JOIN USLong flowy fabrics with floor-length hemlines are being flaunted by young and old alike. Strutting out of Metro or walking on the street, women are comfortable carrying Pakistani suits.
So much so, that the trend which started with a need to show off ‘something different’ at the next big social gathering has seeped into the daily lives and made the fashion-conscious women this side of the LoC flaunt ‘their version’ of Pakistani suit.
Be it a semi-formal attire for office or a shimmering gown for an evening get together, Pakistani suits have made an indelible impression in the Indian fashion world and subsequently in the lives of fashion conscious Indian women.
“It is also because of Pakistani drama which has now found exposure in India. Being based on reality, the stories have made an impact on not just Indian soap operas but also fashion,” says Rizwan Beyg, designer, PFDC – The Boulevard (Pakistan Fashion Design Council).
In a telephonic interaction with Metrolife from Karachi, the senior designer says that the design sensibilities are very different from the ethnic ones. He adds, “Young and old designers are today designing for ‘Modern Pakistan’ – which wants a fusion of the west and the traditional. Like western silhouettes, Pakistani suits designed today also have ethnic embroideries and bold colours.”
Though the colour palette has changed with their arrival in India, yet the fabric is largely cotton. “Even others like jacquard are popular. After all, these are the fabrics for summer. Indian designers can copy the designs but cannot compete with our lawn fabric.
Just like no one can compete with sarees made in India, similarly, no one can compete with suits and shalwar-kameez made in Pakistan,” says Pervez Lala, CEO, Lala Textile, adding that the garment is some 40 year old but has gained popularity since last five to seven years.
The fact is, there has been a lot of duplication in the Indian market. One can easily find a Pakistani suit with a long hemline, stitched in almost any fabric in local markets of India. An addition of a lace at the end or sequins around the neck can be spotted easily.
“Initially these suits were created out of only printed fabric but of late there has been addition of machine embroidery to give them a semi-formal look,” says Mini Bindra from Rubaaiyat. She adds that since the long hemlines have been in fashion for quite some time now, the “knee-length shirts, that have become popular in Pakistan, will soon get popular in India too.”
Beyg points out that “Designers today cater to individuals. The design sensibilities change, since someone with a heavy body would opt for a flowy garment, whereas a slender person would go for short length suits. Therefore, designers have to keep experimenting.”