Pakistan Fashion and female designers with stunning styles: the Tokyo angle (Part Two)

Pakistan Fashion and female designers with stunning styles: the Tokyo angle (Part Two)

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Urooj-ul-Qamar and brand name Urouge Qamar

Japanese and Pakistan fashion is very different and of course you will have various styles within both nations. However, the impact of modernization, international trends, global brands, and the role of mass communication and international networking, is impacting on the majority of nations throughout the world. Therefore, while cultural and religious differences may be very different on the whole between Japan and Pakistan, you do have similarities which cut across these differences.

Tokyo fashion

The role of “soft-power” is very important to Japan and this applies to anime, cosplay, J-pop, computer games, kawaii culture, fashion, and many other areas. On the other hand, the international community needs to focus on the dynamics of Pakistan and not just negative factors related to religious extremism. After all, Pakistan is very diverse and you have many fashion designers, musicians, writers, and other vital areas where the younger generation is reaching out internally and internationally.

In the article called Pakistan Fashion: women entrepreneurs, amazing styles and the Tokyo angle (part 1) the focus was on Sabeen Waqar, Maheen Waqar, and Kulsoom Rizvi. The two sisters have a brand company called “Jalebi” and clearly both Sabeen Waqar and Maheen Waqar have been blessed with many talents. Likewise, Kulsoom Rizvi who created the brand called “Kaaf” is equally blessed with amazing skills and her creativity is attracting people to her own unique style.

These three elegant ladies from Pakistan are highlighting the power of a new generation which is confident, international minded, and in the world of business they are showing their own individual styles. In this article the focus will be on Urooj-ul-Qamar and her brand Urouge Qamar because she is yet another lady from this nation who adores fashion and being creative.

Jalebi

Before focusing more on Urooj-ul-Qamar the attention will be briefly on Japan and the buzzing districts of Tokyo and Osaka. Like mentioned in the previous article it is hoped one day that fashion designers from Pakistan will also be visible in the huge fashion market of Japan. After all, fashion on the streets of Aoyama (Tokyo), Harajuku (Tokyo),Ikebukuro (Tokyo), Namba (Osaka), Omotesando (Tokyo), Shibuya (Tokyo), Umeda (Osaka), and throughout both cities, is a mixture of Japanese, European, and North America fashion. However, given the youthful nature of Kulsoom Rizvi, Sabeen Waqar, Maheen Waqar, and Urooj-ul-Qamar, it is hoped that these young fashion designers from Pakistan will impact internationally in the future because they have so much to offer the world of international fashion.

Kaaf

Also, the uniqueness of Kulsoom Rizvi, Sabeen Waqar, Maheen Waqar, and Urooj-ul-Qamar, and other modern designers from Pakistan, should be watched closely internationally because new ideas, fusions, different thinking, and creativity, is what makes the fashion industry fresh. Therefore, by focusing on the designs of all the above mentioned it is clear that their color schemes, styles, creativity, and individualism, shines through.

Jalebi

Urooj-ul-Qamar is a final year student of Textile Design in Karachi and studies in the Department of Visual Studies. Her focus is on art work and designing and both these talents can be seen in the brand company called Urouge Qamar. Also, like the fashion brand Jalebi, Urooj-ul-Qamar is another lady who focuses on recycling and this will go down well in Japan and throughout the world.

Urouge Qamar

Urooj-ul-Qamar commented that “I was very good with aesthetics from a very young age and my interests are in field of “Jewelry Making” with real stones.” This elegant and stylish lady continues by stating that “I was thinking about bringing some change to the typical jewelry women wear these days therefore I ended up making jewelry from wicker.” This style is complex and difficult to produce but the end result is amazing and shows the spirit and creativity of her fashion brand Urouge Qamar.

Urouge Qamar

Accessories are adored by ladies in Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and throughout Japan. Therefore, Japanese ladies who shop in fashionable areas like Aoyama, Harajuku, and Umeda, and so many other fashion districts, would clearly adore the elegant and sophisticated designs of the fashion brand Urouge Qamar. This applies to clutch purses with fabulous color schemes and stunning jewelry which fits many different styles. It is therefore hoped that just like European and North American designers have impacted on fashion in Japan, that ideas emanating from stylish designers in Pakistan will also make a major impact in the future.

Japanese fashion

The handmade and innovative fashion accessories by the brand Urouge Qamar are extremely elegant and full of panache, just like the designer. Therefore, all the elegant designers mentioned in this article are showing a different side to Pakistan. This applies to being blessed with amazing young female fashion designers who are confident and ultra-modern in their thinking and styles.

