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Interview
The Sensational Sania Maskatiya Sania Maskatiya spills the beans on her signature lawn, Saphire Lawn by Sania
Maskatiya
By Sumeha Khalid Q: You just launched your signature lawn collection. Please tell us about it in detail. A: Having a degree in textile design, designing and producing lawn was my passion. I wanted to pursue it right after I graduated. This year I was given an opportunity to design lawn in collaboration with one of the biggest textile companies in the country, Sapphire textiles, and I was more than excited. SAPPHIRE LAWN by SANIA MASKATIYA comprises of 16 unstitched designs. Additionally, we have made seven stitched kurtas, providing an alternative to those who would typically shy away from three-piece suits. This collection features a range of print and weaving techniques. In unstitched suits, lawn is paired with jacquard, chiffon and dobby fabrics and some outfits include custom-designed lace as borders. Q: What kind of response did your lawn exhibition garner?
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can’t thank our customers enough for all the love and appreciation.
A: The response has been phenomenal and we are extremely humbled. Our preview in Karachi was supposed to start at 6 pm but people started coming in at 4 pm. At one point, the lines at the 9 counters extended to the middle of the Marquee! Even on the day of exhibition people started gathering outside the gates from 9.30 am whereas the exhibition had to start at 11. We are overwhelmed with all the positive feedback and
Q: What aspect of your lawn collection sets it apart from the rest? A: My design house has always focused on designing a variety of prints. Sapphire Lawn by Sania Maskatiya combines high quality fabric from Sapphire Mills with our fashion house’s contemporary design aesthetic to create 16 distinct designs, many of which draw inspiration from our popular collections and some of which are new. Each piece in the three-piece suit packet can be stitched in a number of ways. In fact, one can even make three kameezes of different styles out of one suit packet. The choices and combinations are left to the buyer’s own imagination, a freedom which distinguishes this line from most others.
piece suit they can buy the cheaper stitched kurtas. Q: Quite a few designers/celebrities have launched their signature lawn brands. Do you feel there’s room enough for everyone? A: Yes, I feel that there is room for everyone. I think it provides the buyers a wider range of products/ designs to choose from and such competition will only lead to better products in the future. Q: How did you come to be a designer? Did you pursue a degree in fashion design? A: I was one of those kids who loved scribbling and playing with colours. I was attracted to pattern and even after all this time, I am still excited by it. This is one of the main reasons I got into fashion. I specifically choose art subjects in my O and A‘levels, and then I opted for a degree in textile design from Indus Valley. Q: How long has it been since you stepped into the fashion business? A: I started soon after my graduation, in 2007, with my first collaborative label, ‘Chamak.’ I launched my eponymous label in 2010.
Q: Sapphire Lawn by Sania Maskatiya seems to be a highend product. Are you catering to a specific segment of society? A: When we initiated the project we wanted to create a collection that is more affordable than say, our luxury pret. We believe our lawn to have good value for money – great quality and unique designs. However, as we are designer lawn line, we are slightly more expensive than ordinary lawn brands. We provide choices to our buyers as if one does not want to indulge in a three
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our brand and develop a signature style. Q: How do you manage to strike a balance between professional and personal life? A: On the home front, my mom and mother-inlaw provide me with a fantastic support system. Work is a team effort— my business partner and brother, Umair Tabani, and my talented design team share the workload.
