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Lounge Loves Kate Moss’s signature lipstick The Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick Collection by Rimmel London is the latest line of lipsticks hitting the market. The collection of striking shades infused with Black Diamond brings a unique formula which boasts lightreflecting power. Packaged in a chic matte black tube captures Kate Moss’s staple Rock’n’Roll fashion. The collection offers each shade with longevity and pigmentation from cherry reds to bright corals. Samia & Azmay Shahzada’s flagship store Entrepreneurs and pioneers in the Pakistani designer footwear industry, Samia & Azmay opened their brand new store in the culturally diverse city of Lahore located at one of the city’s premier shopping malls, Kingson Boulevard Mall. Their sixth standalone store stocks all Samia & Azmay Shahzada designs including their latest spring/summer range.
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Cotton and Cotton’s Slim Collection ‘Cotton and Cotton’ has introduced its Slim Collection. The collection consists of balanced aesthetics inspired by the worlds of both street wear and menswear. The shirts come in buttondown form with an array of details like contrasting fabrics, patterns and stitching, as well as patch pockets of unorthodox shapes and sizes. Another breakthrough in hair care L’Oreal Professionnel, the house of French hair dressing has unveiled yet another breakthrough in hair care technology with the launch of ‘Fiberceutic’ - available now across leading salons in Pakistan. Reversing the negative effects brought on by many years of brushing, blow-drying, styling, straightening and repeated treatments, hair rehab starts with Fiberceutic. With the temperature h i t t i n g new highs with every passing day in Pakistan, Fiberceutic also acts as a perfect solution for dry, hot and humid weather.
Interview
M Mashaal Moazzam – All about colours
ashaal Moazzam, a name synonymous with classic lines and unorthodox colour schemes was the brainchild of Mashaal. Starting with semi-formals; the brand gradually branched out into formals and bridals. The cuts and unusual colour combinations are the competitive edge that Mashaal Moazzam has over other design houses. Lounge was in conversation with Mashaal, where she told us about the beginning of her career, her design process, her take on fashion as well as fashion weeks and also what’s next for her. Q. Tell us something about the different stages of your professional career. A. After my graduation from PIFD it was all planned that I will be starting my own label. It took me six months to set up everything. I believe in the right marketing strategy. Making new collections, stocking at different stores in Pakistan is all part of my career expansion. Q. You are a PIFD graduate. Has it been a
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defining experience in your style and work ethic? A. Yes, being a graduate of PIFD has refined my natural talent. The institute just polishes your basic aesthetic sense. Q. What is your design philosophy? What is the focal point of your design process? A. My design philosophy is to create an outfit which is stylish with neat simple cuts. The motif placements and the choice of colours make an outfit perfect. The right colour choice can make or break an outfit. Q. Your definition of fashion is… A. Fashion is something which constantly changes but the important thing is how you perceive it. Wear something that suits you and your personality and not something that is trendy. Q. Who or what inspires your work? A. International designers and trends inspire me. Q. Who is your favourite fashion designer? A. They have to be Ellie Saab and Valentino. Q. What do you enjoy designing the most; bridals, formals, semi-formals or accessories? A. I believe I am a creative person who likes to design and dress people up. So whatever comes in my mind I enjoy doing that. Q. Why don’t we see you much on the fashion weeks? A. I believe there is a right time for everything. When I think I’m prepared for a fashion week you will see me there. Q. Many people feel that the fashion design market has been saturated with so many names coming in and people setting up home-based businesses and not to forget the numerous Fashion Weeks that are taking place. What are your comments on this situation? A. Yes there are too many designers in the market but not everyone is up to the mark. A lot of factors contribute to becoming a good fashion designer. Basic aesthetic sense
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with good fashion qualification can help you be a better designer. As far as these fashion weeks are concerned yes they should cut down on them and keep one or two. Standard of the shows should be maintained rather than just a couple of wealthy people showcasing their creativity. Q. How do spend your spare time? A. I spend most of my spare time with my family. We are very close knit people. Q. What are you working on currently and can we expect nationwide or maybe international expansion from Mashaal Moazzam? Also do you plan to step into menswear? A. After a successful exhibition in Islamabad, I stocked my outfits in Latelier a multi brand store in Islamabad. I already stock in Lahore at 10Q. Now I am all set for Dubai next month Insha Allah. Menswear is not yet on my list but you never know. Q. What will your advice be to women in terms of what or what not they should be wearing this summer? A. For summers chiffon is the best material to be worn as it can be worn formally. Go for shades of blues and peaches. Prints or light embellishment depends on the occasion. Q. Any message for Lounge readers? A. Be trendy and keep it simple.
