Unless you have a shopping trip to Karachi coming up soon, Anhad (Urdu for ‘without boundaries’) is your best bet for running into cutting-edge Pakistani design. Launched in Delhi, at DLF, Saket, this multi-designer brand is hoping to do more than just stock upcoming and popular labels from the country; if all goes to plan, Anhad will serve as a kind of bridge that will foster support on both sides for young Indian and Pakistani designers. World peace through shopping? It’s worth a shot.
For now, Anhad is focused on introducing Delhi to the cream of Pak fashion: there’s going to be established designers like Elan by Khadijah Shah, Farida Hasan, Sania Maskatiya, Sapphire and Faraz Manan, plus a few select collections from Khaadi, Sahar Atif and Zainab Salman, among others. Singer Kiran Chaudhry and distributor of the special Pakistani ‘lawn’ textile, Shabana Khan are the team behind Anhad and they will be bringing both their contacts and experience to source the most interesting designers from the country.
Expect to find exquisite craftsmanship, refreshing takes on the region’s crafts and textiles and, perhaps most importantly, a hot new destination to stock up for the Big Fat Indian Wedding. Anhad is planning trunk shows for bridal couture and will eventually offer stitching and bespoke services as well. A store in Mumbai is also on the cards.
Anhad, 170 A & B, Ground Floor, DLF Place, Saket (next to Vero Moda), A-4 Press Enclave Road, New Delhi. Tel: 078388 94896
Flip through for a taste of what’s in store at Anhad
