Fahad Hussayn Interview

Fahad Hussayn

Interview

 

1. Please share with us your career profile?
I started off pretty early and discovered my flare for style and making fashion statements out of everyday ordinary wearables. However I found out that having a natural talent is not enough until and unless it’s honed and nurtured properly. After graduation from BNU as a textile major, and a journey of self learning I opened my atelier three years ago. After a year in the making I was discovered as the best upcoming talent in the eighth Lux Style Awards which proved to be an instant hour of recognition where everybody finally stood and started noticing my work. These days I am stocking up at Labels, Fashion Pakistan Lounge, L’atelier, the design emporium at Ammar Belal and various International outlets.

2. The business cycle is not easy to endure, especially for newcomers. Can you name a Guru who guided you?
Yes it is not easy but at the end of the day the real fruits of hard labor can only be enjoyed by those who have a true and genuine claim to it. There were many godfathers of fashion whom I met on the journey of self discovery but mostly it is by self learning and a trial an error method that the achievement can be made. Maram and Aabroo have always been a constant support throughout my career so far, Rizwan Beyg has helped me a lot generously so have a lot of other friends like Adnan Pardesy and Fayez Agariah- I consider myself very lucky that way I’m blessed with a very strong support system .

3. How do you choose the fabrics and related accessories?
I have a research team, which works on the identified and pre discussed themes. The fabrics and related accessories must compliment the idea and the ambience the outfit is going to exude. However, I do feel that we have to make do-with-whatever-choices we have available in our local markets for the dress to have market affordability.

4. When you see your dresses looking good on an individual, how do you feel?
Absolute pleasure and an unbelievable sense of satisfaction! It is mostly a labor of love from the minute the idea is conceived onwards.

5. In case of a dissatisfactory customer, do you accept criticism; ever lose your temper?
I used to have such cases in the initial stages of my career, back then I myself was learning,
I used to take care of them until they were satisfied, now sometimes it happened that some clients are just impossible they pretend that they not happy to either get more work done or some other reason so mostly I tend to ignore and accept criticism as long as it’s fair, and I lose temper very easily

6. Please share with us the highs and lows of your commercial career?
What thrills you?

7. Pakistan made textiles; do you accept the quality of the cloth?
With cottons yes definitely!- we are producing some of the best cotton and lawn around the globe.

PERSONAL

1. Your competitors in business, are they a threat?
I believe in healthy competition- everyone has a something different to offer- and when a client wants you they want you- threats are for insecure people – not my thing".

2. Ever consider changing your line of business?
Never- I love my job!

3. Are you training people eager to learn?
I always do and I never say no to help anyone who wants to learn about fashion and its trade.

FUTURE

1. How do you see your work, five years from now?
Better I suppose!!- And I’d like to see it Paris for sure!

2. The current state of economy, Is it bothering your plans?
Yes it is- any decline in the economy affects our business directly because we sell luxury. When people can’t afford to buy it directly affects the business and the plans off course.

3. Pakistan’s image abroad, certainly top designers like you can help to improve it?
We can, we do and there is so much that only fashion can do for Pakistan’s image- We as a nation need to become stronger, and help each other in improving our image as a nation and as a country.

Fahad Hussayn is now safely amongst the list of those young designers who not only have a lot of potential but also a lot of promise for the future of our industry.

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Yousaf Salli Exclusive Interview 

Certainly Yousaf Salli is a man of tact, a man with a heart of gold, physically handsome and exquisitely dressed, his straight grey hair neatly done and the visibly adoring looks reflecting the sumptuous originality of his ancient ‘Haveli’ surroundings.

Yousaf’s face lit up when he talked of his new discovery with a divine voice. Indeed Hina Nasrullah’s singing talent is phenomenal with an ample touch of divine benediction. At a very young age the incessant splendor is evident in Hina’s songs and awesome is her singing. Every aspect is melodious with an amazing mastery over pitch and scale.

Lucky for us, the nation and Hina herself, that she was provided a national platform by Yousaf to exhibit her skills. The world of music is going to benefit hugely.

