The Next Fashion Mogul of Pakistan

As unconventional as this might sound, it’s not his designs that pulled me to Imran Mughal at first, inviting me to explore more about him.

When I found out about his interest in Urdu Literature, I sent him two pieces of work that I personally admire a lot. It was Selected Short Stories, by Amrita Pritam, along with Selected Short Stories, by Ismat Chughtai, that I sent to him only to hear back exactly what I had been hoping for. His original views on both intrigued me so much so that I finally checked out his collection, which only made the cat more curious. It was extraordinary, to say the least. It’s not every day you find a designer with a knack for Urdu Literature, much less one that is good at both.

So, I had to know more.

When I first expressed my interest in interviewing him, he was humorous and made a joke, probably to loosen the environment about us a little bit. “You won’t blackmail me in the future, would you?” he asked, but erupted into laughter before he could even finish.

“Of course,” I tried to match his tone and vibe. “After you go international, I’ll come out of the shadows and demand a lump sum in dollars to leave you alone.”

The conversation that ensued is as follows:

“Who is Imran Mughal?” I started with a lightweight question, some would argue.

“It’s a bit hard to translate myself in words,” he answered. “I am a typical Lahori person. I love art, literature, food, traveling, and life. And, also, animals. I have adopted a German Shepherd I call Mac, and a cute, tipsy cat named Maharaj. I think that’s a good short answer.”

“I think so, too. So, Imran, let’s get into what you do. How about we start with your qualifications and move on to when you realized this was the thing you wanted to do?”

As soon as I finished, I noticed him preparing to answer, all set to go. “I have done my masters in Textile Designing from Punjab University. Initially, I was more interested in studying Textile Art, but in Pakistan, I did not see any future in that, at least during that time. Every artist wants to expand to bigger markets but you can’t do that if there are no smaller markets to begin your journey in. At least that’s how I felt. For example, here people would buy beautiful, most expensive of paintings to decorate their living and working spaces, but would not understand the art itself and everything that goes into it. They would not allow for the artist to exist in a way every artist wants to exist. I could just imagine what they would’ve done to my textile art had I decided to pursue it,” and he burst into giggles, maintaining the original tone of the conversation.

“I can imagine, to an extent, yes. So, can you tell us the difference between a Textile Artist and Textile Designer, for those who don’t already know?”

He nodded and began. “Textile Design is a highly creative field that involves the process of creating the designs that are printed on these woven, knitted, or other types of fabrics. The field of textile design includes pattern-making, while also managing the production process.

Whereas, Textile Artists create arts and crafts that use plants, animals, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects. Though do understand that these designs are neither for masses nor for mass production.

Textile designers have to research trends and forecasts in the textile industry but textile artists create artwork through textiles, through sewing, knitting, crochet, and tailoring, as well as the tools (looms and sewing needles) and techniques (quilting and pleating) employed, and the objects made (carpets, kilims, hooked rugs, and coverlets) all fall under the category of textile arts.” Just when I thought he was finishing up, his face lit up as if he remembered a fun anecdote, and I was right.

“Recently there was a banana taped on a cloth, titled Cattelan, was sold for millions which was the talk of the town. That is a perfect example of what a textile artist does. It was an installation art as it was an artistic genre of three-dimensional work that was site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space, it was not a banana tapped on a piece that sold, but it was the concept of the artist, and I think this is cool, this is fun, this is what art is all about” he carefully explained. “But, in my opinion, it would have been a big-time struggle to establish myself as a textile artist, here in Pakistan.”

“But you are not practicing as a textile designer either?” I asked.

“I initially did. I was associated with a couple of big names in the textile industry in Pakistan, but I wasn’t allowed to explore my creative freedom. Here, one brand brings in fresh designs and others follow, like sheep. I consider it to be plagiarism and some might even say that it works, but that was suffocating me as I wanted to bring forward my unique creativity, and not steal someone else’s designs, change it up as little as possible here and there, and label it as mine,” his nose almost scrunched up, bringing forth nothing but the authenticity of his views and associated feelings.

“So, I decided to quit my job and start off as a fashion designer on my own. I wanted a place where I had the liberty to push the boundaries of culture, fashion, trends, and tradition of women’s clothing and to make my brand the best Western clothing brand in Pakistan. The rest is history.”

“Wait a minute, so you aimed to create a brand that is meant to be fashion for all?” I ask, just to make sure I got it right.