Fashionista Fatima
Pakistan Fashion Week London 2012
The highlights
and the moment of truth
F
ashion is not limited to apparel and accessories but the way we dress and talk and the technology we use, the food we eat, our friends and the type of lifestyle we have, are part of it. The British fashion industry contributes nearly £21Bn to UK’s economy. Unfortunately, its importance in our society is underrated. Despite unfavourable circumstances, Pakistan has made its mark on the global fashion stage creating millions of jobs and bringing in foreign exchange. Pakistan is the second largest exporter of textiles, which shows that given the opportunity this industry has the potential to grow and contribute to economy. Pakistan Fashion Week London was an extension of this belief. There is no doubt it is Pakistan’s only liberal identity outside Pakistan and that too on such a big scale which can get even bigger if planned properly. Pakistan Fashion Week London, 26-27 May 2012 was bigger than last year with more than 30 designers and 60 models. It attracted thousands of significant individuals from both white and Asian communities including celebrities and buyers across UK. The designers included some of Pakistan’s biggest names in fashion like, Deepak Perwani, Maria B, Ammar Belal, Maheen Khan, Rana Nauman, Kuki Concepts and emerging designers Ali Xeeshan, Waseem Noor, Zainab
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Mushtaque, Roshan, Zainab Sajid, Naman Arfeen and the most promising new talent Batur. The featured designers also had a designer boutique lounge which allowed attendees to interact with designers and purchase items. Such events are a business platform more than anything else so we hope to see more international buyers from leading fashion houses and retail outlets across UK and Europe. I anticipate that PFWL team will focus on this important aspect next year. These events help to project Pakistan’s real and positive image to the world, educate, empower and encourage new designers, promote Pakistani Textiles and Fashion Industry and create auspicious business platforms for our young entrepreneurs. Like
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all other events there is room for improvement in different areas and the way team is working, I can only see it getting bigger and better. Adnan Ansari, the Founder of Riwayat Ltd, with his team, Chris East, Sahiba Kaur and Huma Tahir wants to raise the profile of Pakistani fashion, music and literature. The first of these events was Pakistan Fashion Week London 2011 and Now PFWL 2012. Events like PFWL should be applauded wholeheartedly. Fashionista Fatima Covered the entire event exclusively for Pakistan Today’s Lounge Magazine so keep watching the space as she will be bringing designer interviews, hottest trends, back stage gossip and a lot more.
Film
W
hile, ‘Snow White a n d t h e
Huntsman’ provides a dark take on the fairy tale from which it is inspired, Rupert Sanders fails to amuse the audiences with appropriate acting and script. Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron), who plans to take over the entire continent, learns from her Magic Mirror that she will be overthrown by her stepdaughter Snow White (Kristen Stewart), who will also surpass her as the Fairest of Them All. The only way for Ravenna to remain in power is to consume Snow White’s heart and achieve immortality. When Snow White manages to escape into the Dark Forest, the Queen summons a Huntsman named Eric (Chris Hemsworth) to kill the Princess. Eric, however, takes pity on
Snow White and teaches her unique skills in the art of war. With the aid of several dwarves and her childhood love Prince William, Snow White begins a powerful revolution to kill her stepmother. Kristen Stewart was successful yet again for an expressionless portrayal of a character, even the traumatic death of her parents or blissful love could not bring any sort of expression to her face. Snow White’s role was all about frustrated sighs until the finale where she comes out as a warrior. On the other hand, Theron as Queen Ravenna shows character development throughout the film but then again it is not the Queen who can drive the plot forward. However, it’s certainly admirable to see Snow White depicted as a strong, capable woman rather than a damsel in distress. The film is a one-time watch and that too only if you are a Charlize Theron fan.