1. What do you think about today’s Pakistani fashion?

It’s entirely on the wrong track. We are only trying to copy Indians and West. There is no originality, no cultural reflection. We think that we are becoming modern, but according to me it’s not modernity, its artificiality.

2. What according to you is the definition of ‘modernity’?

Modernity doesn’t mean adopting a western lifestyle by wearing western clothes. No Pakistani can carry western style, not even the top models because this is not originally our culture, this is not in our blood. Modernity according to me is, respecting each and every religion and its people. What kind of modernity is this where we are filled with racism filth from inside and glamorize our outer selves with international brands? At least I don’t call this ‘modernity’.

3. What do you think about Pakistani fashion Industry?

They are projecting an entirely different picture of Pakistan. There is nothing cultural, nothing typically Pakistani, what kind of Pakistani fashion is this when it’s not even projecting Pakistan. For me the best designer is Bunto Kazmi, Nilofar Shahid, who has always kept themselves connected to the cultural roots.

4. What role Media is playing towards Pakistani culture?

Media, I would say is playing a very important role in destroying our youth. For example, Government put a ban on Indian channels but what happened after that, Pakistani channels started playing Indian dramas. I mean what kind of generation you are building up with these Indian dramas? Totally crap! 

5. Do you think Coke Studio is doing a good job in portraying Pakistani culture?

Coke Studio is absolutely brilliant; they are doing a very good job. This is what you call modernism; they are revivingPakistani culture with modern musical waves.

6. Your Hawali has become the personification of Pakistani culture. What do you think is the future of this Hawali?

This hawali is not only my culture but also a gift of my forefathers and I just hope that my children and grand children take care of it and look after it the way our elders have done.

7. What according to you is a well-dressed man?

For me a well-dressed man is when he walks into a room, nobody notices him; there is nothing flashy and glamorous about him. I hate men who wear diamond watches and flashy studs. This is not manliness.

8. Why did you leave politics?

I left it because my thinking was entirely different from other politicians. Because I think in Pakistani political system, one is not entirely free and cannot do what he wants. I was having a feeling that I can do so much for Pakistan by remaining outside this political system so I left it.

9. Keeping in view current Pakistani political system, are you hopeful or not?

I am very hopeful. This nation only needs a leader. And I am very hopeful. Imran Khan is very good but he still has some raw edges, which need to be polished and he can prove to be extremely good for this country and for this nation.

10. Any message that you want to give to Pakistani youth?

Be original and be proud of what you are. Make your own identity as a Pakistani, not as a product of hybrid influences.

Celebrity INTERVIEWS

Emaad Irfani

Breath-taking, heart-hitting extremely arresting, Emaad Irfani is ‘hotness personified’ in the truest sense of the word. This tall hunk got a blend of Mexican and Spanish features that makes him stand out in the crowd of faces in Pakistani fashion industry.


1. It would be nice to hear about your earlier years, leading to how you took off as a model, who is considered hotness ‘personified’?


Well ! When it comes to my Childhood I was so much into sports even still I am I was born in Peshawar. My father was in the army so like all army families, we traveled and lived all over like Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar, Kharian, Pindi, etc. Eventually, in 1992, when I was 12, my father retired from the army. In 1996 we moved to Lahore where my father got a job in PIA (Pakistan International Airlines). So for the last ten years or so I have been in Lahore. I went to school all over Pakistan cantonment schools, army schools, and eventually I graduated from the Lahore Asia American School of International Academics. I did my BA from the National College of Business Administration and I did my Masters from LUMS. I have two older siblings, a brother and a sister, both are married with kids. I am the youngest and also the black sheep of the family (laughs).


2. What sparked your interest in modeling?


To be honest NO ONE! As I have told already, I was so much into sports and I always wanted to be a cricketer :) But my Khala (aunt) was really persistent that I should try it out. She told me to go and get my portfolio done. First I was like “Kai mai kiya portfolio banwaoon ga?” But she was the one who called up Ather Shehzad and got an appointment for me. So I went there and I got a portfolio done. That was in 2002, when I was doing my bachelors. After the portfolio, I slowly started doing shows for HSY, more shoots at Ather Shahzad, and that’s how it all started.


