Hassan Sheheryar Yasin has a little something for everyone - Middle Eastern luxury with a Western touch.
By far the best of Monday night's fashion shows at Abu Dhabi Fashion Week and the star of the night was Hassan Sheheryar Yasin — also known as HSY.
Yasin achieved what so many designers failed to do at the Abu Dhabi Fashion Week — design clothes that appealed to both the Middle Eastern and Western market.
Through his revival and modernisation of Middle Eastern and South East Asian traditional clothes, Yasin's fabulous collection of Kaftans and evening wear was appreciated and admired by all.
Using only the finest fabrics and Kashmiri silk, every item from his collection had an Asian touch and delicate embroidery — whether it was around the hem of a skirt or the collar of a bodice.
Each piece was a delicately constructed work of art — his full embroidered mid-calf dresses with slits on the slides and matching pants were a fusion of Asian and Western designs.
Mercifully, as if to prove that he was a master of both worlds, HSY did not restrict himself to Asian embroidered dresses and Kaftans, there were also silk gowns with silver crystals, tight fitting dresses and gown with plunging necklines. Whether it was in style, cut or design, HSY's collection had it all.
Luxurious fabric
Speaking to tabloid! before his show, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin said: "I wanted to bring in my perspective of what our [Middle Eastern] women wear. There wasn't anything naked or transparent. The fabric I used was very luxurious. Most of the collection is one palate (black) with bursts of colour."
HSY also uses a lot of delicate embroidery in his clothes.
"Pakistan", he said, "is very artisan based. I wanted to revive old embroideries and at the same time make the clothes wearable and comfortable.
"I can't be whimsical," he added. "Our clients are Middle Eastern and South East Asian, I have to design what she wants to wear. Our women like to look unique and classic."
Independent women
Yasin's inspiration is Pakistani model and actress Vaneeza Ahmad, because "she is absolutely gorgeous!" he says.
"And she is older so she has that sense of independence. There is so much buzz and energy around her.
"I don't design for the woman who is just sitting there wasting her life. I design for the woman who takes care of herself, goes to the gym and wants to look beautiful. Who doesn't want the clothes to speak for her, but wants the clothes to speak with her."
HSY is will be opening a new store in Dubai sometime between the end of May and beginning of June. The store will be called HSY.
