The most recent venue for international fashion promotion was Bridal Asia, a fashion extravaganza held in Delhi.  The occasion held at the Taj Plaza, Delhi, was a veritable treasure trove of bridal ensembles.  Amongst other sub-continental doyens of the design fraternity from India, Bangladesh and one from Sri-Lanka, four Pakistani designers also participated in this glitzy sartorial event which has now become an annual feature. 

            Design guru Rizwan Beyg stayed away from done-to-death traditionals and showed a collection of saris with a twist.  Saris were transformed into pleated sarongs in a range of neutral ivory, beige, black and ice pink.  Embellishment was limited predominantly to silk embroidery touched with silver and gold threadwork and jaalkari inspired by medieval alchemy.  The sarongs were teamed with intricately worked bare blouses with the focus on neck and back detailing.

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Hallowed Traditions: Faiza Samee

Also at Bridal Asia was veteran designer, Faiza Samee.  Faiza’s colour palette was rich and dark in keeping with the opulent brocades and velvets she used.  The silhouette was simple: short tunics worn with either shalwars, capris or ghararas heavily embroidered in Faiza’s signature embroidery in badla, zardozi, vasli and dogh.  Faiza’s years of research on subcontinental heritage and embroidery traditions gave her ensembles a unique splendour that one has come to expect from her atelier.