T
he movie that started filming with an incomplete script is not the best movie of the franchise but certainly isn’t the worst (MIB II) either. The film does not seem very promising in the opening scenes of ‘Men in Black III’ with Partners J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) still battling aliens and bantering the whole time. However, the film picks up big time when Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement), one of K’s former adversaries, breaks out of his moon prison, travels back to 1969 and kills K. Now J has to travel back and save the young K (Josh Brolin) and prevent an alien invasion in the present. Supporting performances from Emma Thompson, as the new head of Men in Black, and the invaluable Bill Hader as Andy Warhol were good but brief. Barry Sonnerfield for the third time managed to showcase special effects in a manner that they blended in with the computer-generated visuals with practical effects and makeup. All in all, MIB III successfully fulfills the expectations of prior installments’ fans. The film has opened in 3D in Pakistan, but the upgraded ticket price really won’t be worth it since most of the scenes take place at night or in enclosed spaces, it leaves little room for film makers to create scenes with pop-out screen effects.
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Ali Zafar as Show Stopper
“Lifestyle Pakistan Exhibition, New Delhi”
Epitome of Indo-Pak Friendship
“S
iblings that are one soul, with two different faces... Similar in countless ways yet so different, a perplexing yet an exhilarating feeling as we entered India.” was the experience summary that one of our team members was quoted as he arrived back in Lahore after Lifestyle Pakistan. Countless efforts such as Lifestyle Pakistan have been made to bridge the gap to restore the beneficial bond between the neighboring countries with peace initiatives using mutual trade, commerce, lifestyle and entertainment as mediums. Lifestyle Pakistan a project of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan together with the Indian Trade Promotion Organization with J&S as the activity co-coordinators and organizers.
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The first of its kind, this four day showcase and trade exhibition took place in Delhi from the 12th to 15th of April. The exhibition was made possible with the help of our very talented and super organized Indian counterparts; Encompass and our logistic partners RE Rogers (India) and Raaziq International Limited (Pakistan). Lifestyle Pakistan was inaugurated by His Excellency the Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Anand Sharma at the Pragati Maidan. He was accompanied by Pakistani Commerce Secretary Mr. Zafar Mehmood, Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Mr. Tariq Puri, The Chairperson of the Indian Trade Promotion Organization, Ms. Rita Menon, Honorable Speaker for the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khosro and His Excellency The Indian High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Shahid Malik. At the invitation of Mr. Anand Sharma, the Commerce Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Amin Fahim also visited the exhibition in India. Lifestyle Pakistan was conceived after the ground breaking visit of the Honorable Commerce Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Amin Fahim to India in October 2011. In the rapid changing trade and business environment between the two neighbors, Lifestyle Pakistan was conceived in order to showcase the best of what Pakistan has to offer. Lifestyle Pakistan inaugurated in New Delhi and over hundred top exhibitors
In the rapid changing trade and business environment between the two neighbors, Lifestyle Pakistan was conceived in order to showcase the best of what Pakistan has to offer June 10 - June 16, 2012 I 43
