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instep profile It only gets better for Deepak Winning the Lux Style Award for Best Menswear seems to have whipped Deepak Perwani into full action as he prepares to walk a fashion marathon of shows in the next couple of months. He'll kick it off in Lahore on September 7, where he will be showing his latest bridal collection. Instep got hold of the very busy designer to tell us about it all… By Saba Sartaj K

Instep: Tell us a little about your upcoming fashion show in Lahore. Are you going to be showing a new collection? Deepak Perwani: I will be showing my latest spanking bridal collection by the name of Soul Collection, which is pretty much an amalgamation of my work in the past 2 years. It consists of a total of 85 pieces out of which 50 are for women and 35 for men.

Instep: What sort of response are you expecting, since you are better known for western clothing? DP: I'm very excited as I'm not traditionally a bridal wear designer. Everytime I have worked on bridals, I get a surge of negativity from all quarters. This time is no different. There has never been much of a backlash from Karachi, but this time I'm showing in Lahore, which is a fresh market for all of us. I am getting to hear some very negative remarks but I'm getting rather amused by them. It kind of works as a boosting factor for me. I've always enjoyed a good challenge. I'm keeping an open and positive mind because for me, fashion and designers have no boundaries. I am doing what I want to do and what I believe in. Tremendous effort has gone into putting this together for my customers and I'm hoping for the best.

Instep: What kinds of bridals should we expect to see? Have you deviated from the typical 'bhara hua jora' concept or conformed your designs? DP: I've been very experimental with this collection and have, for the first time, worked on motifs and designs. My pieces are not excessively embellished. Fashion revolution is doomed if everything has to be steeped in immeasurable kaam. I have always strived to be different and always wanted to add shock value to my clothes. The Soul Collection is bridal with a unique east/west flavour to it. Instep: Why did you choose Lahore to showcase the Soul Collection? DP: I chose Lahore primarily because it is a large and fresh market for me in terms of bridals. Also, the largest Deepak Perwani outlet is in Lahore and when we started out there, we did not have a traditional opening for the store. I want to take this opportunity to sort of make up for that. Instep: How has business, specifically bridal wear fared for you so far? DP: Business is good. We've enjoyed great success in all spheres. Menswear in Karachi and Lahore has been doing roaring business and my prêt line has done fabulously well in the past four years. If we're not advertising excessively it doesn't mean we're not selling! How many big brands do you see advertising? Faiza Samee doesn't advertise. Sana Safinaz don't advertise. I've been designing clothes for the past 14 years and I know exactly what I am doing. There have always been certain people who, even before my collections are launched, start ripping them apart. I've realized with time that however much you do, there will always be people who will try to bring you down. These are people I've learnt to ignore. Instep: So what plans does Deepak Perwani have for the rest of the year? DP: I have an exceptionally hectic second half ahead of me. I'm going to be off to Turkey in September for a consultancy project with a local Turkish Company. I will be advising them on the finishing and styling of their suits and jackets and will try to do the same thing here in Pakistan on the same level. In October, I will be going to India for the CIMFF (Castle India Mens Fashion Fair) where I will be showing a brand new spanking collection I have specifically put together for the event. November will see me in Lahore for Pakistan Fashion Week and then in Kuala Lumpur, where I will present a capsule collection of 25 pieces out of my Fall 2007/2008 collection at the KLAFW (Kuala Lumpur Asia Fashion week). After that I will be flying into Geneva in December for a charity with my LSA collection.