment was followed by Ziggi Menswear’s monochromatic collection Fana – ‘Annihilation of the Self’ which was created using luxe fabrics, rich embroideries and motifs inspired from Sufism.
Nitasha Bilal Haute Couture showcased Abooro incorporating the beautiful Mughal legacy and blending her presentation with revivalist techniques of kora dabka. She was awarded the Pantene Rising Star for her beautiful debut collection. Haris Shakeel was next who amalgamated embroideries with block and screen printing in his collection Ishq. Up next was Royal Tag’s very aristocratic menswear collection The Royal Ceremony, inspired by the majestic Syon House and Garden in London. Day one came to an end with globally acclaimed master couturier Nilofer Shahid’s collection Dastaan e Firdaus.
Day one of the three-day bridal extravaganza had an amazing line-up of celebrities walking for the designers – the bhangra king Abrar Ul Haq walked for Fahad Hussayn and Minal Khan walked for Aisha Imran. The veteran actor Aijaz Aslam walked for Almirah, while the undisputed queen of our entertainment industry, Saba Qamar walked for Samsara Couture House while Nausheen Shah graced the ramp for Zonia Anwaar. Noor Khan walked and Soch The Band performed for Nitasha Bilal Haute Couture while Kinza Hashmi closed the show for Haris Shakeel. The eternal Adnan Siddiqui walked the ramp for Royal Tag and Sarah Khan added allure to Nilofer Shahid’s timeless pieces.
Show director for PHBCW 2018 is Vaneeza Ahmed Ali. Hamna Amir is the official jewellery partner while Hair and Makeup is done by NPro and NGents. The red-carpet host for PHBCW 19 is Shadab Khan and Ahmed Godil is the digital host. Arsalan Ihsan is the emcee for the event and DJ Moazzam mixed the music for the shows. Backstage is managed by Salwa Rafique and her team and Faisal Farooqi at Dragonfly is the official photographer. All public relations operations and media liaison are carried out by Moiz Kazmi and his team at MK Digital PR and the in-house PR team of HUM Network Limited along with show production and execution by the special projects and events team at HUM Network Limited.
Sultana Siddiqui – President HUM Network Limited
It gives me great pride to see how the Bridal Couture Week has evolved over the past decade and has become a benchmark of bridal fashion season, a platform where emerging designers get an opportunity to showcase alongside their illustrious peers. Apart from that the exposure given to all participants via HUM Network’s global reach and the response that the designers receive is unsurpassed thus making it not only a platform for creative expression but also a highly viable one from a business standpoint.
SPONSORS’ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The 17th edition of the country’s biggest bridal extravaganza is presented by Pantene, powered by TUC, Beauty Partner Golden Pearl Cosmetic, Refreshed by Aquafina, Savoury Partner Kurkure, Food Partner KFC, and Tea Partner Tapal.
ABOUT THE DESIGNERS’ INSPIRATIONS
Fahad Hussayn – Labyagawachi : The chamkeeli edit, collection serves as an exclusive edit of Print Museum wedding essentials with a wide range of affordable wedding wear
Labyagawachi is a musical journey into the vast sceneries of nature and the huge construction of intricately weaved beauty in all that exists around us. Where the voyage between day & night ties in with being found and lost, experienced in an all new dimension of identity. All in efforts to shed light on the process of exploration of the self and the brewing of a constant war between one’s heart, soul and mind. The brand Fahad HUSSAYN celebrates a decade of decadence in revivalist embroideries, patchwork, signature 3d surfaces and the love of craft.
Aisha Imran – Lagan is traditions redefined with modern whimsy. The collection features romantic and graceful wedding dresses for the classic and charismatic bride. Crafted with breath taking detail, each design is a remarkable work of art with traditional craftsmanship. Fall in love with unique embellishments, modern silhouettes, and the graceful elegance we are known for.
Almirah – Drawing inspiration from the splendour and intricacy of eastern art, Almirah’s Ethnic Seams is the epitome of sophisticated men’s fashion. These heavily embroidered pieces are a mesmerizing integration of intense hues, pastel shades and digital prints. Featuring khaddar, jacquard, and pure fabric as the primary canvases, the exclusive range of kurtas, sherwanis, prince coats and waist coats is the closing fashion statement of the year.
