REPUBLIC by Omar Farooq at the Woolmark

As one sits and ponders over the state of menswear, one can't help but sigh. It's not hopeless, it's just that there's so much cacophony, everything gets confused and in this confusion it all gets lost. As I said earlier, it's very important to know where one stands and what he wants for himself, even in fashion. Brands and labels, when start off, get lost along the journey. A very important part of it is staying true to their roots and ideals. One of such labels in Pakistan who stuck to it's signature and ideas from the start has been REPUBLIC by Omar Farooq. Omar's attention to the details of his pieces, and the thought he puts into them sets him apart. When one is in need of a true Italian suit, REPUBLIC is there at the front, and you cannot ask for much more precision and perfection, considering this is Pakistan. It was because of these (and obviously other great) reasons that REPUBLIC was nominated for the Woolmark Prize. Now this is a big deal, for a Pakistani designer to be nominated for one of the most prestigious fashion awards in the world. YSL and Karl Lagerfeld were of the first few winners when this award was launched. You see, this award recognizes only the best in the game, those working with wool hands on, and being innovative with whatever work they produce. Fullscreen capture 7262014 60838 PM.bmp It was a pleasure to see Republic's name on the same page as Public School NY, and Agi and Sam. This nomination is a testament to the fact that REPUBLIC has earned a name for itself not only nationally and internationally as well! His label is the "it" label for high quality menswear, and if you are in the mood to splurge on good clothing, REPUBLIC is the option.   Fullscreen capture 7262014 60914 PM.bmpWhen I reached out to Omar to tell me about his experience with Woolmark, he said it was one of those experiences where one can only learn more and more and grow. He said that being in Pakistan, one doesn't get to know how to reach out to the clientele besides the one in Pakistan, and having experienced the Woolmark nomination, he saw that we need to expand our horizons and delve into the deep waters of fashion. A person needs top be challenged, and Woolmark was just the experience to teach one that, says Omar. Fullscreen capture 7262014 60845 PM.bmp Apart from that, Omar had to say that get your paperwork done in time. It will make things hectic once it comes a time to show at the regionals. It won't even leave you time to go out sightseeing comfortably. While REPUBLIC unfortunately didn't get to go on to compete at the world wide stage of the Woolmark, being a part of the Woolmark experience, and getting to be nominated among so many high profile international labels, is just an amazing thing for Pakistani fashion. Fullscreen capture 7262014 60956 PM.bmp We should be proud that Pakistan creates such amazing designers who have the potential to go to the international level and make a name for us. It is up to us to provide our designers the ability to expand and evolve in their creative pursuits so that we keep getting innovative collections over the years. What I have learned and observed from this experience is that Playing safe just won't cut it anymore if Pakistani fashion wants to expand globally, or even nationally. We can't stay at a static point in our fashion approaches and diss every other person who tries to break the norm. We need to encourage differential approaches and methods to fashion in Pakistan, and let the boundaries grow. Step out of our comfort zones. Here's hoping REPUBLIC goes places around the globe and makes a name for not only itself, but also the Pakistani fashion industry. Wishing Omar all the best, with lots of love! Fullscreen capture 7262014 60855 PM.bmpImages Courtesy: Republic's Instagram here