Karachi: Lawn suits are ideal for warm weather, it is all about flaunting prints, designs, colors and everything else that is vibrant on all occasions. Usually lawn suits are worn for informal and/or semi formal occasions and has become a big deal as part of Indian ethnic spring collections in the last few years.
We can see many of the lawn-crazed shoppers, fighting for their favorite suits and captured for posterity on social media. Brand catalogues and images on social media easily filter down to local tailors and get replicated by many of the lawn’s enthusiast .
Lawn suits were brought into the mainstream ethnic Indian fashion market only in the mid-2000s. Since then its popularity has been increasing steadily as the ideal summer fabric for an Indian spring / summer ensemble.
The lawn market is a tricky, fickle one. Some rule the roost, many others suffer steep losses and yet, year after year, new contenders enter the fray.
Lawn suits in India have been inspired by the extensive collections of Lawn suits that are part of Pakistan’s culture and heritage. Here’s an overrun of what we’re looking forward to in designer lawn 2016:
Feeha Jamshed known as Feejay, a local fashion designer has designed the mass-friendly and affordable lawn suits with some utterly delicious prints of giraffes, zebras and eye-catching psychadelia. She said “Creating lawn has been very nerve-racking,”
Designer Shehla Chatoor says. “I am known for my love of luxury and detailed craftsmanship and this is also visible in my lawn, albeit within more economical parameters and with elimination of certain features, such as faces and animals.”
Nilofer Shahid who designs with artistic, extravagant passion. Her lawn debut, in collaboration with Ittehad Textiles, is expected to traverse the designer’s previous couture collections.
Zainab Chottani a successful as a lawn designer. Last year, she came on-board with lawn stalwarts Lakhany Silk Mills and the association continues with a series of lines to be released over the year. This time, Zainab is LSM’s sole designer and Jacqueline Fernandes is, once again, the face of Zainab’s lawn.
Zara Shahjahan describes the lawn as ‘mostly desi’. “There are ajraks, block-prints as well as vintage and floral inspirations,” describes Zara. “Lawn’s a uniquely Pakistani phenomenon and we wanted to keep it close to our roots.”
FTA Farah Talib Aziz (FTA) for Crimson has a well-known penchant for florals but the designer’s upcoming Crimson lawn is ‘not going to be a floral bomb’. They have incorporated some classic prints, emulating impressionist paintings and there is chikankari, gara embroidery and brooches. FTA debuted into lawn last year with Lakhany Silk Mills.
Elan: Elan lawn is just released once in a year and so, it is more high-end and much more formal, easily masquerading as evening-wear says Khadija Shah, the brains behind the brand.
Maria B. has built her business from retail stores. Her summer lawn collection stays true to the spirit of spring and is inspired by Parisian rose gardens, French architecture, Greek tile work as well as traditional elements.
Sana Safinaz never fail to deliver design that is beautiful, innovative and drives lawn devotees into a frenzy.
Sapphire: The high-street brand, Sapphire, whose director Khadijah Shah, creates prints that vary from pretty casuals, to luxe, for her own label Elan.
For Sapphire, Khadijah sticks to the designs that have already become a hit with the brand’s clients; florals and delicate patterns on a predominantly pastel color palette.
Faraz Manan’s lawn lineups are a visually pleasing play of color and embroidery, aptly transforming the designer’s luxe aesthetic onto unstitched cotton. Kareena Kapoor is once again the face for Faraz’s lawn which a gathered a loyal fan-following.
Faraz says. “Faraz Manan lawn is very luxurious, inspired by desert blossoms, sand, sunsets, oasis and architecture.”