Urouge Qamar

Urooj-ul-Qamar can be contacted at urooj.qamar@live.comand it is hoped that one day her designs will be seen on the streets of Osaka, Tokyo, London, New York, and other major cities throughout the world.

Fashion in Omotesando in Tokyo

Overall, each individual designer highlighted in this article is clearly articulate, sophisticated, and stylish. Therefore, because of their stunning designs and creativity, they are showing the vibrant nature of Pakistan. These young business ladies and designers augur well for the future of this nation because they all have something fresh to offer the international fashion community.

The ladies mentioned in this article can be contacted below:

Kulsoom Rizvi can be contacted at kumkumrizvi@hotmail.com

Sabeen Waqar can be contacted at sabeenwaqar@gmail.com

Urooj-ul-Qamar can be contacted at urooj.qamar@live.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2011/12/16/pakistan-fashion-women-entrepreneurs-amazing-styles-and-the-tokyo-angle/   Part 1 – Read more about the other fashion designers mentioned in this article

Thanks to Ms. Zara for photography

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui runs his own design studio called “CARTEL Design Studio” and provides valued consultancy information to important domestic and international companies. Also, in publication & writing he is the Foreign Correspondent for the Korean Textile Newspaper (www.ktnews.com) where you can find his publication on every Thursday. Also, he is writing for a Korean Fashion Magazine called Fashion Clue.  Recently, he joined Modern Tokyo Times and his knowledge is in high demand because of his unique vision.

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui

He can be contacted at u_designer@hotmail.com and please check his website at http://modernpakistan.wordpress.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Pakistan Fashion: women entrepreneurs, amazing styles and the Tokyo angle (part 1)

Pakistan Fashion: women entrepreneurs, amazing styles and the Tokyo angle (part 1)

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Kulsoom Rizvi – Kaaf

Pakistan is blessed with a rich culture and this country provides wide opportunities for the people of this nation to have a variety of styles in the field of fashion. Therefore, when you look all around Pakistan you will see many stunning colors and styles. This applies to bangles, mehendi (traditional type of tattoo work), jewelry, bags, and an abundance of different types of traditional dresses. Therefore, this enables fashion designers to fuse aspects of this richness when creating something new to suit the modern lady throughout the world.

In recent times we can say that today’s fashion in Pakistan belongs to the upcoming youth designers who are more bold and daring. Given this, you have many young entrepreneur designers who are reaching out internally and externally. Also, it is great that female designers are showing a positive image of Pakistan and highlighting a side which is being ignored in the mass media.

Sabeen Waqar – Jalebi

Therefore, in this article the focus is on Sabeen Waqar of the brand called “Jalebi,” her sister Maheen Waqar who focuses on the jewelry angle, and Kulsoom Rizvi who is the owner of the brand called “Kaaf.” Each individual lady is sophisticated, stylish, and elegant, and they are highlighting the vibrant spirit of fashion in Pakistan. Also, these entrepreneurs are showing the world that behind all the negative headlines you have a different Pakistan which is confident, international, and independent in spirit.

Clothes in Pakistan are being highly stylized by modern and upcoming designers and trend setters. This is the reason for the growing popularity of designers in Pakistan and the unique vibes coming from within the culture is being fused within the fashion industry. Not surprisingly, fashion companies in the western world and designers can see this “fresh Pakistan wave” and increasing attention is being focused on the fashion industry in this nation.

If we look at the “Korean wave” in K-pop and notice the pulling power of the Japanese market then it is feasible that “a Pakistan fashion wave” could also reach the streets of Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and other leading cities.  Also, the rich traditions of Japan and Pakistan could fuse a different style and commercial aspects of both nations need to understand that both countries have much to offer.

Crème de la crème fashion companies target the Japanese market and walking around the trendy areas of Aoyama, Omotesando, Harajuku, and throughout the Tokyo fashion scene, you will see a plethora of European boutiques. The same applies to all major cities in Japan and the buzzing districts of Osaka in places like Umeda is a fine example. This applies to many crème de la crème boutiques from Europe and North America which blend naturally with boutiques from Japan.

Jalebi

Returning to the fashion designers in this article then the first focus will be on Kulsoom Rizvi and her brand Kaaf. Kulsoom Rizvi is an extremely beautiful lady and richly talented and clearly this can be seen by her stunning designs. Her company Kaaf became established in August 2011 and currently this sophisticated lady is in her third year at the Asian Institute of Fashion Design, whereby Kulsoom Rizvi is studying Textile Designing.

