Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: Paris just got a heavy dose of desi drama, and the fashion world may never be the same again. From shalwars strutting down the runway to prints straight out of your dadi&rsquo;s old trunk, South Asian flair stormed the world&rsquo;s most exclusive catwalk with all the confidence of a mehndi bride walking in late on purpose.&nbsp;This wasn&rsquo;t just fusion, it was a fashion takeover wrapped in nostalgia and stitched with sass. The City of Lights found itself awash in color, comfort, and culture, as designers borrowed, blended, and sometimes blatantly celebrated the subcontinent&rsquo;s timeless silhouettes. Think luxury meets Lahore, couture meets Karachi, and Paris falling head over heels for the rhythm of the rickshaw.&nbsp;Forget the stiff collars and minimal palettes, this season, it&rsquo;s all about the shalwar shuffle, sari sass, and prints that whisper childhood chai memories. South Asia didn&rsquo;t just inspire Paris Fashion Week; it owned it, one pleat, pattern, and perfectly ironic nod at a time. Let&#39;s break down these runway moments that scream &quot;DESI&quot; louder than getting married to your cousin:&nbsp; Shalwar showstopper<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/b133e976-7acb-4b39-8edf-31dca3db112e-Models wear creations as part of the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection show in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP PhotoLuca Bruno).jpg" alt="Models wear creations as part of the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection show in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Models wear creations as part of the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection show in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> Honey, this isn&#39;t just a pair of pants &ndash; it&#39;s a cultural statement so bold, it could make your nani do a runway walk! Who needs Western tailoring when you&#39;ve got the ultimate comfort wear that&#39;s been killing it for centuries?&nbsp; Shalwar: 1, Western Fashion: 0 <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/526ea172-e13b-4697-af7b-50b9475b6afb-Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025 (Reuters).jpeg" alt="Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025 (Reuters)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025 (Reuters)</figcaption> <figure><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/33c1f8b1-4ead-4fcf-b4d4-d48091017a06-Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025. (Reuters).png" alt="Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025. (Reuters)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Models present creations from the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection during Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, September 28, 2025. (Reuters)</figcaption></figure> Okay, fashion world, we see what&#39;s happening here. Shalwar is officially the star of two fashion weeks. Milan, Paris &ndash; doesn&#39;t matter. This trend is spreading faster than gossip at a family gathering. Shalwar, shalwar, and more shalwar &ndash; we&#39;re not complaining! Nostalgia on the runway<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/3adf9a9c-c3cf-49a5-8539-49cf338bb6fc-Untitled.png" alt="Models wear creations as part of the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection show in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Models wear creations as part of the Giorgio Armani SpringSummer 2026 collection show in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> Close your eyes and smell the chai&nbsp;with rusk! This look is giving pure desi summer evening realness. Picture it: golden sunset, crows cawing, desi uncles striking their signature pose &ndash; hands on hips, white bunyan&nbsp;bursting over biryani bellies, shalwar hanging just right, and those trusty flip-flops completing the look.&nbsp; The only thing missing? That legendary handlebar moustache! It&#39;s not just fashion; it&#39;s a time machine to every childhood memory you&#39;ve ever cherished. The half-baked kameez conspiracy<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/319e957f-ee3a-4de0-a460-1a89d888f65d-A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP.jpg" alt="A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> Dear Designer, did you run out of fabric? Why stop at a shirt when you could&#39;ve given us a full-blown kameez? It&#39;s like serving biryani without the raita &ndash; something&#39;s definitely missing! Fabric shortage or intentional tease? Print perfection Listen up &ndash; this print is the ultimate desi girl uniform. Every single South Asian girl has owned something like this at least once in her life. It&#39;s not just a print; it&#39;s a cultural rite of passage. Deny it, we dare you! <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/3519acd0-9ecd-4eed-b2fd-8d53deb38d85-AP25277545677013.jpg" alt="A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> Sari, not sorry This look is so desi, even the most silver-tongued lawyer would throw in the towel. The blouse, the skirt, the way it&#39;s tied &ndash; this screams DESIIIIIIIII louder than your mom screaming at you for demolishing her favorite dinner set! Peak desi energy: confirmed! <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/43586c89-fbd5-4643-95a9-57beb0fe13d2-AP25277536327327(1).jpg" alt="A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> The takeawayFashion, darling, is borrowing our look with a wink and a smile. From the legendary Paul Smith&#39;s &pound;300 &quot;Robert&quot; sandal (which is basically a &pound;4 Peshawari chappal with a designer label) to these runway moments, South Asian culture is the secret muse of the fashion world. Stella Jean gets a gold star for actually collaborating with Bhutanese artisans. The rest? It&#39;s a copy-fest that we&#39;re highlighting&nbsp;with all the subtlety of a Bollywood dance number! Dear&nbsp;designers: Next time, try more collaboration! Your runway could use some authentic desi magic &ndash; handlebar moustaches optional, but highly encouraged!

