Tell us a little about yourself and your journey as a fashion designer.
I have always been quite creative, I remember designing outfits on newspapers and ‘stitching’ them up with staple pins which is quite funny now that I think about it. With the passage of time I realized fashion was my calling. I started my journey with BCW and after joining PIFD I had a clear view of what I wanted to do. I come from a family of businessmen yet it took some time for me to understand how things work in the fashion industry as it appears to have a mind of its own. In a nutshell, there have been highs and lows but I’ve cherished every moment of it.
How did you enter into this field? Was it always the dream?
I always had things planned out and knew launching a couture label was what I wanted to do. I established my brand at the age of 20. Even though I come from a family of business professionals working in the textile industry, I choose my own route and am very passionate about my label and what I do.
What is the most challenging aspect about your field?
The biggest challenge I believe was convincing my parents to let me join the fashion industry. Apart from that, I faced quite a lot of challenges when I first launched FAS but that is how things are no matter what industry you’re working in, perseverance is key.
Where do you find inspiration from?
Many people actually; anyone who is an artist at heart is inspiring to me. I am a sucker for inspiration. I keep my heart and mind open, almost anything can inspire me anywhere. It can be somebody as random as my cook. However, I do believe Meesha Shafi is my muse. I adore the way she looks and carries my clothes.
According to you, what sets you apart from other designers?
What sets me apart is the fact that I try to paint a story with each one of my pieces. Each collection is a story and each design is a unique character depicting a distinct personality.
Define the fashion scene in Pakistan. Is there anything you’d wish to change?
I believe fashion has a sense of its own however when it comes to designers and stylist, I think we should keep in view the particular body type and posture of whoever we are dressing or styling.
Three people you’d wish to dress up in your designs.
I don’t necessarily wish to dress a certain someone but I will dress anyone who wishes to wear my designs.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
Oftentimes I do weird things in order to unblock my thought process. It can be as random and simple as an evening-out, a mini vacation, a nice movie or indulging in reading a good book.