PSFW 19 Day 3: Innovation on the runway makes for a brilliant finale to fashion week

Marking the end of this year’s PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week (PSFW), Day 3 showcased eight collections that focused largely on a trove of prêt wear, athleisure and menswear on the runway.
Showcasing in the afternoon shows were a mix of budding designers and brands such as Khas, Sanoor, Almirah, and So Kamal, whereas, during the evening display it remained a glitzy affair with Zaha by Khadija Shah, Nomi Ansari, Republic by Omar Farooq and HSY.
Overall, the day was marked by a number of celebrity appearances by Wasim Akram, Mawra Hocane, Hania Aamir, and Sheheryar Munawar and collections that focused on bringing evolution to the PSFW runway with their outlook of what Sunsilk Fashion Week could be about rather than narrowing its scope with just bridals and luxury prêt.
Onto the collections, here’s how it all fared…
Zaha by Khadija Shah – Wild Things
Bringing her style sensibilities and prêt aesthetics to the runway, Wild Things was surely a nod to eclectic fashion and to those who live out of the box. The collection rooted in the glamour and decadence of the eighties showcased flamboyant yet easy to wear silhouettes featuring clashing animal prints in punchy primary colors. It was loud, unapologetic, and brilliant ­– and something which the PSFW stage definitely needs more of.
Nomi Ansari Active X Tūhura
Veering away from his revered repertoire of colourful bridals, Nomi Ansari joined forces with Pakistan’s leading online sportswear brand, Tuhura Athletics, to debut a luxury active-wear collection that truly changed the concept of what can be shown at PSFW. The limited-edition capsule, inspired by the designer’s active on-the-go lifestyle and retro style, featured a variety of silhouettes and colors that brought an energizing wave to the runway. The collection featured a mix of everything from head-to-toe animal prints and full monochromatic studio-to-street styles to fierce neon sets and metallic windbreakers.
Republic by Omar Farooq – Metaphor 
Bringing a menswear collection to the PSFW runway, Republic by Omar Farooq displayed a luxury street-wear capsule that explored the evolution of symbolism from a form of basic communication to that of self-representation and ‘anarchic expression’. In the relatively subtle collection by the designer, the use of subtle creams juxtaposed with fluorescent neon shades on vests and stripes worked well and there were several stand out pieces.
HSY – Rani
Marking the end of Day 3 and PSFW 19, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin celebrated 2019 as his 25th year in fashion and one in which he comes full circle with the HSY brand. In an ode to his brand, his identity, and more importantly the bond he shares with his mother, he showcased a collection titled Rani . The pieces, which were all done in one shade of red, featured hand-made patterns along with fabrics like georgette woven out of silk yarn. While the idea behind the whole theme sounded spectacular, as always in an HSY show, there was more opulence in spectacle rather than design.
Photography by Faisal Farooqui