A model wears a creation as part of the Vivienne Westwood SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP)

Entertainment

Paris Fashion Week is showcasing desi style—shalwars slaying, half-kameez teasing, and prints screaming nostalgia—copy-paste much? Designers, more authentic desi collab, please!

Desi designs shine bright at Paris Fashion Week

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Milan Fashion Week continued on Sunday with designers presenting spring/summer 2026 womenswear collections. key shows included Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Prada, Stella Jean&rsquo;s return and presentations from Ferragamo, Fendi, Tod&rsquo;s, Versace, and Roberto Cavalli. The event attracted celebrity attendees such as Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Demi Moore, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Dolce &amp; Gabbana and &ldquo;The Devil Wears Prada&rdquo; filming Dolce &amp; Gabbana unveiled their &ldquo;PJ Obsession&rdquo; collection, featuring luxurious reinterpretations of men&rsquo;s classic striped pyjamas combined with black lingerie and tailoring. The show illustrated a woman moving &ldquo;between boudoir and city life.&rdquo; Actors Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci attended in character as Miranda Priestly and Nigel Kipling from the upcoming film &ldquo;The Devil Wears Prada 2,&rdquo; which is partly filmed in Milan. Vogue editor Anna Wintour, the inspiration for Streep&rsquo;s character, was also present. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/e8937fe8-6ef9-4aa0-b528-4e345804ed47-Stanley Tucci, centre left, and Meryl Streep, centre right, attend the Dolce & Gabbana SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP).jpg" alt="Stanley Tucci, centre left, and Meryl Streep, centre right, attend the Dolce & Gabbana SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Stanley Tucci, centre left, and Meryl Streep, centre right, attend the Dolce &amp; Gabbana SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> The collection celebrates &ldquo;the freedom to redefine boundaries between private and public&rdquo; with pajama-style trousers, shirts, lace lingerie, and oversized jackets. Stella Jean&rsquo;s return and appeal for artisan support Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean returned after a three-year break. Her collection featured collaborations with artisans from Bhutan, including handwoven tego jackets, embroidered skirts made from nettle fibre, and silk dresses with beaded village scenes. Jean called for political support for Italian craftmanship, which she said is &ldquo;dying out&rdquo; as fewer young people enter the trades. She urged lawmakers to extend tax breaks given to artworks to fine craftsmanship, encouraging investment in pieces that can take a year to complete. She talked about the need for fairy pay for artisans, warning that without support, craftsmanship would survive only in museums. Jean also paid tribute to the late Giorgio Armani, who helped establish the Italian fashion globally. She unfurled a T-shirt signed &ldquo;Grazie, Mr. Armani: at her show. