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    Creativity Exemplified: PIFD's Thesis Display '14'

    Written by: Aleeza Rasool
    Posted on: June 03, 2014 |

    Department - Fashion Design

    The phrase ‘I got swept off my feet’, somewhat captures my feelings at witnessing the sheer amount of creativity showcased at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD)Thesis Display 2014’. As Pakistan’s first specialized design school, PIFD’s reputation is immense. It has been alma mater to some of the biggest names in the Pakistan fashion industry such as Maria Butt, Kamiar Rokni, Maheen Kardar, Hassan Shehryar Yasin (better known as HSY), Zahra Gardezi, Mehdi etcetera. At the time of its inception, fashion design was the only department at the institute. But, with time, five more departments were added to the list. Right now, the institute houses departments for fashion and jewellery design, gemological sciences, textile design, fashion marketing and merchandising, furniture design, leather accessories and footwear. All year round, final year students at PIFD wait for the display week, for it heralds the successful completion of their four year degree and puts the fruit of their relentless hard work out for the world to see.

    Creativity Exemplified: PIFD's Thesis Display '14'

    Bee Geometry

    Creativity Exemplified: PIFD's Thesis Display '14'

    Knotted Memories

    Friends and families of graduating students, as well as media representatives, fashion critics, designers, entrepreneurs, and the general public, were all seen at the weeklong exhibit held within the various auditoriums of PIFD’s Johar Town campus. The ‘Thesis Display’ this year showcased expressions of creativity of over one hundred graduating students from all six departments at the university. The projects were based on themes that each student chose at the beginning of his or her final year. The themes were an eclectic mix of ideas. There were concrete ones as well as very abstract ones. Certain were based around historically influential personalities or incidents, whereas others were figments of students’ own imaginations and ideas. For instance, within the furniture design department, one of the students chose to revive traditional knitwear techniques via her work, whereas, another one chose to design her stools, tabletops and mirrors around the geometry of honeycombs. Students within the textile department did a fantastic job when it came to coming up with fabric textures and designs, for the majority of their work was very refreshing and comforting to  the eyes within Lahore’s present blazing heat. A student had designed her silk around the theme of the Red Sea, while another one had used watermelons for inspiration. One of the most spectacular projects within textile was done under the name of ‘Luminous Textiles’. Within this project the students had come up with fabric textures, which not emanated light but also had three dimensions to them.

    Creativity Exemplified: PIFD's Thesis Display '14'

    Zeus, The Ancient Greek God

    Second to the textile department in terms of creativity, for me, would be the fashion design department this year. The themes and the work done by the students here was also overwhelming. There were outfits designed around the shapes and textures of fruit peelings, Egyptian mummies, camel art, lifestyle of the Ottoman Princesses, the subconscious mind etcetera. Various designers, entrepreneurs and private enterprise owners could be spotted within this section of the exhibit searching for new and sprouting talent. The jewellery department also showcased very fascinating work. A student had designed her jewellery based on the mythology of the Greek god Zeus. Her work was very delicate and intricate and was completely rendered in silver, bronze and precious stones. A rather surprising thesis topic within this department was ‘The Tale of Tot Batot’- a local children’s tale. Here, the student had created vibrantly coloured parrots and puppets for adorning her creations.

    These weeklong thesis displays are very beneficial for students in terms of inculcating within them a deep sense of confidence and achievement. Apart from providing them with the opportunity to receive praise and appreciation for their projects, they also open doors to a promising future for them. Once a niche interest, the field of fashion and design now presents itself as one of the most lucrative and popular fields for the present and future generations of Pakistan. A testament to this is that the number of art and design students and institutes has greatly gone up in recent years owing to which the longstanding, traditional mindset, which only accepted engineers and doctors as successful professionals, is withering away.

     

    Click here to see photographs from the Thesis Display.

    Photography by Aleeza Rasool


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

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    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021