Q: Is the creativity all yours? From where do you seek inspiration for your designs? A: I believe in creating versatile clothes that will suit the needs and demands of a wide range of audience. My design house is known for combining traditional designs with contemporary silhouettes. For us, wearability and practicality are the most important aspects, even when we are creating pieces for runway shows. Our entire runway collection is available in the store as well. Q: What are some major trends for 2013? A: Spring/Summer 2013 is about a lot of print and geometrics. Another trend to watch is clean, straight silhouettes. Hemlines going up and short shirts are paired with tapered, cropped trousers. Q:, Is it easy for new designers to get themselves noticed and established in this big fashion jungle? A: I think if you put your head to it and work hard, you will get noticed. It is important to build your brand well and also to showcase your collections at the right platforms. Q: Did the eminent designers help you out in your initiation into the fashion world or were they wary of
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new talent? A: Luckily we have had tremendous support from the fashion and design fraternity. Q: What kind of spring/summer collection should we expect from Sania Maskatiya this season? A: We aim to combine prints, geometrics and embroidered fabric in a wide colour palette to appeal to a range of customers. Q: What is the focal point of your new collection? A: We are refraining from using bird motifs this season as we feel that something new has to be introduced in the market. Q: What is unique about your brand? A: My brand has always been catering to a diverse clientele ranging from 16 year olds to women well over their 50’s. I believe what sets my brand apart from the rest is that there is always something for everyone and people have a lot of options to choose from. Q: You have been actively participating in the various Fashion Weeks. Please tell us about your experiences. A: The exposure has been fantastic– it has helped us garner visibility for
Q: Who are your favourite designers and why? (Both local and international) A: I’m fond of all local designers, however, I truly respect the older generation of designers such as Bunto Kazmi, Rizwan Beyg,Maheen Khan and Faiza Samee, who played such a pivotal role in establishing our fashion industry and have acted as mentors for the younger lot. On the international front, Chanel is one of my favourites. Q: Which brand do you wear the most when not wearing your own designs? A: Zara. Q: What is your signature style? A: I like to keep it simple. I like using little or no makeup and I try accentuating my outfits by pairing them with accessories such as shoes, bags etc. Q: One mistake our women make when dressing up? A: Applying too much make up. Q: Future plans... A: Currently we are looking to participate in the upcoming fashion weeks such as FPW, PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week etc. We are contemplating about expanding our brand by opening another store in Karachi and a flagship store in Lahore in early April 2013.
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COLOUR ME
INOA By Sumeha Khalid
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etting a dye job comes with more than what you pay your colourist. The opportunity cost is pretty high as the presence of chemicals in hair dye can irritate the scalp and weaken the roots in addition to the temporary irritation caused by the irksome smell and sometimes allergy inducing ammonia. Keeping these factors in mind, I was satisfied with maintaining my virgin hair. But my outlook on hair color changed recently—L’Oreal’s latest product INOA, a hair dye with no harsh chemicals, a luscious sheen and an absence of ammonia, has proven to be a game changer. Wanting to avoid a dramatic change, I tried a subtle brown shade. It was quite
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a pleasant experience as the dye caused no itchy scalp that people most often complain about. Moreover, the final colour was perfect with an astonishing coverage and it appeared natural not just indoors but even in the harsh sunlight. The launch of INOA L’Oreal that took place recently was an interesting affair, involving a hair show by some of the best professionals in the industry like Stacey Broughton, an internationally renowned hairstylist from the UK who styled and dyed the hair of two models on the spot for the audience. The fabulous affair INOA was well attended by fashionistas, celebrities and socialites. A number of well-known people, ranging from fashion designers to hairstylists,
showed up for the event—Safinaz Munir, Adnan Pardesy and Warda Saleem, Nabila of N-PRO, Afreen Shiraz of Ellemint Salon et Spa, Saba Ansari of Sabs, Ruby Hassan, Shamal Qureshi of TONI&GUY, Meher Najeeb, Peng Qureshi, Nighat Misbah of Depilex, Shaheen Raheem, President of the Pakistan Hair and Beauty Association Ruhana Iqbal, Hina of Natasha’s Salon, Aliya Tipu, Aaliya Farooqui, Neelo, Mona J, Hina Farid of Blush, Tazeen of Mirrors, Qudsia of Qudsia’s Splendour, Ujala Zia of The Dressing Table, Beenish Parvez and Sayeeda Mandvivalla of Toni&Guy Ayesha Omar, Tapu Javeri and many others were present throughout the evening. All the products were endorsed by one or the other top notch names
