Truck Art – Quintessentially Pakistani

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truck art bags, Truck art in Pakistan, truck art jewellery, truck art shoes

While truck art has been around for quite a while, it is only recently that this quintessentially Pakistani art form has found its way into Pakistan’s high-end couture, the collections of web-based websites that sell everything under the sun, as well as street fashion.

Truck art, characterised by vibrant colours, borrows various elements from different regions of Pakistan, including cut mirror work indigenous to Sindh and Balochistan, portraits of popular film actors, not to mention the picturesque mountainous terrains of the northern areas.

Here is how truck art is being used to up the glam quotient in ensembles: 

Clothing. Embroidered motifs of Lollywood and Bollywood actors, exotic animals such as peacocks and serpents, and vibrant natural elements such as waterfalls and flowers are increasingly being used in kurtis and T-shirts. Cheekier versions include the kohl-lined eyes of a woman coupled with lines of ‘truck poetry’ including ‘dekh magar pyaar say’. Bright coloured tassels and small metal bells (similar to ghungroos) are often used on hemlines to add drama.

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Gara Saris For Nauroze

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Chinese silk saris, gara, gara sari designs, Gara sari’s Chinese origins, Gara saris, Nauroz, Parsi traders from China, Persian New Year, spring equinox

Nauroze – the Persian New Year – is celebrated by the Parsi, Iranian and Afghan communities on March 21, and marks the spring equinox.

This year, Gara saris are back in vogue with a magnificently coloured Nauroz splash. These saris are gorgeous, hand-embroidered and unparalleled; the prices for the ‘real thing’ start off at Rs 1,500,000 and are therefore a luxury item which many can only drool over.

Mad About Marsala

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2015 Colour of the Year, Accent walls, accessories, Ayesha Shaikh, buckled belts, Burberry, cabinets, clutches, cosmetics, dining areas, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, eye palettes, Fashion, fashion runways, furniture, hats, interiors, lip glosses, lounges, Marsala, Marsala-shaded scarves, Maybelline, nail colours, nooks, Nude makeup, Pantone, red carpets, Revlon, Sephora, spaghetti Bolognese, stone studded bracelets, strappy heels, striped ties, terracotta, white-trimmed woodwork, Zac Posen

Think Marsala, and you may also think spaghetti Bolognese. However, with Pantone naming it their 2015 Colour of the Year, Marsala – a red-kissed terracotta shade – is set to colour our lives in 2015.

Here is how you can spice things up with Marsala this year:

Fashion. Well-known fashion brands, including Burberry, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana and Zac Posen, are using shades of Marsala in their 2015 collections, leaving you spoilt for choice. If, like most Pakistanis, you have a deep bronze complexion, your best bet is to wear it in a single-shade ensemble.

Accessories. People with lighter skin tones can use the colour to accessorise their outfits; Marsala-shaded scarves, hats, stone studded bracelets, buckled belts, striped ties, strappy heels and colourful clutches contrast well with neutrals such as teal or grey and are a sure way to catch a few admiring eyeballs every time you step out.

Marching Out From Peshawar To The World!

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$595, artisans, ‘Robert’, base, blue-fin trout, British, celebrities, chappli kababs, democracy, designer, developing countries, footwear, global corporations, headlines, inspiration, irrigation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, literati, naswar, neon, Pakhair Raghlay, Pashtho greeting, Paul Smith, Peshawari chappal, pink, pride, profits, publicity, railways, recognition, sandal, stripe, Subcontinent, Tariq Ziad Khan, unlicensed, website

The British often boast, with some merit, that they brought democracy, irrigation, railways and the blue-fin trout to the Subcontinent. Recently it seems they decided to take something back in terms of inspiration.

The world famous British designer Paul Smith launched a new $595 sandal called ‘Robert’. The sandal is identical to the ubiquitous Peshawari chappal, that hallmark of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), with the exception of a pronounced pink neon stripe around the base of the shoe. The launch had many a nationalist up in arms claiming that nothing screams “Pakhair Raghlay” (a Pashtho greeting) more than naswar, chappli kababs and the Peshawari chappal.

 

To Paradise For Wedding Bliss

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24-karat gold, antique jewellery, Ayesha Shaikh, bangles, brass, budget, chokars, dabka, December, decorative baskets, draperies, embroidered, fabric, fairy lights, gold, gota zari, handicrafts, Jewellery, jhoomars, jhumkas, kamdani, karigars, kundan, lehengas, marble, mayun, Mehboob Cloth Market, mehendi, paper trinkets, Paradise Market, rings, Saddar, Sarafa Bazaar, sherwanis, shoes, silver, tikas, wedding, zardozi

Eye catching ensembles

With the wedding season about to begin in earnest in December, a substantial number of people are frequenting Saddar’s Paradise Market looking for wedding essentials, be they quintessential sherwanis, vibrant lehengas, ornate jewellery or  eye-catching wedding decorations.

Dress Up Your Lawn

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anthropomorphic, Ayesha Akif, borders, brocade, Brooches, buttons, chinese, crystal, design, diamante, embroidery, exhibitions, fabric, Fashion, faux crochet, floral, from Indian, geometric, lace, lawn, motifs, Net, Pakistani, pearl, personalize, satin borders, screen printed silk, sequined, Silk, summer

Once upon a time, lawn was a just a regular summer fabric worn in an attempt to beat the heat of the long Pakistani summer. Now, it is a fashion statement and the highlight of the summer for most women, as they throng to lawn exhibitions even before the season begins.

This year, if you want to personalise and glamorise your lawn outfits, here are some ideas on how to do it:

• Brooches and buttons add instant zing to lawn, giving it a formal touch. Large crystal, diamante and pearl brooches are bold statements. Or, if you prefer subtle sparkle, opt for small buttons; anthropomorphic designs are very trendy.
• Embroidered motifs can make lawn appear more formal. Although many designer lawns come with a motif, you can opt for personalised ones; they are available at lace shops.
• Lace can do wonders even to the simplest outfits. From faux crochet to brocade, from embroidered to sequined, from geometric to floral patterns, from Indian, Chinese to Pakistani, options are endless. Lace comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from wide to narrow, so be prepared to spend a good part of your day at the lace wala.
• Net can be used to fulfil the shortfall of the 7.5 metre lawn outfits  which sometimes don’t allow for longer kameezes. Furthermore, net will give your outfits a retro look.
• Silk borders lend a luxurious feel to lawn outfits. Floral and geometric screen printed silk/satin borders and plain ones are available. Recycle left over silk from your other suits, and use them for borders and piping.

– Ayesha Akif

First published in the Adbuzzzz  Section of The DAWN National Weekend Advertiser on April 29, 2012.