“My goal is to strengthen our women and bring fashion to their doorsteps. With this in mind, I launched my website that houses almost everything, to make it accessible for all.

Also, I bring variety to my designs, both in western clothing, as well as Eastern wear, so that women from all walks of life can feel comfortable wearing the unique blends of beautiful ensembles. Each pattern and cut is meant to unfold the different sides of women’s personalities so as to help them choose according to their taste.”

“So, you are suggesting that you cater to all who may afford it?”

“No, I am actually catering to everyone, and not just who may afford it. My prices are way too low as compared to other competitors. The beginning price for the highly embroidered Kurta that I am selling is only Rs. 2400/- Then, you can choose to go higher, if you prefer.  That makes my brand accessible to the lower middle class as well as the elites of the society, of course. Though, I am more focused on catering to young women, from O-levels to University or working women, mainly.”

That is reflected in his designs as well, not that I am an expert. But the designs do feel fresh. That made me wonder about menswear, and I asked him about the same. “Why don’t you have a menswear section as well?”

He chuckled and continued. “Let me establish myself in my niche first, In Sha Allah, will introduce a line for men as well, soon.”

“You seem to be an intellectual person, Imran” I honestly admitted to him. “May I ask what your philosophy is, as a designer?”

He thought before answering. “I am highly inspired by the fast-paced urban life of a modern Pakistani woman. Imran Mughal’s Eastern Clothing aims to bring textile, art, and crafts from all over the world, weave it in a tale of love and prosperity, and bring a beautiful ensemble for young-spirited and modern women. The constant innovations in fabric, intricate cuts, and experiments with color pallets keep the brand alive. The smart, casual, and chic designs are tailored for independent women who chose their looks in a way that reflects their ideology and personality, before anything superficial.”

I couldn’t have hoped for a better answer, and so I continued. “So, what if a girl approaches you and asks you for personalized service, a custom design, for instance? Say, she is going on a holiday and wishes to carry exclusive designs that are only available to her, would you entertain her?”

“I am afraid, I won’t be able to do that. Because, you see, I originated with determination to make fashion easy and affordable for Pakistani women. Stemming out from the hub of fashion and trends – Lahore, my clothing line evolved to cater to the women who seek contemporary solutions in their everyday busy schedule. Deep-rooted in culture and instilling everyday trends, I have evolved to house a variety of designs each complementing the women from different walks of life. And, custom designing exclusive to individual clients would not bring me any joy.” He stops and contemplates his next words, as if about to say something important. “Though, it would surely make my wallet heavy.” He burst into giggles again, and as did I.

We finally settle down and I ask my next question. “Being a textile designer by virtue, do you aim to bring out your own LAWN collection in the future, as a lot of designers are doing these days?”

“Do not know what the future may hold for me, I have full faith in Allah it would be great only. But I am not sure LAWN would be an option, I may evolve and grow in Pret only.”

“Does Imran Mughal Studio have a physical address as well or just online, and do you have any sales coming up soon?”

“I am keen on growing and exploring the e-commerce, and recently the government is also supporting online businesses, so at the moment, I am developing and nurturing www.imranmughal.pk on a daily basis, but maybe in future, I may launch an outlet as well.

I do not intend on sales, but I do offer a 10% discount to my returning customers to honor their loyalty.”

“As we approach towards the end, my last question to you is how would you sum up an Imran Mughal woman?”

“IM woman is not a fashion follower, rather a trend maker who seeks contemporary and chic styles and looks that allow her complete freedom while maintaining her individuality as well. The everyday stories of women showcasing various aspects of their lifestyle inspire me to innovate my designs to perfectly complement their personalities. Imran Mughal aims to make fashion simpler and affordable so that she may add unique and vibrant styles to her everyday wardrobe. Women who wear Imran Mughal are empowered and easily resort to online shopping and smart solutions. I aim to inspire positivity and a great outlook at life so that with my vision and her taste, the woman gets to be HER!” I could tell he was pleased with his answer.

As was I.

He had certainly given me a lot to think about, but something that was clear to me after the insightful interview was that there is an absolute need for liberation when it comes to clothing, especially women’s. The right to choose what to wear sounds like a good start, and Imran Mughal is doing his best to provide the women of Pakistan, and hopefully, soon the world, with plenty of really good options to choose from.

The choice is what makes us. The choice is what we all need.

END

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