Tag: pakistani fashion designers

  • Small business Amaltas Studio accuses Khaadi of plagiarism

    Small business Amaltas Studio accuses Khaadi of plagiarism

    A small business by the name of Amaltas Studio took to their Instagram account to accuse Pakistani fashion giant Khaadi of plagiarising their artwork. The page posted photos of the two mirrors side by side to point out the similarities, writing in the caption:

    “Appalled to share Khaadi Home’s shameless act of plagiarism our unique mirrors! We were informed by one of our clients that our whimsical mirrors, which we submitted for the Kreate Your Mark project, were imitated instead of appreciated. Shame on them for disregarding originality and betraying the spirit of supporting women entrepreneurs.”

    In the comments section, a user claimed the designs by Khaadi were inspired, rather than plagiarised, to which Amaltas Studio responded:

    “Hi, this is not inspired, this is blatantly plagiarism. These copied our product, technique and aesthetic.

    Please note that, we specialise in exclusively making these printed whimsical mirrors, whereas Khaadi is a giant corporation. Inviting small business to apply to their programs to support women entrepreneurs and stealing their ideas is not a good look. Thank you.”

    This is not the first time a fashion brand has been accused of plagiarism by a small business. Hussain Rehar was accused of copying designs of small business Kook Studio without giving them credit. Rehar responded in a lengthy statement, explaining the designs for his collection ‘Jugnu’ took inspiration from traditional African embroidery designs.

    “Jugnu, a project in the making for over a year, derives its inspirations from traditional African embroidery designs. While there may be similarities in using the same monochrome palette, these elements are commonly found in various art forms across cultures. In an effort to maintain transparency, we are sharing all relevant images and references.”

    READ MORE: ‘Did not draw inspiration from anyone’s work’: Hussain Rehar responds to plagiarism accusations

    We have reached out to Khaadi for a statement and will update the story with their response.

  • Slay or nay: our favourite looks from the Lux Style Awards

    Slay or nay: our favourite looks from the Lux Style Awards

    The Lux Style Awards really lived up to its name last night with how the creme de la creme of Pakistan’s entertainment industry came out, dressed to the nines. Some of the biggest stars of Pakistan were present to celebrate the night’s occasion like Saba Qamar, Saim Sadiq, Yumna Zaidi, and even Maya Ali. Most importantly, who were the best looks of the night? This time we can safely say that celebrities served a whole three course dinner with the way they slayed on the red carpet, and we’re sharing some of the looks that had us going oh la la!

    Haseena Yumna Zaidi was the belle of the ball last night, walking away with two of the biggest awards and looking like she stepped out of a fairy tale. The actress wore a shimmering ensemble by Noor H Gul, paired with a simple makeup look and her hair in an elegant bun.

    Alina Khan may have only stepped into the main screen last year with her standout performance as Biba in ‘Joyland’ but she isn’t ready to fade away yet. The actress left everyone spellbound by how serene she looked at the awards last night with a decorated peplum she paired with a black silk skirt, and silver earrings, to make her outfit shine.

    Saba Qamar was a vision of elegance in the silk gown she had donned for the red carpet, and then the glittering ivory saari she wore during the performances. The actress walked away with the Best Actress award because of her stellar performance in ‘Kamli’.

    Shae Gill won us over last year with her gorgeous singing but she is also ready to win more hearts with her sense of style. The ‘Sukoon’ singer looked gorgeous posing in a shimmery white gown with her hair pulled back in a bun, and was the recipient of the Most Streamed Song Of The Year award for ‘Pasoori’.

    The headliner of the awards, and the one with whom we close this piece with a bang was definitely Ayesha Omar. She didn’t just come to serve, she came to break all expectations and leave us absolutely flabbergasted, even though the actress was not nominated for any awards. The ‘Bulbulay’ actress looked as if she stepped out of a Gatsby party with her glittering, dark blue ensemble along with her hair set in a 50’s style hairdo. We feel a separate category should be set up by Lux just to award the stylish person of the night: so that Ayesha wins every time!

  • Maria B has yet another factually incorrect take on transgender people

    Maria B has yet another factually incorrect take on transgender people

    Designer Maria B has yet again decided to court controversy. The fashion maven took to social media to disperse more of her opinions about transgender communities, because she knows them better than the experts from the community, right? On Friday, the face behind the fashion brand ‘Maria B’ tweeted how the biggest threats to women universities were “biological men” aka transgender women, who were invading women’s bathrooms. She called for a ban on giving admission to transpeople in women’s colleges.

    “Women Universities in Pakistan are under attack. Biological men are now being given admission in our safe spaces for women. Female bathrooms are now being invaded by biological men who feel like women….As it is we live in a Conservative society where parents hesitate sending their daughters for higher education. Forcing biological men into women’s universities under the garb of transgenders will be a great disservice to women’s education. Watch how parents will start stopping their daughters from getting education bcz there are MEN PRETENDING TO BE WOMEN in the universities.”

    The fashion designer went on to slam women rights organisations like Aurat March for “not standing up for women’s rights” and “shutting women’s voices”.

    However, reports from universities all around Pakistan would disprove Maria B’s take that the transgender community is the biggest reason why parents are refraining their daughters from going to universities. Because from all the recent cases of sexual harassment and rape reports from colleges, we can’t help but deduce that the majority of the perpetuators behind these assaults are men.

