Tradition meets modernity at LAAM Fashion Week Day 2

LAAM Fashion Week Season 2 continued in Lahore on October 24, bringing retail brands, high-street labels and established designers together for three runway presentations. Day 2 featured a mix of traditional craftsmanship, contemporary silhouettes, bridal-inspired fashion and experimental design.

Co-created by LAAM and Design651, the event aims to connect Pakistan’s fashion industry with digital retail and wider consumer access. The platform combines runway showcases with online discovery and shopping through its digital channels.

The second day opened with the LFW Retail Runway, featuring Allure by Izna Hamza, Truba and ALLYS. The second show, LFW Edit, presented collections by Hathghar, Beygum Bano, Almirah and Collected XX. The Designer Showcase concluded the day with Parishae Adnan, DUNO by Hassan and Yahsir Waheed, Emraan Rajput and Jugnu Studios by Hussain Rehar.

The event is being livestreamed through the LAAM app and website, while ARY Plus is serving as the official OTT partner, allowing audiences to follow the runway beyond the venue.

Allure by Izna Hamza opened the first presentation with Heritage Reimagined, a collection that blended cultural references with contemporary construction. The designs explored how traditional aesthetics can evolve through modern silhouettes, textures and detailing.

Truba presented an occasion-wear collection featuring lehengas, anarkalis, shararas, ghararas and straight-cut kurtas. Its colour palette ranged from wine, crimson and mustard to teal, sage green, blush pink and deep plum. Embroidery, floral motifs, metallic threadwork and ornate borders brought traditional South Asian formal dressing to the runway.

ALLYS showcased Diwani, a collection inspired by Pakistani wedding traditions, royal architecture and heirloom jewellery. Deep maroon, ruby red, antique gold, ivory and champagne featured prominently. Zardozi-inspired embellishments, pearls, crystals and elaborate borders highlighted the collection’s emphasis on craftsmanship and formal elegance.

The Retail Runway continues the platform’s focus on helping retail-ready businesses strengthen their consumer-facing identities. It builds on the Ramp Readiness Programme introduced during the first edition, connecting manufacturing and retail capabilities with fashion presentation and market access.

The second show featured brands exploring different interpretations of South Asian fashion, from traditional textile techniques to modern street-inspired design.

Hathghar presented Khazana: A Tale of Craftsmanship, featuring sarees, kalidar kurtas, ghararas and churidaars. Handblock printing, handloom weaving, beads, tassels and handmade details gave the collection an artisanal character. The recurring bindi-inspired polka-dot motif added a distinctive visual element.

Beygum Bano introduced Dynasty, Untamed, a collection built around the contrast between regal sophistication and untamed natural imagery. Deconstructed fabrics, animal patterns and botanical elements explored the relationship between structure, heritage and individual expression.

Almirah’s Takhayyul drew inspiration from nature and imagination. Earthy browns, forest greens, deep blues and muted neutrals shaped the collection, while textured patchwork, embroidery and abstract motifs added depth. Relaxed tunics, wide-leg trousers, oversized jackets and flowing outerwear gave the looks a contemporary feel.

Collected XX presented The Shah Alam Archive, a Fall/Winter collection inspired by the colours, textures and everyday life of South Asian bazaars, including Lahore’s historic Shah Alam market. The designs combined utilitarian textiles with vintage materials and hand-embellished panels, some more than three decades old. The collection brought everyday references into conversation with traditional craftsmanship and archival fashion.

The final runway presentation brought four distinct creative approaches to the event, spanning womenswear, contemporary craft, menswear and unconventional design concepts.

Parishae Adnan presented Ikhtiaar, a collection centred on women’s agency and self-expression. Black and charcoal grey formed the foundation, complemented by metallic embellishments, chains, oversized medallions and statement jewellery. Sculpted waistcoats, voluminous trousers, dramatic gowns and sweeping skirts combined structured tailoring with fluid movement.

DUNO by Hassan and Yahsir Waheed explored ways to adapt traditional Pakistani craftsmanship for contemporary wardrobes. The collection reworked heritage stitches, weaving techniques and handcrafted details into modern kurtas, coordinated sets and statement pieces. Its design philosophy brought together local identity and global influences, with a focus on making traditional techniques relevant to present-day lifestyles.

Emraan Rajput’s After Dark offered a dramatic take on modern menswear. The collection featured Korean-inspired and Renaissance-style jackets, long winter coats, formal suits and oversized streetwear silhouettes. Wool fabrics, distinctive cuts, layered proportions, sequins and intricate threadwork created a visual contrast between classic tailoring and contemporary rebellion.

Jugnu Studios by Hussain Rehar closed the day with RABBITS WITH FLOWERS. The collection explored oddities, unexpected encounters and the freedom to follow curiosity rather than a conventional design narrative.

Season 2 continues LAAM Fashion Week’s focus on bringing different parts of Pakistan’s fashion industry onto a shared platform, from retail businesses and high-street labels to independent designers.

The event is powered by Haseens and Skynet, with ARY Digital Network as the official media partner, SALT as food partner and Mercantile, an Apple authorised distributor, as an associate partner.

The wider team includes HSY as event director, Nabila and N-Gents as backstage partners, Zero Makeup and Nabila Haircare as beauty partners, Maheen Kardar overseeing designer experience and curation, JBnJaws handling event production, Lotus serving as strategic communications partner and AI Solutions providing livestream and connectivity services.

Through its runway-to-e-tail model, LAAM Fashion Week aims to connect fashion presentation with digital audiences and commercial opportunities while giving retail brands and designers a platform to present their creative identities.