The fashion industry continues to face
challenges with fewer commercial sponsors
willing to support luxury events
Staff Reporter
Karachi: The fashion industry continues to face challenges due to economic constraints, with fewer commercial sponsors willing to support luxury events. Despite this, the fashion community is pushing forward. On Sunday evening, Runway 2024: Summer Edition took place, organized by a dedicated team of designers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, models, and fashion enthusiasts.
Vibrant Collections and Talented Designers
The event featured collections from designers based in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and even Oman. The show opened with Zubair Shah’s “Tropical Paradise,” a resort-wear collection characterized by colorful sarongs, airy cotton tops, neon pants, and striped casual jackets. Accessories included sun hats, chunky jewelry, seashell-encrusted flip-flops, and floral garlands. Social media influencer Arshan Ali and TV star Sarah Omair were among the standout models in this segment.
Highlights of the Show
Seema Shah, an emerging women’s wear designer, showcased intricate chikankari and Multani hand embroidery in vibrant colors. Her collection featured stark white chikankari kameezes paired with Multani embroidered shalwars and light chiffon dupattas. The inclusion of Lahore-based trans-model Afreen added a unique touch to the presentation.
Lahore-based singer Ayyan Superstar provided a lively performance, followed by a hair trends segment presented by Ilyas Salon. Umair Ilyas of Uzi Bros. impressed with heavily embellished men’s sherwanis in pastel shades, complemented by flashy turbans and traditional footwear.
Bridal wear was a highlight of the evening, with Kulsum Yousuf’s K. Yousuf collection. The designs, created by Afghan and Pakistani artisans, featured regal shararas paired with long kameezes and voluminous dupattas. Lahore-based performing artist Komal Khan made a stunning entrance as the showstopper.
Grand Finale and Key Guests
The grand finale by Jan Bibi Collection celebrated traditional Balochi embroidery, enhanced with gold thread metallic accents. The intricate designs and luxurious fabrics created a visually stunning conclusion to the show.
Supermodel Aasif Rehmaan directed and choreographed the event. Male grooming and makeup were provided by Ilyas Salon. The red carpet was hosted by Syeda Nazia, with the event held at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture (Friendship House). Key guests included Director Ruslan Mikhailovich Prokhorov, Dr. Natalia Head of Education, Miss Fariha Aqib Coordinator, Mikhail Education Assistant, and Russian Language teachers from the Russian Federation, including Professors Roman and Anton Dolgov.
Runway 2024: Summer Edition successfully highlighted the resilience of the fashion industry and the creativity of its participants, despite economic challenges.
