Almost six feet in height, Shanaz Siddiq has to safeguard her reputation. She is the designer that the world-famous crystal people, Swarovski of Austria, handpicked out of the other Pakistani designers. This was in 1998, when the company wanted to introduce its ‘hot-fix’ crystals that could be used to embellish Pakistani clothes.

Shanaz opines that although fashion in Pakistan is still evolving, there is a need to go into the international market and network with foreign designers.

LONDON (AFP) - Irish clothes designer Paul Costelloe opened London Fashion Week with a collection of pastel creations inspired by the Hollywood movie “Far From Paradise.”

He said his new lines were based on the film starring Julianne Moore because of its 1950s feminity and pretty colours.

Some 50 designers, from Katherine Hamnett and Paul Smith to a posse of up-and-coming talent, are sending out their new pret-a-porter collections at the London event.

Over five days, top names like Pringle, Nicole Fahri, Jasper Conran and Betty Jackson will be showing alongside smaller houses including Ghost, John Rocha, Gibo, Sophia Kokosalaki, Preen and Eley Kashimoto.