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/ae3f199e-0b5d-42ec-86fe-d8fedf4a2828-Fashion designer Stella Jean walks the runway with a tribute to late Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani who died in Milan on Sept. 4, at the end of her SpringSummer 2026 collection during Milan Fashion Week in Milan (AP).jpg" alt="Fashion designer Stella Jean walks the runway with a tribute to late Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani who died in Milan on Sept. 4, at the end of her SpringSummer 2026 collection during Milan Fashion Week in Milan (AP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Fashion designer Stella Jean walks the runway with a tribute to late Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani who died in Milan on Sept. 4, at the end of her SpringSummer 2026 collection during Milan Fashion Week in Milan (AP)</figcaption></figure>Artisans from Bhutan attended the show in traditional clothing. Other designers and trends Ferragamo&rsquo;s Maximilian Davis looked to the 1920s, presenting colourful speakeasy-inspired suits and dresses with dropped waists, low backs, and tassels, reflecting a rebellious spirit. Antonio Marras evoked literary figures on holiday in Sardinia. Models walked a runway scattered with salt, wearing patterned frocks, suits, and carrying sketchbooks and musical instruments. Prada focused on uniform-inspired designs, including military-style jumpsuits, shirts under fitted dresses, and long gloves, blending ladylike and boyish elements. Fendi offered bright collections with button-down shirt dresses and sheer blouses with tight collars. Tod&rsquo;s showcased oversized striped shirts over leather minis, as well as striped draped dresses and matching handbags in warm tones. Dario Vitale&rsquo;s debut at Versace featured bright striped trousers, bold print shirts, and neon elements under the theme &ldquo;outrageous and uncomplicated elegance.&rdquo; Max Mara incorporated black elastic belts and bands on floral prints and feather-like gowns, adding a modern, edgy contrast. Designer Ian Griffiths described the style as &ldquo;modern, twangy, snappy&rdquo; with an almost fetishistic quality. Emporio Armani showed kimono fastenings, layering colorful or black tops and trousers with floaty dresses. Boss used thin leather belts and cumberbands to define leather jackets. Roberto Cavalli&rsquo;s &ldquo;Gold Obsession&rdquo; collection celebrated glamour with gold hues inspired by Elizabeth Taylor&rsquo;s Cleopatra, featuring figure-hugging dresses in liquid jersey and coated lace. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/77cca179-ed53-4bba-972c-e1325a95a94b-A model wears a creation as part of the Roberto Cavalli SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in, in Milan, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP).jpg" alt="A model wears a creation as part of the Roberto Cavalli SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in, in Milan, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A model wears a creation as part of the Roberto Cavalli SpringSummer 2026 collection presented in, in Milan, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP)</figcaption></figure> Gucci&rsquo;s creative lead Demna presented red carpet-inspired pieces in a short film starring Demi Moore, featuring oversized faux fur coats and extravagant gowns modelled by tennis star Serena Williams. Legacy of Giorgio Armani This Milan Fashion Week is the first without Giorgio Armani, who died aged 91. Emporio Armani&rsquo;s collection, called Ritorni (Returns), evoked post-holiday moods with roomy trousers, soft metallic knits, and floaty dresses, and carried emotional significance as one of Armani&rsquo;s last designs. Milan Fashion Week will conclude on Monday, ahead of Paris Fashion Week. With input from Associated Press (AP).

