Like most people in Pakistan, designer Deepak Perwani is a fan of Bollywood celebrities. After styling Indian stars, such as veteran actor Shabana Azmi and her husband, lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, he now seeks to design for contemporary stars, such as Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor.
Deepak admitted that he and fellow designers and friends love Indian “cuisine, clothes, songs, dance and Bollywood.” When asked who he would like to make clothes for, the designer, who was in New Delhi for Aalishan Pakistan, said, “Deepika would be a great choice. She is stunning and gorgeous. I’ve always liked dark and dusky women. [I would also like to design for] Nandita Das. She is stunning. She is the epitome of an Indian woman.”
“Among male actors, [I would prefer designing for] Ranbir [Kapoor] and Varun Dhawan. They are the new kids on the block and I make clothes for those aged between 25 and 40. They are fashionable kids,” said Deepak, who started his menswear line in 1994.
He may have entered the fashion industry with menswear, but he thinks women are more inclined towards fashion. “Men don’t buy as much clothes as women. Women like to look at collections and are more fashion-oriented. They like to wear separate pieces for day and evening,” he commented.
“Men are okay with black trousers and a shirt. They can go on with their lives like that,” said the designer, who launched his women’s wear collection in 1996. Known for creating fusion wear with minimal embellishment and using pure fabrics, such as silk and chiffon, Deepak feels that Pakistani fashion is “on the rise.”
“When I started, there were just a handful of designers. We had to put up fashion shows ourselves. Now, we are travelling to places, such as Singapore, Doha and London and exhibiting all over the world. We travel at least six to seven times in a year,” he stated.
“What’s interesting to see is the curiosity people have for Pakistani fashion. It’s natural,” he added. The designer, who has collaborated with brands, such as Mercedes Benz and Hugo Boss perfume, is keen on doing business in India.
But like his fellow designers, he wants the governments of both the nations to ease travelling rules and regulations. “Make getting visas easier and come and buy. If you are able to travel anywhere in the world, then business is easier. Once that is sorted out, economies will open up to each other.”
“There is a lot of love and affection between Indians and Pakistanis. There should be cross-cultural exchange all the time,” said Deepak, a frequent visitor to India. He recalled his childhood days when he used to make frequent trips to the country. “I have been visiting Mumbai since I was a kid. I have family in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Jodhpur, Indore and Pune.”
“My summer holidays were spent here as a kid. I used to be weak in Mathematics. We used to have a teacher who taught us Maths and English. So, our English and Maths were better than everyone else’s in our class when we went back home,” he shared.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2014.
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