Samsara Couture House – Samsara is about how art and elegance is translated into a womens’ style through clothing. Derived from the Sanskrit, staying true to our heritage of South East Asia, Samsara means circle of life, or rebirth. our latest collection, Hayal is inspired from a unique period known as “the tulip era” in the Turkish Ottoman empire. The Tulip Era, which marked a peaceful and prosperous period between 1718 and 1730, has become a term to describe mindless joy and pleasure. Symbolized by the Tulip, our latest collection uses the emotions of joy and prosperity mixed with intricate craftsmanship and attention to detail to bring something new and exciting to Pakistani bridal couture.
Zonia Anwaar – Zoella by Zonia Anwaar is her latest bridal and trousseau 19-20 collection. Zoella is a modern take on majestic timeless silhouettes and rich textures, keeping bridal cocktail lehengas, concept festive attire and intricately embellished anarkalis in mind for practical wedding wear. Luxe fabrics, impeccable craftsmanship and elegant simplicity in traditional layered ghararas with straight shirts and super fun lehnga cholis to rock your festive season 2020.
Ziggi Menswear – Fana – ‘Annihilation of the Self’ is a collection of delicately woven fabrics in a palette of black and white silks, cottons, velvets and brocades. It focuses on exquisite hand-crafted embroidery and contrasts with a sophisticated classy design. The collection features extravagantly luxurious garments to humble and classy timeless designs. Regal and historical patterns are used in a variety of lengths, styles and cuts to make every outfit in this collection unique and desirable. The collection Fana is inspired by Sufism and the spread of this spiritual path across the world. The collection centres on a mono colour pallet of, simple blacks, whites and ivories, complimented with a gold accent colour. Ascending to the state of fana, the unparalleled beauty of our designs is unveiled.
Nitasha Bilal Haute Couture – Nitasha Bilal new collection “Abooro” is her vision of beautiful heritage of Mughal era blending it with the power of authentic eastern craftsmanship. Simply for unique and beautiful rooted traditional bride, that lives and is an example of purely art, sensuality and femininity.
Haris Shakeel – With ishq, we bring back our traditions with gota, zardozi and mukesh worked on traditional anarakali, anghraka, and the basic shalwar. We have used lots of block printing techniques and screen printing in our new collection, we also truely focused on the colour which are very festive and vibrant.
Royal Tag – For our Bridal Couture Week Collection, we wanted something that had value to it and a history so we looked for deep and rich cultural and historic content that took a modern turn and is still standing strong. We took inspiration from the SYON House and Garden in London, England that has a history of over 400 years. The historic events about this place, how Royals lived here and that it is still owned by the 12th Duke of Northumberland. We were inspired from the breath taking avenue. Its architecture and how the site combines of nature and man-engineered beauty, exactly what our collection will portray, an amalgamation of natural patterns derived from SYON Garden and intricate architectural prints and patterns driven from the SYON House. The colour palette will be a true portrayal of the beauty of the place when it lights up at night like a magical place.
Nilofer Shahid – Nilofer Shahid pays a poignant tribute to Kashmir.
“Agar firdaus bar ru-ye zaminast,
Haminast o haminast o haminast”
“If there is a paradise on earth,
It is this, it is this and it is this.” – Emperor Jehangir (talking about Kashmir)
Kashmir is the beautiful poetry of God! This Kashmir collection represents the dramatic periods in the history of Kashmir. The bold sartorial depiction is a testimony of Nilofer’s creative genius, the usage of the colour palette, the draping of the garments, the embellishments come together to tell the story of Kashmir.
Kashmir, the Paradise, its valleys, high mountains and shimmering lakes take your breath away; it is the living poetry that evokes the highest form of ecstasy and deepest sorrow; it is poetry that is felt through heartbeats and emotions.
The romance of idyllic peace of the valley attracted the emperors to enjoy the beauty, and under the royal patronage flourished the creative arts; the pure and unblemished beauty of Kashmir has inspired musicians, poets, artisans alike.
Suddenly, darkness descended over the valley; tyranny, injustice and suppression reigned; the tranquillity of Kashmir was ripped asunder; raped and plundered, the valley burned, the inferno consumed life! The valley echoed with the cries of the helpless, and death walked through the valley.
Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must also have freedom, sunshine, and a little flower. – Kahlil Gibran
