Adnan Pardesy first came in the forefront when he stunned consumers by putting up a fashion show playing exclusively with the fabric of denim. He talks to The Express Tribune about his beginnings and love for the material, “Well, I have moved beyond denim… there was a time I used to export it, and it was the thing I played with. It was such a famous collection of mine, that I still get orders for it. But now I have moved beyond it,”says Pardesy.
His recent visit to India was very fruitful for Alishan Pakistan 2014, turned out to be a very fruitful experience. “The idea was to go there and exhibit plus see and meet potential clients and discover how the corporate sector works. Alishan Pakistan did well for me as a designer and though I am unaware about the exact numbers as far as the sales are concerned, it felt good to be appreciated as a designer”.
Elaborating on how he sees the growth Pakistani fashion industry the designer says though the progress is smooth but the demand of couture has gone down, “I see that couture is going down. Prêt is doing a lot better but couture will surely make a comeback. There cannot be a fashion scene without couture!” says Pardesy.
Embracing the Lahore versus Karachi competition, the designer says that this underlining enmity will continue and play a key role in keeping the fashion scene alive. “It will become more competitive with time. [I believe] healthy competition is the only way to move forward. Be it in Mumbai and New Delhi, Rome and Milan, it’s always going to be there. But this also generates excitement and fun. Rivalries between cities and different states are fun since every city has its own charm. But more the competition, more the business.”
With the growing number of fashion weeks and other fashion related showcases the industry is getting busier day by day but Pardesy prefers coming in the spotlight only when he has a collection to offer.
“At the end of the day this is a serious business. Social media has become a big part of the campaign and the internet has created new celebrities. It works differently for different people altogether,” says Pardesy.
Master of hype Karl Lagerfeld continues to inspire the Pakistani designer and is his most loved fashion icon. “What he has accomplished in the world of fashion is impeccable. If he is there for the next ten years or more, he will be ever so phenomenal. Only a few people can reach such heights.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2014.
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