in the local fashion industry. The showstopper of the evening was none other than Neha, who was styled by ‘the’ Shammal Qureshi with make-up by the team at Sabs and wardrobe by Sana Safinaz. Also seen on the ramp was the elegant Hira Tareen who sported a beautiful hair colour, courtesy of INOA and Nadia Baluch, with her off-beat yet classy hair cut, was a sight to behold. With a 100 years’ experience under their belt, L’Oreal has introduced a product that has revolutionized hair colouring. The ODS² (Oil Delivery System²) is a ground-breaking new technology that utilises the strength of oil to maximize colour performance. This avant-garde formula also gives a remarkable natural coverage while hydrating hair for a better and fuller feel. Musharaf Hai, Managing Director of L’Oréal Pakistan said on the occasion: “INOA is indeed a revolution in hair-color, bringing the most innovative technology to the world of hair colour. We in Pakistan, take pride in being the world’s foremost company in coloration, to launch INOA and lead the professional salon market.” Similarly, Sadia Shah, General Manager, L’Oréal Professional Products Division, said; “We are immensely proud to bring INOA to Pakistan. INOA has truly
revolutionized hair colour with its breakthrough ODS2 technology. It has been a global success with more than 50 million hair colour treatments done worldwide – with INOA, Pakistani women don’t have to worry about colouring their hair or potential damage as INOA is ammonia-free and still gives up to 100% coverage for white hair and
a tremendous shine! INOA really is the colour of the future!” Having said enough about my personal experience with the product, I simply conclude that for someone who had not anticipated using hair dyes, I have fallen in love with the product and have no anxiety about weak roots or any other hair troubles.
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Books
Not so perfect, indeed Sometimes it’s alright to judge a book by its cover By Nadia Khawaja
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ost of the well-known Pakistani novelists are conscious of their identity as South Asian writers and their stories consequently carry an underlying social commentary on their culture, the polarized class structure or the absurdity of the cities they grew up in. The prospect of reading a young adult novel that did not focus on ‘in demand’ subjects such as terrorism, obscure cultural rituals, exploits of politicians or the proverbial crispness of a perfect samosa, appeared to be a pleasant one. Here was a young girl venturing into the untapped goldmine of young adult fiction; a genre that many teenagers turned to in order to find a solution for their woes or purely for leisure purposes. Contrary to the popular proverb “never judge a book by its cover,” the shocking pink cover liberally doused with the word ‘perfect’, perfectly epitomized Tanzila Khan’s novel titled, ‘The Perfect Situation.’ The author’s inexperience and a desperate need for an editor is apparent from the opening note of the novel that is marred by basic grammatical errors – “the sweet sixteen journals was incomplete.” While the inability to master simple English was off-putting, I soldiered on, hoping raw substance would compensate for bad grammar. The opening scene introduces the reader to the protagonist Javariya, a slight
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fifteen year old with the propensity to talk a lot. Having recently moved to Lahore, she is seeking admission to a new school, and by extension, a brand new life. The language, at first, seems colloquial and inviting, and perhaps the strongest moments in the novel are Javariya’s casual, often humorous, insights into places and people – “why must all principals look like pastries?” Yet a lot of the conversation seems stiffly contrived; there is a superfluous use of formalities and misplaced slang that is either dated or hasn’t made its way into common The Perfect Situation Pakistani discourse By Tanzila Khan as yet. Furthermore, Publisher: Ilqa Publications, Khan takes the wrong 12-K, Main Boulevard, Gulberg II, Lahore kind of liberties for the Pages: 118; Price: Rs395/fiction she has written. In her account, Lahore is chilly in September story with plenty of mishaps, teen and private schools routinely use angst, heartbreaks and a fantastic buses – information that seems at birthday party. Holding true to odds with the otherwise realistic the aesthetic of its cover, the novel portrayal of the city. Or perchance is filled with a number of pop her misguided version of reality culture references in an attempt points to Khan’s alienation from to remain relevant to its target her character’s audience. However, the allusions As far as the plot is concerned, to Coldplay and Harry Potter have it is a run-of-the-mill coming of age the effect of excessive seasoning on
an unappetizing dish. In addition to an unwarranted number of references, there are far too many characters whose stories could have served as interesting subplots but are left incomplete – there is Sara, a principled teenager coming to terms with her father’s addiction, the woestricken Laila Aunty who nearly commits suicide and Javariya’s love interest Omar, who is living with a bi-polar disorder. Yet, such stories of substance are left stunted and are traded in for musings about makeup and trite conversations, leaving the reader frustrated and confused. In contrast to many young writers who attempt to make-up for inexperience through verbosity, the simplicity of Khan’s language is agreeable, yet at times, the plot seems wholly convoluted. When writing for a young adult audience, contemporary authors have to be at the top of their game as they face strong competition in the age of social media. During our parent’s generation reading a book was a pleasurable way to pass one’s time, but today, a novel has to compete with Facebook and smartphones, Playstations and IPods – not to mention school and extracurricular activities. The author must be able to capture the readers’ attention from the first page and sustain it until the end. With new genres cropping up, young adults are willing to read about just anything, from vampires, and alternate realms to the lives of Park Avenue socialites – but they will not bear anything that is extraneous.
