Best of Pakistani Menswear in 2013
2013 was a good year for menswear in Pakistan, or was it? Well, for starters, we got our very own Pakistan Menswear Fashion Week (reviewed here), but it was a disaster. Then, we had quite a few designers shows at various fashion weeks. While we have only a handful of sole menswear designers, we still have some designers who dip their toes in the wild waters that is menswear and some actually stay afloat. And here we have the few (of the few) best moments of menswear in Pakistan.
Best Collection: Ahmed Bham at TDAP
Already mentioned in the LookiLike Series of mine, I loved Ahmed Bham's extremely dapper collection from the trade show. This has to be the best menswear collection on the runway for the year!
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Best designer: Omar Farooq
This guy knows his suit, and ours too! His clothes for the at APTMA trade show show how much he knows of almost everything. Plus, have you checked out his store? It's how a menswear store should be. Omar Farooq is THE designer to go to for all the young guns. Sure, we have Ahmed Bham, but Omar Farooq is no less! Check out his Ceremonial collection here. Also, did you know? He dressed the CM Punjab! How cool!
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Best fashion shoot: Republic By Omar Farooq A/W'12-13 shoot and Emraan Rajput's Denimology for DIVA Magazine
This was the hardest one to choose as their aren't many shoots of menswear going around or making it to either print, or billboards. So here are my top two shoots of the year.
REPUBLIC's :This shoot was fun, nostalgic, and featured almost all the top models. Here are a few of my fav shots from the shoot. Also, it featured photography by Abdullah Haris, who's my fav since like ever!
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DIVA Magazine is, in my opinion, the most versatile magazine. They feature menswear too. And give proper space to it. One such shoot was Emraan Rajput's Denimology collection. The collection was itself a unique take on denim, but to be executed in a shoot that depicts the denim-ness of the collection, that was cool.
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Best model: Tabish oza
Let's give a shout out to all the newbies coming into the industry here. Tabish is is one of those guys who's got the looks and the attitude for a shoot. He landed a few coveted brand shoots this year and if it's anything, 2014 will be his year (hopefully an LSA nominee too in emerging talent?). He can walk AND is photogenic.
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Best dressed: Waleed Zaman
When I met him at PSFW, I had no idea who he was, until he showed his Kayseria Collection. Still, all those four days, his look was the best and most out standing one among the people at PSFW. Then we saw him at red carpets all across looking fun and uber cool. He might not be your typical stylish gentleman, but he's stylish in his own ways and stands out for all the perfect reasons.
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Breakout Designers: DnF (Deepak and Fahad) and Arsalan Iqbal
Coming into the limelight not that long ago (2012) Deepak and Fahad have made waves all through the year. While they do dip into womenswear, it's their menswear that is the most innovative and creative. Their menswear gives us all some punch in the clothes and their FPW collections are a testament to that.
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Arsalan Iqbal seperated ways from his label Arsalan and Yahseer and is now working for his own label. His designs are amazingly wearable (famous for his kurtas) and his PBCW'13 collection featured amazing sherwanis. His footwear collection is amazing as well, then there are those awesome funky shirts too!
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Best Retail Brand: Bareeze Man
They have a freakin' jumpsuit. 'nough said!
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Best Grooms Wear: HSY
Yes, yes, i know, he's one of the best bridal wear designers too, but look at his sherwanis!! They're just the right amount of bling! And his suits (while not from his bridal collection but PSFW) were to die for! He's the man!
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So here's hoping 2014 is a better year for Pakistan in 2014. Have a fashionable year gentlemen and guys like me who like casual business attire more!
Images Courtesy: Facebook pages of respected people and google images.