    Take for instance, the recent case in Ghazi University where a young woman complained of being sexually assaulted and threatened by two male professors who were black mailing her younger sister.

    READ MORE: Accusations of sexual assault, blackmail leveled against two professors in DG Khan

    Or the matter of the ex-head security officer at Islamia University in Bahawalpur, who was caught in July with multiple illicit videos of women and female staff on his phone. He was allegedly black mailing women with threats to leak the videos.

    READ MORE: Police arrest university’s chief security officer for objectionable videos of female students, drug possession

    In June, another male employee at King Edward Medical College was caught making videos of women in washrooms, an action which launched protests as several women revealed they had consistently filed complaints with the KEMU administration about the pressence of male staff members in female bathrooms.

    READ MORE: Employee at King Edward Medical University caught making video of female student in washroom

    In not one of these stories is it mentioned that a transgender woman was caught harassing or black mailing a woman. However recently, reports circulated on social media of a transgender activist who was forcibly converted in a rehabilitation centre Focus Life, where she detailed reports of being tortured, sexually harassed and abused for her gender identity.

    READ MORE: Transgender activist Zaakraa’s story takes sinister turn, wipes all previous posts

    So there you have it folks, it is not transgender women who are making other women feel unsafe in universities, but it is the way institutes turn a blind eye to male privilege, sexual harassment, and protection of harassers that keeps women feeling unsafe in these places.

  • Designer Maheen Khan reveals how she crafted the late Benazir Bhutto’s iconic look

    Designer Maheen Khan reveals how she crafted the late Benazir Bhutto’s iconic look

    On Sunday, Madam Tussaud’s unveiled the wax statue of the first female prime minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world, Benazir Bhutto, in Dubai. Her son, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto was present at the occasion.

    Fashion designer Maheen Khan, who crafted the iconic look Benazir Bhutto wore when she was sworn in as the first woman prime minister of the country in November 1988, has shared a heart warming story on her Instagram page about how she and Bhutto crafted the look together.

    Maheen received a call from the Benazir Bhutto in November 1998, after she had won the elections and needed to design a look in green to wear for the swearing-in ceremony.

    “It was some time In November 1988 that I got a call from Benazir Bhutto. She had just had Bilawal and she had won the elections!
    She was to be Pakistans first Prime minister.
    I immediately rushed to Bilawal House .
    She needed something green to wear to her swearing in ceremony.
    I convinced her to wear a white dupatta , which I got her .
    I decided immediately that chiffon wouldn’t do so I got her a soft muslin which would drape well .
    Years later she rang to say she had given the outfit to Madame Toussards .”The Maheen label is still on it ” she said
    The white dupatta has since become the signature of every female politician.
    Magical memories of an amazing ,warm , affectionate woman .
    Rest in peace dear BB
    Innalillahe wainnaillaihe rajeoon.”

  • ‘If I had to marry at gun point, would marry Mehwish Hayat’: HSY

    ‘If I had to marry at gun point, would marry Mehwish Hayat’: HSY

    Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, a.k.a HSY, appeared on the ‘The Knock Knock Show with Mohib Mirza’ where he was asked about marriage.

    When asked who he would marry if forced at gun point, the designer said it would be actress Mehwish Hayat, because friendship is the most important element in building a strong relationship.

    The ‘Pehli Si Muhabbat’ actor went on to clarify that he was not in a relationship with Mehish, however, the two friends shared a close bond with each other.

    They have previously worked together in the telefilm ‘Ijaazat’.

    HSY also opened up about his childhood and how growing up in a poor family, he learned fashion designing by skimming through magazines as a kid when he went with his mother to a grocery store where she worked:

    “My mother used to work at a grocery store and I use to go through old magazines over there. I would observe how did people design a look and when I went home, I’d take out my old shirts and try to make them like Calvin Klien or Donna Karan.”

    HSY also revealed that one of his fashion inspirations was the late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana, who inspired him to become a fashion designer. As an infant, he had spent some time in London where his mother was looking for a job. During this time, the royal wedding was happening.

    “I was on her shoulders watching the wedding and I remember the excitement, and how millions of people were screaming for a carriage, I have never forgotten it…I remember when I got home I got my sister’s dolls, took some tissue papers and started making that dress because I was shocked how that one dress shocked so many people.”

  • Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Designer Zara Shahjahan landed in a social media storm on Friday when her tweet about a recent survey that ranked Pakistani passport as the fourth worst in the world, went viral.

    Her take divided social media with most agreeing with her, while others saying she was unaware of the privilege and wealth she had, easing most travel hurdles

    She had written:

    “This shows nothing. I’ve travelled he world with my Pakistani passport and would never give it up for any other. This is a lie.”

    Some people agreed with the fashion designer, saying that they never had a problem in travelling abroad with the Pakistani passport.

    While others called her out for what they said was an elitist take, sharing their own experiences of difficulty in getting visas.

    One user wrote: “I got my visa after a whole damn year to come to Australia. I applied in 2015 and made it there in 2017. The problem was, that I had a full scholarship and not a lot of my own funds to show. See, if you’ve got a lot of $$$ in the bank, visas can come as easy as this stupid take.”

    https://twitter.com/theD_inDNA/status/1682366267775385601?s=20
    https://twitter.com/someaningfull/status/1682328267515211778?s=20