London based fashion designer, Omar Mansoor, showcased his A/W 2024 collection at Paris Couture Week.
His collection was a collaboration with non-profit crafts organisation, Kaarvan Crafts who made it possible for the hand embroidery on his couture dresses to be made by rural artisan entrepreneurs of Pakistan.
The Grand Chancery Hall at the Embassy of Pakistan was the venue of Mansoor’s fashion show titled Culture to Couture.
The Collaboration between Omar Mansoor and Kaarvan, has extended the boundaries of embroidery and blurred the lines between craft, art and couture. The skills of traditional Pakistani practices have been underlined while ensuring that these have been expressed in contemporary ways.
The embroidery on the left photo was made by Taskeen Kousar, Artisan-Entrepreneur and the right photo by Shahjahan Begum, Artisan-Entrepreneur.
Left Photo by Komal Ghazaali. Right Photo by Isla Wallrock.
The collection is beige with embroidery in shades of blue. The base colour beige represents a desert.
Photos by Isla Wallrock.
The colour blue represents both the sky and the sea and is associated with open spaces, freedom. The motifs are inspired from ancient sign languages depicting meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity.
The embroidery on the left photo was made by Farhana Jabeen, Artisan-Entrepreneur and the right photo by Haseena Bibi, Artisan-Entrepreneur.
Photos by Komal Ghazaali.
Commenting about the collaboration Omar says, to see how the legacy of this craft can be carried on by female artisans and how they can become professionals and financially independent through this knowledge, is really inspiring.
The embroidery on the left photo was made by Zunerah Ashraf, Artisan-Entrepreneur and the right photo by Sajida Bano, Artisan-Entrepreneur.
Photos by Komal Ghazaali.
“Overwhelmed by the positive response and appreciation of indigenous hand embroideries made by rural artisan entrepreneurs of Pakistan from the renowned French fashion houses,” states Head of Communications Mashal Khan from Kaarvan Crafts Foundation.
Kaarvan Crafts Foundation was established in 2004 as a Not-for-Profit company. Since then, it has successfully carried out diverse projects in remote villages of Pakistan to empower and provide autonomy to women artisans by strengthening their skills, providing business capacities and market linkages. Thereby facilitating them in accessing better economic opportunities and improving their quality of life and that of their families.
The embroidery on the left photo was made by Humaira Yasmeen, Artisan-Entrepreneur and the right photo by Robina Javeed, Artisan-Entrepreneur.
Left Photo by Isla Wallrock.
Right Photo by Komal Ghazaali.
Karen Grace studied Personal Styling at the London College of Fashion and is Eclipse Magazine’s Fashion & Beauty Editor.
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