Meet Omar Mansoor, a young talented fashion designer who has been working hard to put Pakistan on the International fashion map. After obtaining his business degree, he decided to pursue his dream to become a fashion designer at the London College of Fashion. He offers the most luxurious fabrics and custom fitted clothing that adheres to a fusion of couture with eastern embellishments and western cuts. Read more to learn about his designs, and to learn some fashion tips as well!

PIC

Please introduce yourself to our readers:
I am a couturier based in London with Pakistani origin. I have represented Pakistan in London Fashion Week and Wimbledon Fashion Week, and have dressed celebrities and contestants for events like Ms. Top Model UK.

Tell us about your family and education.
I belong to a business family, dealing in textiles for last three generations. I did my MBA from Lahore School of Economics and then moved to London College of Fashion for further education in fashion.

You are an MBA, how did you get into fashion design?
I was interested in fashion since I was 15. I started doing fashion commercially along my studies as I finished my high school and launched my ‘Designer Lawn’ label in year 2002. I pursued a business degree before going for fashion studies because my parents believed that alongside passion and motivation, one should also know how to do business. I was applying my business education to the fashion career I was pursuing.

Did you family support your decision to pursue this career?

Amazingly, yes! I told my parents at an early age that I looked forward to a serious career in fashion. Thus, coming from a family that had expertise in textiles, I felt I was only adding value to what was done by my ancestors.

You work out of London, tell us what kind of clothes you make and who your clients are?

All my designs serve a purpose. I am not one of those designers who design extreme clothes in order to get the press. It is much easier to design clothing that seems overly creative and unwearable than to design real clothes for real people with unique elements that make them stand apart. I do fusion couture with western cuts and eastern embellishments for mainstream clients from every ethnicity. My prêt line is available at Ideas Store in Lahore, and lawn print exhibitions are held at Islamabad and Lahore.

What fabrics do you like to use and where do you get your design inspirations from?

My materials differ for different moods, themes and moments in time. I always work with very luxurious fabrics - silks, silk chiffons, virgin wools, dévorés, and jacquards.

We see a lot of designers turning to western wear and targeting the international market, do you think our designers have what it takes to be at par with big brands?

It gives me a lot of pleasure when I see Pakistani designers targeting the mainstream fashion industry at the international level. We have what it takes to make it in high fashion!

Do you plan to target other international markets like the US ? If so when?

I am looking forward to target more International Markets, including the Middle East and U.S. by end of 2009.

Designers are known to be expensive; do you think there should be an affordable line available for the masses? Should we expect one from Omar Mansoor?

Designers are expensive for their couture, as it refers to the creation of exclusive, custom-fitted garment for a specific customer and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish. It is ‘one of a kind’, and ofcourse that comes with a price. However, fashion spreads through prêt ( ready-to-wear), and I believe designers should do affordable prets for the masses. You’ll see Katie Holmes wearing an Armani Prive gown for a red carpet event, but on the streets and malls you’ll find people wearing Armani Exchange.

You have represented Pakistan on many occasions in London, how has the experience been for you?

It brought me immense pleasure and I am always thankful to Allah for giving me the opportunity to represent the true image of our beloved country. I wish and pray that other Pakistanis also come over to represent the soft and right image of Pakistan and feel very proud when I see other Pakistanis giving our country a good name.

Fashion has become a big industry in Pakistan, what is your prediction for its future?

Fashion is here to stay and it has to go international in order to sustain and prosper. With the participation of Pakistani designers in international fashion weeks, it certaintly is making the difference.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about doing Pakistan Fashion Week; do you think our designers would benefit from such events?

I think PFW has become a need with time; now we have developed the expertise and all we need to do is to market the talent through the proper channel. Our designers are showcasing at all major fashion weeks all over the world. IMG, the company organising fashion weeks all over the world has shown interest to organize it in Pakistan also, which I think would benefit us greatly.

If you had a chance to work with any designer in the world who would it be and why?
Hmm… there is not one, but a few. I would like to work with Giorgio Armani because his designs are for the customers rather then press. That’s his credibility; rather then giving pleasure to a member of press who might say, ‘that’s amazing!’, he prefers to design something that actually sells and is wearable by consumers.

Lastly your message to the readers of The Saturday Post:

Always believe in your personal style before you follow fashion. Trends are always endorsed to masses through slim and tall young models. Every design or cut doesn’t have the capability to flatter every age and size. Women should always customize a trend as per their own age and physique rather then following it straight away religiously.