On The Ramp

For the last five years Pond’s presents The Lustrous Runway has gained immense popularity among Dhakaites.  A calendar of fashion events for the most prominent and talented young fashion designers, this is an initiative taken on by Infinity Event Management. The idea of this now prestigious fashion event was conceived in 2010 by Ali Faiyaz Shoumo & Karishma Khan and brought to life then on a smaller scale with a limited budget. By 2012 their hard work paid off. On seeing the tremendous response, Pond’s agreed to come on board and take this platform to a larger scale. Pond’s along with Infinity strives to give these designers a dream platform to showcase their talent and to take the fashion industry of Bangladesh to the next level.

The 5th Edition of the show this season was held on Friday 28th November at Radisson Ballroom. This time around the event showcased seven renowned designers:

Nuzat Nawar was the youngest designer participant in the show who worked with shades of grey with free flowing cuts and long dresses. Nawar has always been fascinated by attire. She feels the clothes we wear are an art form for self-expression. Also, her collection isn’t prejudiced to body sizes. Women of all shapes and sizes can sport her clothes and look stunning. Nawar’s dream is to make NUZAT NAWAR a leading fashion line both home and abroad.

Nova Genuine Swarovski’s main goal is to give fashion conscious women in Bangladesh something new and unique. That is why designer Farzana Nova chooses to work with Swarovski Crystals. As it’s a manmade crystal, its cut and shape are totally different from the other stones. In the runway collection she concentrated on floral designs with mild colors. She believes that the blooming flowers reflect the growing empowerment of women in our society.

Paera participated in this platform for the third consecutive time where Nawshin Khair, the designer, had introduced her winter collection which emphasized on ensembles made with pure jute and cotton blend jute. Khair also launched a new bag line, Kaaruj, at the event. The core objective of Kaaruj is to offer sustainable fashion and lifestyle products The aim of Kaaruj is to promote and explore the potentials of the art and the artisan of Bangladesh.
Second time participant designer label, Kimaya Design Studio is already set high on the fashion pedestal. They have carved a niche for themselves in the fashion industry for their designs which range from intricately embellished formals to refreshing trendy block prints for a more casual look. Kimaya has showcased their marvellous designs on the runway. Their festive collection in classic black with splash of eye catching colorful hues, unique cuts and beautiful design embellishments made everyone fall in love with the line.

Studio Omana epitomizes design, class and style in an affordable and trendy range. From smart casuals, to custom made outfits, they cater to each and every type of woman and her needs. The jewellery showcased on the runway was by Sasha Exclusives.

Sasha Exclusives thrives to introduce the craftsmanship of silversmiths of Bangladesh right here at home and all over the world. Its inspiration of making jewellery has been, and still is, an exciting and intense experience.

The brand Sarah Karim for Esqué is an extension of Al Ehsan which was launched by her grandmother, Mrs Halim, almost 35 yrs ago. The artisans working for the brand therefore have decades of experience specializing in detailed zardozi, kundan work, gotapatti and embroidery that dates back to the Mughal Era. Such timeless artistry juxtaposed with modern cuts and designs is the hallmark of a Sarah Karim outfit. Pond’s presents The Lustrous Runway powered by BMW was a tribute to the artisans and showcased the designer’s exquisitely worked pieces in hues of the sky.

“Purvi Doshi”- the label by Purvi Doshi is an inspiration, which combines traditional techniques with contemporary designs and even some very modern ensembles. Doshi has transformed into a regular feature at many editions of Lakme Fashion Week’s and other popular exhibitions in India and abroad. The audience experienced the intricate embroidered motifs, glasswork and colourful symbolism from nature in naturally woven purely indigenous fabric “khadi” which has been used sparingly on contemporary garments. To enhance the appeal of the show, Infinity brought the gorgeous Malaika Arora Khan and Bangladeshi Shishir Al Hassan as celebrity showstoppers for the event. Malaika Arora flaunted the runway with a gorgeous outfit by Sarah Karim and dazzling jewellery by Gitanjali. On the other side Shishir looked exceptional in Purvi Doshi’s “khadi” worked outfit. Karishma Khan and Ali Faiyaz Shoumo from Infinity say, “it is always easier to pass on a message through a celebrity showstopper.” Previous editions saw Soha Ali Khan & Neha Dhupia grace the platform. The event was sponsored by Pond’s and powered by BMW. Co-sponsors included MasterCard, Jet Airways, Gitanjali, Oriental Group, Villa Shanaya. The event partners were The Orchard Suites, Prive Spa & Salon, Elite Force and Apnar Ticket.