15 Questions with Tanzila Khan The Change maker Lounge interviews the author of the first Pakistani young-adult novel, ‘The Perfect Situation’ about what inspires her journey as a novelist. Q: Who is Tanzila Khan? A: Tanzila Khan is a change-maker. Q: How and when did you come about writing your book, titled ‘The Perfect Situation’? A: I started writing this book when I was fifteen. Q: What are some of the challenges
you faced while writing your book and getting it published? A: I guess the biggest challenge was managing time along with my studies not to mention listening to my mum’s scolding for spending extra hours on the computer. It took me seven years to get it into the market but I am happy. Everything happens for the best. Q: Why does the genre of young adult novels remain largely untapped by Pakistani writers? A: I was aware of this fact when I started writing and this was exactly something that I wanted to challenge and ‘change’ so I produced a young adult novel for Pakistani youth that they could easily relate to. I believe Pakistani writers need to produce more and more work for our youth not just for their entertainment but to inspire them to read as reading is not just a hobby but a very powerful exercise for the mind. Q: Do you wish to pursue writing as a professional career? A: Why not! I look forward to polishing my skills further and hope to produce some great work for the world Q: A writer’s work is usually reflective of her/his own journey. Is Javariya’s coming of age story similar to your own? A: (Laughs) Not at all. I wish I had Javariya’s life. She has an amazing collection of accessories and is coming to appreciate life at an earlier stage than I did. But I can say that her journey is a part of mine. While I was writing about her, I was inspired by hundreds of girls who are a part of my life even today. So I am looking forward for them to find themselves in the book while they read about Javariya. Q: Your version of Lahore is a bit different from reality—it isn’t chilly in September, private schools don’t really have buses? Does fiction allow you to create your version of the city? A: Luckily for us there aren’t any governments in our imaginations and neither should we allow that. I highly recommend giving wings to your imagination and letting it take flight to wherever it wants. I still remember painting the sun pink in my kinder-garden. As a writer, I
tend to write abstractly at times to make my readers enjoy countless possibilities. Q: Is Javariya’s character based on anyone in particular? A: Not at all! The character was developed keeping the average Pakistani girl in mind, Q: Can we expect more novels from you in the future? A: Of course! The Perfect Situation Book 2 and 3 are in the making along with a book about changemaking. Q: What inspires you to write? A: I think the fact that I have the ability to write and inspire people. Q: Who are your favorite authors/ novels? A: All of them. I have read around 50 to 60 writers and authors ‘til now. Not a single one has ever made me feel bored. Q: Where do you picture yourself in ten years? A: No matter where I am I see myself as a well read author with solutions and ideas for the coming generation. Q: Who is your ideal reader for this book? Were you writing for a specific audience? What do you hope they take away from your novel? A: To be very honest, the book is for everyone. If you I ask me I would recommend it to mothers, daughters, fathers, brothers, friends and teachers. I am sure everyone will find something for them in this book and the upcoming ones from the same series. In fact I look forward to hear what they take from the book. Q: To what other writers would you compare your writing style? What books influenced you to become a writer? A: I think my writing style is close to a few bloggers that I have been following since a very long time. Their openness about life gave me a lot of food for thought. Plus, it was my creative writing class in school that inspired me to become a writer. When I was 8, I wrote my first short story based on a bear named Belly. Q: Are you currently working on a book? A: Yes. The Perfect Situation, Book 2 ‘Enlightened Eighteen’
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