Innovation and Desirability, Distressed
As a fashion blogger, and that too menswear, I am always looking for things that are exciting and new. I emphasize on the word "innovation" a lot and while I do believe designers in Pakistan have their concerns when it comes to experimentation because the ones on the receiving end are not always responsive, sometimes a designer needs to focus on innovation just for the sake of it. And if a designer keeps in mind the wear-ability of the collection along with experimentation, this makes the collection more fun. Because sometimes the people need to be told and showed what they want, or like.
The house of Arsalan Iqbal showcased the unisex, androgynous collection "Cargwar" at PSFW last year and with their new collection "Desirability Distressed" , Arsalan Iqbal hopes to bring out the creative side of denim in Pakistan
When I look at the photo shoot that comes along with the collection, i think about how the collection's name, the shoot, and the way the collection has been made embodies so much of our thinking pattern. Not just as fashion loving individuals, but as individuals of a society where we are taught not to think. It's about the holding back of so many of our thoughts, potential and creativity in order to fit in. And with this collection, it's about breaking barriers.
The shoot, as some might think, is a bit provocative for the mainstream media, which i do believe that it is. But it so beautifully captures the essence of the repression of our innate desires, because we live in a so-called moderate society in which it is ok to be cultured and give in to globalization, but hold back the humane ones.
The shot below reminds me of the story about how it's not just men who objectify women, but women do that to men too.
Regardless of this expression, i wanna talk about repression of creativity, just like repression of desires.
As an individual who wants to think out of the box, i can understand how much of a pain it can be when ideas that challenge the norm have the tendency to be rejected and how that can come out in the form of so much distress, that it can rupture the thought process. It's not good. And it's not fair. Creativity deserves to be appreciated and admired. If not all that, at least acknowledged.
With this collection, Arsalan says that "Collaborating with young artists is a priority for us and for our denim collection we have collaborated for bags and accesories with two brilliant artists, from Lahore, Amra Khan of ‘Baaji kay Bastay’ and the Karachi based graffiti artists ‘Sanki’. It’s edgy. It’s a statement. It’s ‘Desirably Distressed." This is exactly the kind of attitude designers should take on if they want the creative expression to grow, thrive, and dominate the fashion industry in this country. For me, Katie Eary embodies this in her LCM A/W'15-16 collection beautifully by having collaborated with the designer Leighton McDonald and creating something beautiful. Such collaboration between local artists and design houses can provide benefit to the creative industry on a whole.
Arsalan further tells, "The accessories were made inhouse while bags were made in collaboration with 'Baji ke Bastay'."
With tee shirts coming soon, the design house seems to be going in the right direction, if taking creative expression into account. Affordability matters and nothing sells like hot cakes in fashion like designer tees.
Arsalan Iqbal has been consistent with his collection when it comes to being crazy, fun and creative. And it gives me hope that maybe, it's not just about selling everything, or putting the sell-able stuff on the front of the covers, but designers are coming forth to give new ideas a chance to be featured in fashion magazine covers where Lawn and the same old silhouettes take over the covers. And it gives me hope.
Here are some Behind The Scenes images
The house of Arsalan Iqbal showcased the unisex, androgynous collection "Cargwar" at PSFW last year and with their new collection "Desirability Distressed" , Arsalan Iqbal hopes to bring out the creative side of denim in Pakistan
When I look at the photo shoot that comes along with the collection, i think about how the collection's name, the shoot, and the way the collection has been made embodies so much of our thinking pattern. Not just as fashion loving individuals, but as individuals of a society where we are taught not to think. It's about the holding back of so many of our thoughts, potential and creativity in order to fit in. And with this collection, it's about breaking barriers.
The shoot, as some might think, is a bit provocative for the mainstream media, which i do believe that it is. But it so beautifully captures the essence of the repression of our innate desires, because we live in a so-called moderate society in which it is ok to be cultured and give in to globalization, but hold back the humane ones.
The shot below reminds me of the story about how it's not just men who objectify women, but women do that to men too.
Regardless of this expression, i wanna talk about repression of creativity, just like repression of desires.
As an individual who wants to think out of the box, i can understand how much of a pain it can be when ideas that challenge the norm have the tendency to be rejected and how that can come out in the form of so much distress, that it can rupture the thought process. It's not good. And it's not fair. Creativity deserves to be appreciated and admired. If not all that, at least acknowledged.
With this collection, Arsalan says that "Collaborating with young artists is a priority for us and for our denim collection we have collaborated for bags and accesories with two brilliant artists, from Lahore, Amra Khan of ‘Baaji kay Bastay’ and the Karachi based graffiti artists ‘Sanki’. It’s edgy. It’s a statement. It’s ‘Desirably Distressed." This is exactly the kind of attitude designers should take on if they want the creative expression to grow, thrive, and dominate the fashion industry in this country. For me, Katie Eary embodies this in her LCM A/W'15-16 collection beautifully by having collaborated with the designer Leighton McDonald and creating something beautiful. Such collaboration between local artists and design houses can provide benefit to the creative industry on a whole.
Arsalan further tells, "The accessories were made inhouse while bags were made in collaboration with 'Baji ke Bastay'."
With tee shirts coming soon, the design house seems to be going in the right direction, if taking creative expression into account. Affordability matters and nothing sells like hot cakes in fashion like designer tees.
Arsalan Iqbal has been consistent with his collection when it comes to being crazy, fun and creative. And it gives me hope that maybe, it's not just about selling everything, or putting the sell-able stuff on the front of the covers, but designers are coming forth to give new ideas a chance to be featured in fashion magazine covers where Lawn and the same old silhouettes take over the covers. And it gives me hope.
Here are some Behind The Scenes images