from Pakistan showcased their products and their crafts in fashion apparel, home textiles, leather goods, furniture and marble handicrafts. Aside from the exhibitions there was a dedicated food court where Pakistan’s specialty cuisines were represented. In the evening, Lifestyle Pakistan showcased 11 fashion shows by the country’s leading textile and design houses, followed by dinner and a musical gala. Amongst the exhibitors, were Zamana by Seema Iftikhar, Ahad Home Signature and Indesign who showcased their interiors masterpieces to an over-whelmed and extremely receptive Indian audience. The four day food court was a big hit! The demand gave birth to the idea of a weeklong “Lahori Food Festival” hosted by ITC Mauriya and Sheraton. Pakistani handicrafts especially Onyx and marble products like chess, flower vases, figurines, spheres, lamps etc were sold out in the first two days. Lawn and Fashion apparel was the best seller, showcased by some of the renowned names of Pakistani fashion industry are Faiza Samee, Honey Waqar, Gul Ahmed, Nishat, Khaadi, Bareeze, Ensemble, Junaid Jamshed,
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Ittehad, Bonanza, Mausummery, HSY, Maria B, Asim Jofa & Vaneeza Ahmad’s V-Lawn. Termed as a very “positive message of peace” by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s (TDAP)’s Chief Executive Mr. Tariq Puri, the four-day extravaganza of Pakistan’s fashion, trade and culture not only captured the hearts of people from India but also left a much needed positive and peaceful impression about the rich heritage and culture that people on both sides share. “We are keen to translate the cultural and social affinity and the strong connect between the people of India and Pakistan into expanded bilateral trade and commercial relations. With Lifestyle Pakistan, we present Pakistan’s best to India and look forward to developing the synergies in areas of common interest” he said. J&S has been a strong endorser of the Indo-Pak friendship along with social, cultural and economical exchange via healthy mediums of trade, entertainment and events. Therefore,
it was evident that J&S would be a part of such an enormous step for the same and serve as a pivot point to achieve this long dreamt about exchange. With so much in common, we strongly stand for the fact that it is time for us to join hands and become a regional trade and economic powerhouse to be reckoned with globally! The Indian buyers, especially women, were bowled over by the widest range of the phenomenal designer lawn fabric and unique Pakistani designs. The response was so overwhelming that the most of the exhibitors had to call for more stock from Pakistan on an urgent basis to meet the sales demand during the exhibition. “The India fashion industry is rapidly growing, thereby offering Indian and foreign retailers a huge business opportunity. If all goes well, we are looking to open around 200 brand stores in India by 2015” said Zain Aziz, International Business Head at Sefam. The evening events added extra glam to Lifestyle Pakistan with
the presence of high officials, socialites and celebrities like Mr. & Mars Muzaffar Ali, an Indian film-maker and designer (The movie Umrao Jan Ada is one of his biggest hits), JJ Valaya, Sonya Jehan and Manika Gandhi. The crowd enjoyed the mesmerizing and cheerful performances by Ali Zafar and Sanam Marvi: Ali is the new rising star and Sanam Marvi is known for her “Sufiana” singing, both creating serious waves in the subcontinent. Lifestyle Pakistan came alive after weeks of sleepless nights, hard work and extensive planning. Seeing it all come together, with hypothetical ‘danger red-flags’ being risen, doing damage control, running from one place to the next and coming home after a 18 hour days just to get ready and head out for nights of exploration cannot be described in one article and will surely require another. Entering the exhibition flooded with Indian buyers was the most exhilarating experience for us as a Pakistani, as Mr. Omar Satti stated: “This is for the first of its kind event to be organized in India envisioned by Mr. Tariq Puri, Anand Sharma and Mr. Shahid Malick. Together we aim to enhance trade relations between the two nations, presenting unique opportunities for business-to-consumer, business-to-business, business-to-government and government-togovernment interactions. Economic growth and progress is essential and there are no two ways about it. I urge all Pakistanis to support the initiative and be a part of what makes you a proud Pakistani.”
