Kaleidoscopic Karachi to bring the city’s diverse fashion identities to the runway

Karachi’s diverse character, contrasting aesthetics and rich cultural history are set to take centre stage at Kaleidoscopic Karachi,

Karachi’s diverse character, contrasting aesthetics and rich cultural history are set to take centre stage at Kaleidoscopic Karachi, a fashion event designed to capture the many faces of Pakistan’s largest city through clothing, photography and design.

Presented by Laam Fashion Week (LFW), co-founded by Laam and Design 651, the one-day fashion show will be held on September 26 at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVSAA). The event will feature an exhibition by renowned photographer Tapu Javeri alongside fashion presentations by Deepak Perwani, The Pink Tree Company, Khaadi, Wardha Saleem and Sana Safinaz. Nubain Ali will serve as the event director.

The concept takes inspiration from Karachi itself — a city that combines heritage with modernity, elegance with chaos and different cultural influences into a distinctive whole. Organisers say the event aims to reflect this diversity rather than present Karachi through a single visual identity.

Javeri’s photography exhibition will open the evening by tracing the evolution of Pakistani fashion over several decades. With an archive spanning more than 40 years, his photographs provide a visual record of the country’s fashion industry and its changing trends.

The exhibition will feature images of prominent figures from different eras, including Frieha Altaf, Atiya Zaidi, Bibi, Lulu, Sarah Akhtar and Aamina Haq. Javeri described the photographs as memories and portraits that document the development of Pakistani fashion over the years.

The historic venue will further strengthen the connection between the event and Karachi’s past. The Nusserwanjee Building at IVSAA was constructed in 1903 by the Parsi community and was later relocated from Kharadar to the school’s campus, with its thousands of stones moved individually. LFW executive director for designer experience and curation Maheen Kardar said the building was an ideal setting because it represents the city’s multicultural roots.

Kardar also highlighted IVSAA’s connection with Pakistan’s fashion industry. Designer Wardha Saleem studied and later taught at the institution, while Khaadi founders Saira and Shamoon Sultan also met there as students.

According to Kardar, bringing LFW to Karachi was important because Pakistan’s fashion industry has developed across different cities. She said Karachi has played a major role in the country’s design history and therefore deserved a central place in the fashion week’s narrative.

The participating designers will offer distinctly different interpretations of the city. Deepak Perwani’s The Cocktail Hour will focus on Karachi after sunset, combining glamour with dramatic silhouettes, flowing drapes, volume and contemporary styling. Its colour palette will include burnt orange, rust, ochre and muted gold.

The Pink Tree Company, meanwhile, will present a collection rooted in traditional craftsmanship, featuring handwoven fabrics, embroidery and block printing. Designer Mohsin Saeed said the collection would celebrate Karachi through a combination of ethnic and contemporary silhouettes.

Wardha Saleem will take a more architectural approach, drawing inspiration from Karachi’s landmarks and historic neighbourhoods. Her collection will reference locations including Saddar, Burns Road, Radio Pakistan, the historic tram station and the former Ritz Cinema.

Together, the collections aim to present Karachi as a city of contrasts, where history, culture, craftsmanship and modern fashion come together in a single, evolving identity.