3. You have immense charisma and charm and nature has endowed you with a perfect height and looks and how do you combine these attributes with the requirements of the modeling profession.


It’s very erratic, especially for male models in Pakistan. It’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s all trial and error, you basically learn as you go. Like in the west models take their portfolio to agencies and that’s how the process works. And here criteria is much different, These days’ anyone can do modeling in Pakistan, because it’s quite easy, although height and looks are important for modeling but still I have seen some people with short heights can still get print shoots, but still it is better than before.


4. Can you name your gurus and your ideals?


I have always admired Good works but when it comes to my Gurus , I like working with HSY , Umar Sayeed as I feel more comfortable working with them. And my Ideals! umm My Father :) he’s my ideal.


5. All your professional efforts combined with gifts of nature, are they fetching reasonable returns in financial terms?


The first thing that needs to be done for a person who wants to enter modeling is to get a photo shoot done. The cost for a good photo shoot would be about Rs.40,000 ($700 approx). That’s a lot of money for someone who wants to start off, and of course there are no guarantees about who will make it or not. So you might just end up with a bunch of very costly pictures (laughs). Male models are never treated like female models; female models are paid much more than male models. I think it’s a universal thing. But then again there are a few established models that do well. This is something that you can categorize as a serious hobby; it is not a serious job at all.


6. What is the future of male models in Pakistan and what kind of effort does it take to stay at the top? Would you like any of your offspring’s to be a model?


Koi effort nahi! The most intrinsic thing is that basically you don’t have many male designers. The established ones are may be about five or six which would be Lawrencepur, Deepak Perwani, Hassan Shehreyar Yasin, Omar Saeed, etc. But now because of fashion school operating for the last ten years or so, more and more people are taking the plunge and coming out with their own label, some of them being men’s wear. So the future looks quite optimistic. Now there is the idea of a Pakistan Fashion Federation, there is fashion television, and fashion seems to be the new line for people.


There is a lot of exposure; people are investing, so it has become a more prolific business. As for the earning potential, when I started I was totally naïve, I didn’t know who was Nilofer Shahid, or Meeras or Hassan Sehreyar. When you are younger, the modeling industry seems very glamorous from the outside, but when you enter it, you learn the tricks and trades of modeling. This profession is not very lucrative; you cannot support yourself at all. You can make good money from commercials but people don’t understand that commercials and fashion modeling are two different things. For example, for commercials a person with a short height can do well too, but for fashion modeling, the catwalk has certain limitations.


7. Anything you want to Share with us?


There is a lot to share about but, yes I just want to tell Shawana Saad that I miss her a lot :) Now you must be curious who Shawana Saad is :P I would like to thank Shawana Saad for all her supports and love throughout my life as she always encouraged my work.


8. How do you stay in shape?


I have been an athlete all my life. I go to the gym on and off, but I keep myself busy in sports. There are guidelines that you need to work on. Well! My Sports and 1 hour workout (sometimes) makes me in good shape, I never go for dieting :) Like if you have a tendency to gain weight then of course you have to make an effort to maintain your weight. And like it or not, but looks are highly essential, you are selling a product by the way you look. So you have to work on your looks and style. When people say that models are all about their looks, all about themselves, very pretentious and all, they forget that that is what they are required to do!

9. Share with us some of your memorable shows?


Oh yes, there are many but it is always good working with Hassan Sherayar Yasin and all shows for him are really memorable but after so long I enjoyed my last show with Umar Sayeed where I was a Show stopper and I really rocked the Ramp ;)

10. Please pass on a message to those who are lured to this profession?


As in any profession, you have to learn to be patient and you have to be totally dedicated. If you have talent then no one can stop you. You need to have a good and positive attitude and, of course, that applies to any profession. And like I said, right now there are not as many male models, so that makes for less work for male models. The established 4-5 models get the best opportunities and work, but with the fashion institute, things are changing, so in the future there will be moremale designers and a brighter future. Then there are Pakistan fashion weeks. So there are many positive things that are coming up!