THERE has never really been a conflict between fashion and tradition. Proving just this were Pakistani designers during a fashion show in Lahore this week who showcased on the catwalk their work that was inspired by traditional design. Pakistani fashion has always been about heritage, with designers bringing about a fusion of the West and the East in their designs. Most of the designs displayed by models were heavily embellished with traditional ornamentation on a color palette of vibrant tones of red, yellow, orange, etc. The collection featured a lot of gold and bronze embroidery. Kurtis were heavily embellished with a special focus on the neckline and the hemlines that gave definition to the garments. The length of the kurtis varied, with knee-length kurtis teamed up with lehengas (flared, floor-sweeping skirts) and those at mid-thigh length paired with ghararas (wide-legged pants that flare out at the knees). Going with the weather, designers also showcased kurtis in breezy shades and lighter fabrics. These were slender, slimmer and longer down to the knee, and were teamed up with pants.
