Other than the fashion shows doing periodic rounds, the biggest newsmaker in the industry was the breakup between two design and/or retail houses.
Perhaps the one industry that has managed to withstand and survive the sociopolitical drama that the country went through in the past year is the fashion industry. The activity within the industry may have suffered a momentary setback due to the imposition of emergency in the country and after Benazir’s assassination, but it bounced right back on track soon after. The fashion shows that were held off were rescheduled and held in both cities - and continue to do so on a somewhat regular basis.

The Jami we know from various commercials and videos is broody, elusive and has some phenomenal projects to his credit, like Pal Do Pal, Chaye Chaye, Ankhiyan, Chal Dil Mere, Dhanni, Anjaane and many more. The Jami we don’t know is the man, who likes to speak up his mind, digs movies, is laid back. We take a peek on the other side of this director’s fence.

How does it feel to be known as the best video director in Pakistan?

I’m trying to enjoy it. Because when you’re at the top, people want you to fall down, which is why I get scared of being called that. But honestly speaking, we are not doing that well. Abroad, there are so many good short films being made by the kids. We’re doing commercials to run the kitchen, making music videos, and we try to balance both, which is why we try not to sell our souls in music videos. We should do justice to the song. In commercials, the clients will listen to you to an extent. Like in the Indigo commercials, they’ve given a very free rein, but you know that you have to sell something.

Farooq, a roadside vendor selling bun-kababs on Burnes Road, is not thrilled by the idea that his area would become an officially-recognised food street and believes it could benefit shopkeepers more than the thelaywalas.

“I have been here for the past two decades and never ran short of customers. The food street might help the expensive restaurants and shops to catch new clientèle for their costlier stuffs,” Farooq says.

He is one of many vendors having hot sale of their food varieties they offer on cheap prices on main Burnes Road and the congested streets cutting through this artery that has been a famous spot for gourmets for decades now.

This Saturday, November 17, Pakistani design heavy weights Nickie Nina and Kamiar Rokni participated in one of Lahore’s premier charity fashion events, ‘9 women’ , held by the Lahore Grammar School Defence Campus in honour of the Depilex Smile Again Foundation .

This was a charity fashion event with a difference. The event concept required active participation from an exclusive panel of Lahore ’s top designers who personally trained students in design, cut, silhouette, colour, manufacture and retail over a period of time. The culmination of this training for Nickie Nina was exemplified at the show in its ‘Motherhood’ segment where Nickie Nina’s student trainees showcased three of their own creations inspired by the glamorous design duo on a ramp modelled by fellow students along with one original Nickie Nina number modelled by Iffat Omar.

The Goethe Institute will screen seven feature films on its newly opened premises over a month. The film festival will begin on Thursday. The movies will be screened on Thursdays and Mondays at 7pm.

According to a brochure issued by the German cultural centre, the first film to be screened is titled Halbe Treppe (Grill point). Directed by Andreas Dresen, the movie focuses on estrangement and betrayal between two couples in East Germany.

A large number of people accompanied by their children visited a folk Mela, “Mount Fuji ta Mai Kulachi”, that was inaugurated at The Danishgah, here on Friday evening.

Sindh Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad, who had come on behalf of Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, inaugurated the festival organized by the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association. On the occasion, a visiting Japanase ceramist, Eiko Oto, gave demonstration on how to make clay decoration pieces etc.

The technique was almost similar to that used by local artisan, the only difference being the fast-moving electric wheel on which Mr Oto moulded the clay giving it different shapes. The local artists used their hand to rotate the wheel.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the reigning sexiest super model of them all? Chances are, the mirror would reveal Neha Ahmed, The pretty brown girl from Lahore with the gorgeous brown eyes, a perfect ten figure and the pair of lips that can’t decide if they want to pout continuously

Let’s start with a bit about how you started out?

Around four years ago I got my portfolio done from Ather Shahzad. It turned out to be better than I had expected and it was the first time that I realized that I might have some potential as far as modeling was concerned. Shahzad seemed to agree with me and I showed the portfolio to Tariq Amin. He really liked it and offered me a photo shoot.

The name “Maheen” is synonymous with impeccable cut, elegant design and a fresh look. In other words, the designs of Maheen Khan speak for themselves and so successfully no last name is required.

The friendly silver haired designer lights up at the thought of her work and enjoys quiet moments spent sitting with her karighars and watching a garment she designed come to life. Her clothes are renowned for their quality and finish. As the styles are chic and timeless, some of her clients are planning to open a Maheen seconds store. In the meanwhile, to the thrill of clients and fans, Maheen herself has reopened her Clifton flagship store after eight long years. In celebration of the exciting moment in her career, the designer talks with Fashion Collection about her love of her work and her love of life.

All the rooms and pavilions of the Mohatta Palace Museum buzzed with activity as a major exhibition showcasing the history of Karachi got under way on Wednesday.

Organized by the Mohatta Palace Museum in collaboration with the Dawn Group of Newspapers, the 90-day exhibition is titled Jewel in the crown: Karachi under the Raj 1843-1947.

The exhibition was first held as part of Dawn’s All about lifestyle show last year. In October 2004, a sneak preview of the exhibition was held which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. The organizers held a private viewing of the exhibition on Nov 24 which was attended by Mir Ali Murad Khan Talpur of Khairpur.

Actors bring to mind a degenerate breed, who can do anything that shock you. Because everything about their lifestyle is meant to be shocking, so you kind of get blasé and immunized about it all. But meeting Adnan Siddiqui is like a collapse of all these illusions and preconceived notions about actors as hangin-loose dudes all about wine and women. I was completely thrown off-guard when Adnan took off on a completely different tangent from what actors were supposed to (in my limited knowledge) and revealed his true side to me.

Who is Adnan Siddiqui?