Lawn season moves up a bit every year. Summer is Pakistani fashion’s most happening season, with a very long summer, a beautiful spring, a festive Ramzan and Eid rolled into one. And when the Islamic calendar moves up 10 days annually, Ramzan, summer and hence lawn season does too. Not that we’re not feeling summer here in Karachi already. Temperatures are rising and so are lawn launches.
An unconventional little launch was held at the Karachi Parsi Institute this weekend, with AlKaram rolling out a runway over the swimming pool and an exclusive front row seated with a great view. The Spring/Summer collection – a medley of 22 prints – were revealed and here’s why it was interesting: not a single style conformed to the 3-piece conventional jora.
Styled by Tabesh Khoja, the show was a reveal on how to get personal with lawn, how to individualize it and have fun with it. One saw certain prints draped as lightweight summery saris and sarongs. There were summer dresses in all variations; I’ve always wondered why the modest summer dress isn’t worn more frequently in Pakistan. Tunics came out with fun solid trousers and their dupattas were also tweaked as jackets and overalls and loose kaftans. It was fun to watch, especially with the eclectic pool of models that also included certain influencers.
In order for these styles to catch on, it is important for fabric to be retailed loosely, not in precut and pre-composed prints. Someone who wants to wear that gorgeous blue and white sari Trinette Lucas walked out in, should be able to buy 6-yards of the fabric for it. Women should be able to have fun with the fabric. No one really wants to sign up for a 23-piece puzzle that your tailor will charge an arm and leg to decipher.
Fashion is always about the look and feel of an individual; style is best appreciated as an expression of one’s personality. What is meted out as a 3-piece set to be worn EXACTLY as offered in the catalogue can never be fashion forward. There are women who will always find comfort in conforming, sure, but one would like to think that Gen Z is a lot more experimental. Their approach to fashion is very different to what the last generation’s was.
Even our approach to lawn has evolved, despite many of us being old school. I’d always opt for a white or neutral (or at least solid) trouser and a smart tunic as opposed to print overkill on a shalwar kameez. I like my lawn to be lightweight and breathable, not weighed down by embroideries and frills and add-ons. And I prefer wearing scarves and rarely wear the conventional dupatta that comes with the 3-piece. So I avoid buying the 3-piece altogether.
Lawn will always be a summer staple in Pakistan; the heat and humidity won’t allow anything else. But there’s no reason why it should be boring. Time to take it forward!
