Men’s Fashion Week Preview 2013 – Fashionably Launched

When I received an invitation for the Men’s Fashion Week Preview 2013 which was held on March 14, 2013, I was not certain what kind of a show would it be, because the question that was being raised in my mind over and again was that is the first time ever, Pakistan will be hosting the Men’s Fashion Week, but are we ready for it? Being associated with an almost non-existent pageant industry of Pakistan I was in the quandary that it all depends on execution. If it’s successful in bridging the gap between designers and consumers, then it’s a great idea but if it is organised to feed egos, and to be in news just like one of the fashion week event that was organised a few months back then certainly it is useless.

I went there with not many hopes, but what it turned out to be was amazing, why I am saying so, let me explain below. Being in event production I understand the value of sponsorship very much, however, I salute “Rampedge Fashion a project of Remex Trading Co.” for producing one of the finest previews shows given the margin it being their first-time event, without even a single sponsor in limited resources. Tehmina Khalid of TAKE II Productions did the PR of the event, and I feel good by stating that the event has pushed to provide a platform for a growing apparel segment of menswear by creating a separate Fashion Week for menswear fashion designers and brands. Although not as grand as the Paris, London, Vancouver, and Shanghai, Men’s Fashion Week,  Karachi’s Mens Fashion Week is dedicated entirely to serving the menswear fashion and apparel community creating a platform where menswear designers and brands can use aggregated resources to present their collections to the industry.

The show started not fashionably very late which was a big surprise, because I guess we live in a part of the country where being late is considered a fashion statement too, and when the show started with a little delay it was as interesting as the ambience. Established as well as Up and coming designers and brands showcased their upcoming collections to press, media, stylists, trailblazers and, the national public at the first preview. The organisers got creative and instead of the usual ramp, the stage was designed of pure sand mud, made lively with lightings. Ace fashion designer Muneeb Nawaz opened the Preview with his collection marking the round of shows presenting his 2013 formal collections for men. However, the best, in my opinion, was the collection of Akbar and Babar who presented his Kurta collection with a tinge of Bhangra. Rest of the designers who showcased were Syed Sameer Ali, Kamaliyat, Waleed Bhilwani quite famous on Facebook with over 8000 likes to his fan page and the show finale was by Tayyab Bombal who closed the show with the presentation of his collection titled Namaloom Afraad.

All in all, being a first-time event, with no sponsors, limited funds and resources, I will not be cynical and would rather appreciate the effort of the organizers, saying so I would rate the show 7/10, with a hope that Men’s Fashion Week 2013 which is scheduled in the last week of April this year will be much better and more glamourously organised than the Preview Show. Looking forward to MFW 2013 and wishing the organizers and the whole team all the very best.