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Recipe
Teriyaki Delight Ingredients Marinade 1/4 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
Teriyaki chicken 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Cooked rice Scallion tops, cut into 2-inch-long strips (optional) 46 I June 10 - June 16, 2012
Method
1. Place the chicken breasts in a gallon-size zip-lock bag and add the marinade ingredients. 2. Press the air out of the bag and seal it. Turn the bag to thoroughly coat the chicken, then place it in a bowl and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight), turning the bag occasionally. 3. Remove the meat from the refrigerator 20 minutes before grilling. 4. Prepare a charcoal fire or set a gas grill to medium-high, close the lid and heat until hot; about 10 to 15 minutes. 5. Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the marinade. Grill the breasts until they are no longer pink inside, about five minutes per side on a gas grill. 6. Transfer the breasts to a cutting board and let them rest for about five minutes, then slice each piece at a diagonal. 7. Serve over rice, garnished, if you like. Serves 6 to 8.
Books
Different vocations,
select writings A Large White Crescent – Readings in Dialogue Among Nations: The Pakistani Experience Publisher: Apa Publications, Al-Latif Centre, Gulber III, Lahore Edited by: Toheed Ahmad Pages: 423; Price: Rs795/-
People, Places & Pickles By Dr. M. Aamer Sarfraz Published by: Mavra Publishers, Lahore Pages: 92; Price: Rs500/-
By Syed Afsar Sajid
D
r. M. Aamer Sarfraz and Toheed Ahmad are men of two different vocations; the former is an eminent Pakistani expatriate practising psychiatry in England while the latter has distinguished himself as a member of the Pakistan Foreign Service retiring as an ambassador. Both of them have a strong academic background with an avowed interest in multi-disciplinary pursuits like religion, anthropology,
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culture, history, and international affairs. Dr. Aamer has lately published a miscellany of his literary prose, both factual and fictional, centred on men and matters --- social and religious. Toheed Ahmad has anthologized and edited in his book some select writings from the past and present bearing on religion, civilization, culture, and politics. This review is meant to cover the two publications. . People, Places & Pickles Dr. M. Aamer Sarfraz is a creative prodigy. A clinical and research
psychiatrist by profession and somewhat reticent but philosophic by temperament, he has nurtured his creativity by diverting himself to education, literature, culture, philanthropy, and social uplift. He is currently based in Kent and at the Institute of Psychiatry, London. Although he is deeply engrossed in his professional pursuits; yet he retains an active contact with his socio-cultural ‘moorings’ back home which enables him to make a sizeable contribution to the collective good of the local community. He is an honorary
adviser to Chief Minister Punjab (himself a perfectionist with a deep-rooted instinct for talent hunting), on issues relating to health, education and social reform. The book of the above title is Aamer Sarfraz’s latest prose work in English besides ‘Meltdown’, a collection of his short stories, appearing in 1984, and an assortment of periodic articles on mental health and community uplift. The author candidly admits in the foreword: ‘Nothing in this book is original as ideas, concepts, thoughts and even words may be (sic) borrowed – I am guilty of putting these together.’ The contents of the book (13) are captioned thus: Withering Roots, The Prince, Pennies From Heaven, Polygamy – A Socio-religious Conundrum, Morbid Self – A Personal Tragedy, Suicide Among Muslims, Barking Mad, Iqbal & Ahmadiyya, Games That People Play, Sufi Method, Different Sorts, Understanding Revelation, and The Mating Game. Aamer Sarfraz writes with great felicity of style – his prose being racy but lucid. He is not a novice in the art of narration either. He blends the real and the imaginative in a harmonious artistic whole – simultaneously partaking of the features of both fact and fiction that serves to enhance his credibility (and acceptability too!) as a writer. Nostalgia sweeps his stream of consciousness. Places and characters that he reminisces about are vividly painted, so that the reader would easily surmise as to their actual prototypes existing in his memory via his observations or personal experience. Like many an insightful person around, he is also ruefully nostalgic about ‘Lyallpur’ that lost its ‘identity and probably the future’ too ‘with a single remit’ like what had earlier happened to St. Petersburg (changing to Petrograd, then Leningrad, and then back to St. Petersburg) in Russia. Even in England, he misses Lyallpur as ‘the anchor of my purest thoughts and the soul of my moral being’. Aamer Sarfraz’s style ostensibly carries a touch of the psychiatrist that he is by vocation. His diction relies heavily on terms and phrases used liberally in psychiatry and its allied discipline psychology. In Morbid Self: A Personal Tragedy, he seems to allegorize like in a fantasy, a popular political figure who is no more, rather uncharitably. His theses on suicide and polygamy among Muslims draw on the pragmatic slant of his mind. In Iqbal and Ahmadiyya, he has reaffirmed Allama Iqbal’s unequivocal stance against Ahmadiyya by quoting his famous proclamation: “…the socio-political organization called ‘Islam’ is perfect and eternal. No revelation, the denial of which entails heresy, is possible after Muhammad (PBUH). He who claims such a revelation is a traitor to Islam.” Barking Mad looks like an exercise in a quasiimpressionistic obscurity not matching the general tenor of the book. ‘Behavioural oddities’ forms the subject of Different Sorts which is an apt psychiatric analysis of some common human eccentricities discernible here or elsewhere. Lo and behold the humour in this sentence: ‘In Punjab, where I come from, it is not an uncommon observation to see men slip their hands down the front of their trousers to caress or search for the unknown while being completely oblivious of their actions’!
