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q&a
Deepak wows Malaysia!
Deepak Perwani has had a busy year. From China to India and Malaysia,
this roaring designer has been traveling all over the place. He
was the only one from Pakistan to show at the Islamic Fashion Week,
a part of Malaysia International Fashion week. Instep caught up
with this young designer to find out more on MIFW, Fashion Pakistan
and what lies ahead in the year 2007 for fashion |
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Instep: Tell us about the collection you
showed at the Islamic Fashion Week in Malaysia?
Deepak Perwani: I was going to show my prêt line (Ethno Funk)
at the Malaysia International Fashion Week. But they wanted me to
show in the Islamic Fashion Week category, which is also a part
of MIFW. I changed the line I was showing. Instead of showing 'Ethno
Funk', I showed 'Back to the Raj'. It's more towards couture than
prêt but it was fun and I got a great response.
Instep: What was the inspiration behind
it?
DP: 15th century motif designs, Islamic calligraphy, I' ve used
beads and Swarovski crystals. I've also revived the used of thread
work (dhaga) that has been missing from the fashion scene for quite
some time.
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Instep:
Earlier this year, Iran also held an Islamic Fashion Week but there
was a strict guideline to follow. Now it's Malaysia following suit.
What is your take on this initiative and what does it say about fashion?
DP: As far as MIFW is concerned, there were no restrictions or strict
rules on what you can show or can't. Malaysia and Indonesia are liberal
Muslim nations and this initiative will help bring Muslim countries
on one platform, even if it is just for fashion. It will build bridges.
I mean, we can be sexy and flamboyant while being covered too. You
don't have to shed clothes to make a mark. It is a dynamic market.
Versace designed burqas for Arabs too! Fashion is such a strong force.
So, I think this was a fabulous idea. It's exciting and rather interesting.
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Instep: Is this collection available at
your shops?
DP: I sold most of the collection!
Instep: A word on the project you're involved
in with the government?
DP: It is called Craft Revival. We have women from Thar, Sukkur
and other parts of Sindh working with us. It's an attempt to revive
the crafts, rilli, toys etc. It's been four months and we will get
more people soon. I'm training them and it's been great working
with all of them.
Instep: You also introduced accessories
sometime back. What is new on that front?
DP: We've come up with a new range of funky bags, belts, wristbands
as well as necklaces.
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Instep:
After Amir Adnan stepped away from Fashion Pakistan, you took over
as a director. What is next on the council's agenda?
DP: I put my name up just like everyone else and I was chosen as a
director. There is a lot that we're doing. Firstly, everyone is working
on their fashion week collections. Fashion Weeks are global now. Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Iran – everyone is coming out with a fashion week.
But not everyone or every designer will be able to sell or get picked
up by a buyer. Competition is stiff, starting from India to all over
the world. It is a cut throat business. Keeping |
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of it mind, we have signed an agreement at Fashion Pakistan than if
any designer gets picked up by a buyer and needs to produce in bulk,
the rest of us will facilitate him/her and all of us will open doors
to our factories to this designer to help with production etc. |
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Instep: Are you working on more lines?
DP: I'm exhausted (laughs). I actually shelved the 'Ethno Funk'
collection but now through an agent, I plan to sell it abroad, in
particular to buyers in London. It is quintessentially Pakistani
but with a funky twist.
Instep: Any shows lined up in the future?
DP: I have a show in Dubai in February 2007 and then I'm moving
to London for two months. I'm taking a course. It's a future fabric
that I will be learning about.
Instep:
What trends will be in store for 2007?
DP: I hopefully hope that Pakistan Fashion Week takes place in March
because that will define the trends for 2007. The new age of fashion
is about pret, couture is slowly but surely going away. Most designers
do gharara/sharara and not many have ventured into pret. You give
a client a gharara and then what? I mean, how much kaam, dabka will
go on? Pret is the only way fashion will go forward and I hope that
if a fashion week takes place in March, it will redefine the year
ahead.
--Deepak Perwani was talking to Maheen Sabeeh
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