The background of Kulsoom Rizvi is very fascinating because despite her young years her experience is extremely powerful　This applies to working with leading designers in Pakistan and this includes Nomi Ansari, Sonya Battla, Vaneeza Ahmed and textile giant Gul-Ahmed who recognized her creativity and abundant talents – therefore he printed her stylish designs in 2009 with regards to the winter collection.

Kaaf

Her main source of inspiration has been her sister in law Amna Asghar Nawab who is the Regional Manager of Khaadi in the United Arab Emirates. Her brand Kaaf includes apparel, upholstery and accessories, therefore, Kaaf caters for a broad spectrum and at all times you can feel and see the vibes of this talented lady. Kulsoom Rizvi is most recognized for her vibrant choice of colors, rhythmic designs, and enchanting styles. Also, one consistent element in her designs has been the peacock, which is the symbol of pride and beauty and clearly her designs and “self” applies to “pride and beauty” because of her creativity and elegance.

Kaaf is a company which is in its infancy but this charming lady is showing the vibrant spirit of the younger generation in Pakistan. Therefore, Kulsoom Rizvi is clearly a young lady of substance and her confidence and elegance is based on the new spirit emerging in this nation. Recently her collection was exhibited in Karachi and clearly fashion lovers were amazed by the talents of this 21 year old lady.

Kaaf is in growing demand because Kulsoom Rizvi understands the market and the need to find new angles in this competitive field. The first objective for Kaaf is to expand within Pakistan and then to reach out globally and clearly the potential of this lady is enormous. Also, from the point of view of fashion in Tokyo, Osaka, and throughout Japan, it is essential that new fashion hubs emerge in other nations because this will lead to new fusions, ideas, and expand cultural ties.

Sabeen Waqar of the brand called Jalebi is another lady who is passionate about fashion and clearly her motivation is extremely high and this is matched by her creativity and sophistication. Her sister Maheen Waqar is also extremely talented and focuses on the jewelry angle of Jalebi. Therefore, these two sisters are highlighting the growing strength of female designers and business individuals in Pakistan who are challenging the status quo and this angle needs to be shown to the international community.

Jalebi

The basic concept behind Jalebi and the main purpose of launching this brand is their passion for fashion alongside their love for recycling, making hand-made jewelry which is arty, and designing affordable fashion. These intriguing aspects have all been met with style, elegance, and “a spirit of freshness” which is extremely attractive.

Currently Jalebi is being stocked at several places but in time both sisters desire to expand and to show people their unique ideas and creativity. Jalebi focuses on vivacious colors, chewy textures, flirty feminine cuts and other important aspects of their charming fashion designs.

Jalebi

Jalebi commented that “Our main message to the world is to re-use what they call garbage and convert it into astonishing arty products, or just come and buy our products and contribute in saving the planet.” This angle will certainly go down well on the streets of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe, and throughout the world.

In time Jalebi will further the recycling angle into new areas of the company but for now both sisters have high hopes for the future. These ambitions deserve to be rewarded because both sisters are sophisticated and they are part of a new international generation which is fusing business alongside strong ethics related to the environment. More important, from a fashion point of view, these ladies from Pakistan have so much to offer the fashion world because of their creativity, vibes, and their passion for focusing on new styles and relating this to the environment.

Kaaf

It is hoped that in the future that the fashion scene in Pakistan will reach the streets of Ginza (Tokyo), Harajuku (Tokyo), Namba (Osaka), Omotesando (Tokyo), Umeda (Osaka), and throughout Japan. After all, the European and North American fashion scene is thriving in Japan and of course the same applies to stunning Japanese boutiques. Therefore, one day in the future it is hoped that the younger generation in Pakistan will make their mark in Japan and throughout the world.

Kulsoom Rizvi can be contacted at kumkumrizvi@hotmail.com

Sabeen Waqar can be contacted at sabeenwaqar@gmail.com

Thanks to Ms. Zara  for photography

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui runs his own design studio called “CARTEL Design Studio” and provides valued consultancy information to important domestic and international companies. Also, in publication & writing he is the Foreign Correspondent for the Korean Textile Newspaper (www.ktnews.com) where you can find his publication on every Thursday. Also, he is writing for a Korean Fashion Magazine called Fashion Clue.  Recently, he joined Modern Tokyo Times and his knowledge is in high demand because of his unique vision.

Umair Ahmed Siddiqui

He can be contacted at u_designer@hotmail.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com