Understanding Revelation is a scholarly analysis of the phenomenon of revelation in the context of Islamic theology. The Mating Game is a kaleidoscopic overview of ‘the intricacies of body language in male-female interactions played out in an increasingly segregated and enclosed society’. Fact, fiction and faith are thus artistically homogenized in this book called People, Places and Pickles. A Large White Crescent A pseudonymous ‘HIMAL South Asia’ review says: ‘Parts of Toheed Ahmad’s A Large White Crescent is old wine in a new bottle, parts are not. Still,A Large White Crescent deserves to be read, for, it shows how Pakistani writers and opinionmakers view themselves and their country, how they locate themselves in the cross-currents of debate and discussion within the Islamic framework and, more importantly, where they draw their inspiration and intellectual sustenance for the trajectory they wish to forge for their fellow countrymen.’ Toheed Ahmad is a brilliant academic and a distinguished former diplomat. The book in view is a collection of ‘writings of historians, saints, scholars, poets, thinkers, painters and scientists connected with the ‘idea’ of Pakistan to document our long experience of Dialogue Among Civilizations’. Besides promoting ‘cross-cultural communication and intercivilisational harmony’, the book is also aimed to profit ‘the practitioners and theoreticians of the fast developing field of cultural diplomacy’. In Prof. Ahmad Hasan Dani’s opinion ‘the information provided here will be of great use to understand the present position of Pakistan’ and that ‘it should be read by all the scholars interested in the history of Pakistan’. This is in effect the leitmotif of the book in contradistinction to the ‘old wine in a new bottle’ paradigm invented by the ghost reviewer. The book is divided into eighteen chapters incorporating writings of or information on Sir Mortimer Wheeler (!890-1976), Muhammad Bin Qasim (695-715), Alberuni (973-1048), Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), Dara Shikoh (1615-59), Shah Waliullah (1703-62), Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali (1837-1914), Sir Syed hmad Khan (181798), Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi (1872-1944), Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938), Dr. S. M. Ikram (190873), Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948), Dr. Abdus Salam (1926-96), Abdul Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975), Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-84), Mr. Justice A. R. Cornelius (1903-91), Dr. Eqbal Ahmad (1933-99), and some newspaper articles (N.H. Hashmey and Taj Muhammad Khayal)/editorial comments on sports. The material is content-wise very rich and variegated. It gives the reader a flash traversing through ‘peaceful aeons and tolerant centuries’, of the ‘idea’ that eventually concretized into ‘Pakistan’ in the mid-twentieth century; and now in the twenty-first century, Pakistan has moved into a compelling saga of challenges and threats that need to be tackled with great pluck and sagacity in consonance with the imperatives of its heritage which in the words of the editor ‘awaits productisation’. The book is thus a welcome addition to the extant literature on Pakistan and its ideology tending to promote ‘crosscultural communication and intercivilisational harmony’.
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