(Lahore, 03 September 2009) After the success of Ensemble and Ritu Kumar in Karachi, Zeba and Shehrnaz Husain brought both store and brand label to Pakistan’s cultural hub – Lahore, at the prestigious Mall of the Lahore to crowds of over 500 socialites, fashionistas, celebrities and style aficionados.
In attendance were designers Nilofer Shahid, Nickie and Nina, Sadaf Malaterre, Kamiar Rokni, Sara Shahid of Sublime, Ammar Belal, Faraz and Sundas Mannan, Zara Shahjehan and Mahin Shaikh. Models Aaminah Haq, Sabina Pasha, Natasha Hussain, Iffat Omer, Cybil Chaudhry, Mehreen Syed, Meesha and Nael Ahmed. Event architects Frieha Altaf, Omar Satti, Barry of the Wow factor, Aamir Mazhar and former model Neera Mansoor. Tv icon, Ayesha Sana, stylists Maram, Natasha Saigol, Anoushey Asad and Shehzad Reza and entrepreneurs Mehrbano Sethi of Luscious Cosmetics, Khadija Malik Hassan of Still Waters Publishing and Sanam Tasser of The Drawing Room.
The Ensemble fashion house brought to the city a palette of Karachi’s iconic and young designers including: fashion stalwart Faiza Samee, pioneer and multiple national award winner Rizwan Beyg, contemporary designer and Lux Style Award winner 2009 for Prêt a Porter Maheen Karim, acclaimed designer Nida Azwer who was also nominee for best emerging talent at the Lux Style Awards 2008, the Umar Batul Prêt line which is a collaboration between the maestro Umar Sayeed and magazine editor Batul Rizvi, evergreen designer Sanya Muneer, the edgy Lux Style 2009 nominee Sadaf Malaterre and Ensemble’s eponymous line.
Within the same retail space and in keeping with their fashion tradition, Ensemble also introduced their exclusive Indian designers to Lahore with a complete collection from Haute Couture guru Ritu Kumar and pieces by Tarun Tahiliani who is known for heralding a fashion and retailing revolution in India and Simar Duggal, model turned contemporary designer.
On opening in Lahore, Zeba and Shehrnaz Husain have said “We opened as a small boutique in Clifton some two years back and have grown to introduce new designers, re introduce classic designers in new avatars, showcase new collections and exclusive fashion lines, bring Ritu Kumar to Karachi in 2008 and stage fashion shows every season. Opening in Lahore is an extension of Ensemble’s vision, which is to help make fashion exciting, accessible and dynamic; and what better place to execute this vision – Lahore does after all share both a historical and contemporary relationship with high fashion and style and the immense support and hospitality shown to us by Lahore’s 500 plus strong crowd at our store was humbling. We are now planning to do our Ensemble Fall/Winter show in Lahore this year in aid of the IDP’s.”
The opening of Ensemble and Ritu Kumar featured signature, Prêt a Porter and Eid collections from all designers. The evening was managed by J&S3 and Lotus PR and Ensemble’s interior was designed by Architects Inc.
After the success of Ensemble and Ritu Kumar in Karachi, Zeba and Shehrnaz Husain brought both store and brand label to Pakistan’s cultural hub – Lahore.