Models wear creations as part of the Francesca Liberatore SpringSummer 2026 collection as they hold black roses, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP)

Milan Fashion Week showcased Spring/Summer 2026 collections with artisan collaborations and appearances by stars including Meryl Streep and The Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Milan Fashion Week: Spring/summer 2026 collection and industry shifts

MILAN: The first Milan Fashion Week without Giorgio Armani marks the end of an era in Italian luxury, at a time when houses across the sector are already in transition. After defending his independence throughout his life, the legendary designer, who died this month aged 91, has entrusted his heirs with the task of selling his group. He cited French companies L&#39;Oreal and LVMH as potential buyers of his multi-million-euro empire, which spans from hotels to haute couture, as well Franco-Italian eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. Failing that, his will states the company should be listed on the stock market. This year also saw the departure of Donatella Versace from the house she ran for three decades, shortly before it was acquired by Prada. &quot;These are the last years of the first generation of Italian designers. We&#39;re in the middle of a major reshuffle,&quot; the manager of a major Milanese house told AFP this week on the margins of fashion week. Roberto Cavalli, the king of sexy dresses and animal prints since the 1970s, also died last year. But his company had since 2019 belonged to an Emirati conglomerate &mdash; reflecting a wider trend. In 2012, 76.8% of Italian fashion companies with annual revenues exceeding 50 million euros were still managed by the founding family. This fell to 57% in 2022, according to a survey by the Aub Observatory published in 2024. French giants&nbsp;Over the past 30 years, many of Italy&#39;s top fashion names have been snapped up by foreign groups, notably French giants Kering, which owns Gucci and Bottega Veneta, and LVMH, which counts Fendi and Loro Piana among its brands. Shoe company Sergio Rossi is owned by China&#39;s Lanvin Group, and Golden Goose by a London-based private equity fund. Iconic names such as Dolce &amp; Gabbana and Missoni remain independent, as does Brunello Cucinelli, but their size is limited. The largest of them, Prada &mdash; with 76-year-old Miuccia Prada still at the helm &mdash; is eyeing combined revenues of around six billion euros after its deal with Versace. This is far from the 84.7 billion euros in revenue expected by LVMH in 2024 or the 17.2 billion euros of Kering. Luca Solca, an expert in luxury at Bernstein, said that, despite a few attempts in the past, &quot;Italy didn&#39;t have an inspired businessman that could potentially aggregate a conglomerate.&quot; Armani was better than many at building a major brand, but in the end, appeared to have decided there was nobody after him to run it, Solca told AFP. But the luxury market is changing, and not just because of the hit from a slowdown in Chinese consumer spending. Some see this as an opportunity for smaller Italian brands. Bernardo Bertoldi, an economics professor at the University of Turin, said that LVMH and Kering capitalized on the rise of new, rich consumers in Asia and the Middle East, providing an accessible place for luxury goods. &quot;With a more evolved, more sophisticated consumer, they will stop shopping at the luxury supermarket and go looking for the best high-heeled shoe artisan,&quot; he told AFP. Italian brands make much of their artisanal offerings, with Tod&#39;s bringing in a dozen craftsmen and women for their catwalk show on Friday to show guests how handmade handbags and shoes are made. And in this world, Bertoldi says price is no issue. Sartorial codes&nbsp;Amid an increasingly competitive market, many big brands have installed new creative leads who are debuting this season, from Gucci, Versace and Bottega Veneta, Chanel and Dior. But Ian Griffiths, lead designer at Max Mara who has been with the family-owned Italian brand since 1987, questioned what this meant for a brand&#39;s heritage &mdash; a key selling point. &quot;I really feel for those designers who get thrown into a house and have to prove themselves within a season or two, produce instant results,&quot; the Briton told AFP backstage after his Milan show. &quot;Because, you know, what happens to the heritage? I had 20 years to learn the Max Mara sartorial codes before I was let loose on any kind of decision making.&quot; Milan Fashion Week wraps up on Monday.

Expert says despite a few attempts in the past, "Italy didn't have an inspired businessman that could potentially aggregate a conglomerate."

After Armani, Italian fashion houses are in flux

Reuters

MILAN: A retrospective celebrating half a century of Giorgio Armani&rsquo;s designs opens Wednesday in Milan, displaying more than 100 creations that shaped the Italian designer&rsquo;s reputation for understated elegance. Armani, dubbed &ldquo;King Giorgio&rdquo; in the fashion world, died earlier this month at age 91.&nbsp; The exhibition, which coincides with the label&rsquo;s 50th anniversary, was curated with his direct involvement and will run through January at the Brera art museum. The show features rare gowns and tailored suits set alongside Italian masterpieces. &quot;Armani&#39;s aesthetic rigor is also an ethical rigor, like that of the greats of the past,&quot; museum director Angelo Crespi said. The retrospective anchors Milan Fashion Week, which opened Tuesday with a Gucci event and continues through Sept. 29. &nbsp;Armani&rsquo;s final collection will be unveiled Sunday evening at Brera, marking both a farewell and a transition for the brand. Armani kept his company independent for decades, but in his will instructed heirs to sell it in two stages, identifying LVMH, L&rsquo;Or&eacute;al and EssilorLuxottica as potential buyers. Until then, management remains with close family, longtime collaborator Pantaleo Dell&rsquo;Orco and a foundation he established. Prada, Dolce &amp; Gabbana and Fendi are also scheduled to showcase their latest collections this week.

Giorgio Armani’s 50-year fashion legacy is honored in a Milan retrospective at Brera museum during Fashion Week. The late designer’s final collection debuts Sunday, as heirs prepare for a sale to luxury giants.

Articles tagged with "Milan Fashion Week"

Desi designs shine bright at Paris Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week: Spring/summer 2026 collection and industry shifts

After Armani, Italian fashion houses are in flux

Armani's fashion legacy celebrated at Milan retrospective