TFD Report
KARACHI: Based on historical discoveries, Pakistani dresses date back over 7,000 years ago to the Bronze Age. This was during the Indus Valley Civilization era when cotton was first cultivated around 3,000 BC in the Indus River Valley which is now present-day Pakistan. Pakistan’s geostrategic location also played a big role in the expansion of fashion and culture. The country is bordered by India on the east, Iran by the west, Afghanistan in the northwest, China by the northeast, and the Arabian sea towards the south. This has made Pak nation a great connection point for trade and civilization through history. But then, this has also made it a favourite invasion route for foreign countries through centuries, as well. Some of the past invasions, occupation, and settlement in Pakistan have involved diverse foreign cultures from Persians to Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Aryans, Dravidians, Greeks, White Huns, and certain Eurasian groups, among others. For the country, this has meant the marriage of many cultures with the fashion mainly a blend of both Afghan and Persian elements. Along with this, fashion choices in Pakistan have also been shaped by religious considerations. This marriage of cultures, as well as the religious undertones, explains why Pakistani dresses seem incredibly exotic.
Moazzam Khan was such a sensitive artist who was observing these factors very deeply and subtly. He started showing the essence of his art in the 90s, a time when there was no industry or organised thought to regularise fashion in Pakistan. Moazzam Khan’s universal skills started to give a new lustre to Pakistani fashion and the popularity of his designs among the people started to touch the sky. People started wearing his designs with pride on important occasions and this trend continues even after three decades.
When the Special Correspondent of TFD asked Moazzam Khan about the secrets of his art, he told “My crew and I discuss everything with depth to generate and produce a new trend, when something does well, it only challenges me into figuring out how I can do it even better next time. Besides, we are all aware of our own flaws, regardless of what people tell us, there are so many times when I make mistakes, and have to make changes. There’s nothing wrong with making a mistake, as long as we realise it and fix it before things get worse.”
In the early 1900s, sarees and ghagras ruled the scene alongside the shalwars, of course. After secession and independence, however, the Pakistani fashion scene longed for a distinct identity from its mainly Indian influence. Pakistani fashion became more liberal and tasteful around the mid-20th century.
Moazzam and his friend Rizwan started their brand “Rizwan Moazzam” in the 90s, with Moazzam taking care of the creative side while Rizwan took care of the business and financial affairs, Moazzam’s amazing creativity took their fledgling brand to the heights of popularity and the coutures designed by Moazzam started to gain unimaginable popularity among the masses. Later in 2018 Moazzam Khan separated from Rizwan due to some operational differences and launched his own independent brand with the name of “Moazzam Khan”. People who were already crazy about Moazzam’s artistic designs before did not care about this change and continued to wear Moazzam’s clothes as before.
The major achievement of Moazzam Khan’s creativity is the distinction of Pakistani identity from Indian. As mentioned earlier, Pakistani fashion underwent an identity crisis during the secession period which resulted in wearing clothing from Indian traditions. Now, Pakistani and Indian fashion is different and easily identifiable. Pakistani designers have this industry to call their own and Pakistani women have their own identity.
Pakistani Fashion in 60s & 70s:
During the 1960s and 1970s, Pakistani fashion experienced a period of growth and development. The Pakistani film industry, known as Lollywood, played a significant role in shaping fashion trends. The leading actresses of the time, such as Zeba Bakhtiar and Babra Sharif, became style icons and influenced the way women dressed. The 1970s also saw the rise of the mini skirt, which was popular among the young and trendy.
Fashion Trends in Contemporary Era:
Today, Pakistani fashion is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Designers such as Moazzam Khan, Sana Safinaz, Maria B are leading the way in modern Pakistani fashion. Pakistani fashion has also gained international recognition, and designers showcase their collections at fashion weeks around the world.
Moazzam Khan’s success fundamental:
Moazzam says “With all that has been going on over the past year or so, many of us have been “falling down” in so many areas of life and business. When you fall, do you get back up right away? When you fail, do you learn from it and take it as an opportunity to grow? Many of us, myself included, struggle at times with learning from our failures. We sometimes give up as soon as we fail, not realising that what is necessary is to push a bit harder until we reach a breakthrough. We all know how to do this – fall and get back up. Assuming we know how to walk, which most of us are fortunate enough to do, we went through this specific and miraculous experience ourselves when we were very small. We’ve also gone through it in a figurative sense many other times as we move through the ups and downs of life, especially recently. The question isn’t whether or not we’ll fall; the question is will we be bold enough to get back up again? Some of my life failures felt like falling from a mountain. Ironically, I found my strength there – in the pit of failure. I was even more motivated to succeed. And I did it because of my mindset. I was struggling badly but I never let anything bring me down that lost my spark. Your spark and desire to succeed must be greater than anything else. How would you do that? By constantly working on yourself. That should be your goal after which success comes naturally. After all, success will not be something you go towards, it will become just a side product of your commitment to improvement. The most important thing will be how it feels to you.”
The fashion business in Pakistan is vibrant and diverse, and it has expanded dramatically in recent years. The fashion industry in Pakistan is a reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage and has a unique identity that sets it apart from other fashion industries around the world. According to published research, the textile industry is the most important in Pakistan for economic growth. The textile industry in Pakistan contributes around 65% of our national exports, 46% of industrial production, 38% of industrial employment, and 9%of the Gross National Product. The textile industry plays a pivotal role in Pakistan’s economy accounting for 8.5% of GDP, 46% of the industrial output, 54% of the total export earnings and 38% of the country’s workforce. Revenue in the Fashion Market is projected to reach US$972.90m in 2024. Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 4.87%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$1,234.00m by 2029.
One of the factors that have contributed to the growth of the Pakistani fashion industry is the increasing popularity of fashion weeks and shows. These gatherings give designers a venue to display their work and make connections with potential customers. In recent years, Pakistan has hosted its own fashion weeks, including the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) Fashion Week, which has become a major event in the industry. The expansion of e-commerce platforms and online buying is another aspect that has helped the Pakistani fashion sector flourish.
Moazzam Khan has travelled to different continents of the World to introduce his colourful creativity and gained lucrative feedback from a large number of international clients. He introduced his designs in untapped markets of Europe, Middle east, Australia, Central Asia, UK & US. Moazzam Khan’s dresses are renowned for their magnificent embroidery, a testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage. Detailed thread work and traditional hand embroidery techniques like chikankari and Zardozi decorate these dresses, adding a layer of timeless elegance and artistry. Embroidery and craftsmanship on dresses have been a significant part of fashion for centuries. The delicate and intricate designs on fabric have been admired and cherished by people worldwide.
Why are Moazzam Khan’s Dresses Online in the UK Famous?
Pakistani dresses have carved a niche for themselves in the UK fashion scene, captivating the hearts of fashion enthusiasts. The allure of Moazzam’s dresses goes beyond borders, and the online platform has played a pivotal role in making them accessible to a wider audience.
Moazzam Khan’s Famous Quotes:
“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.” | “Fashions fade, style is eternal.” | “Stay true to your DNA, But keep reinventing yourself” | “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contact is so quick. Fashion is instant language.” | “Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered.” | “The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress.”
