Democracy has been restored in Pakistan and years of military rule may have left behind a lot to clear up, but one must stay optimistic that the climate will only get better up ahead. And under the world wide umbrella of recognition that the Taliban have created for Pakistan, the irony is that they have also paved the best time path for Pakistani fashion to take to the world's stage.

With baggy shalwars being fashionably rechristened 'genie pants' and giant turbans being created in gold lame by Philip Treacy and Patricia Underwood for Ralph Lauren, the Taliban have sure enough influenced global fashion. The inhospitable tribal areas of Northern Pakistan are exactly where these influences are coming from. God knows the world has seen enough of the Taliban on the nine o' clock news.

But fashion can actually find a very viable silver lining in all this hostility. All these years the world has identified saris with India and Islamic fundamentalism with Pakistan. All of a sudden, one notices shalwars and turbans being catapulted onto the runways - shalwars and turbans and fairie shoes (yes, khussas) and even kohlapuris (Jimmy Choo is making them) are actually up in the spotlight. But other than Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and Philip Treacy, Pakistani designers need to be stepping forward as these trends originate here. Needless to say, the best way to do that would be through a Pakistan Fashion Week, and perhaps this is time it was resurrected.

Pakistani fashion truly has come a long way as far as trends are concerned. One can easily see a Sonya Battla, Maheen Karim, Sadaf Malaterre or Kamiar Rokni collection blend in with the Zac Posens, Diane Von Furstenbergs and Anna Suis of the world. There were some clothes on New York Fashion Week runways that almost bore the 'Made in Pakistan' mark, they were so close to home. While there are many successful designers in Pakistan who can do nothing beyond the bridal market, there are others like the ones mentioned above who are simply made for international runways.

What Pakistan needs right now is a grip on the business of fashion and production. But that needn't be such a big problem either. As Hindol Sengupta - fashion journalist for The Hindu, India - who recently was in Karachi said, "If Roberto Cavalli can get his luxury wear made in these regions then why can't our own designers make luxury goods that are at par with international standards too?"