Prof. Dr. Huma Baqai, Rector, MITE
Having frequently visited thesis exhibitions in the past of art and textile students at various institutions to review them for publications, I thought I had seen it all. I am happy to admit I was wrong. The recent display by fourteen female fashion and textile graduating students from the University of Creative Arts, MITE (Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship) was creative, unique, thought-provoking, and inspirational. It was heartening to see the effort and thought process behind each student’s work and how deeply invested and enthusiastic the faculty members were about the concept and execution of each thesis.
On my first visit to MITE, I have to admit I found the building itself very impressive. The artistic displays on mannequins and adornments on the walls set the tone for what was to come in the seven rooms we were ushered to. Each room had two thesis displays, and while guests were being given a guided tour of each display, we could spot jurors in some of the rooms, busily grading the students’ work.
Both the exhibits in the first room were aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching. Yusra’s collection, “Rhythms of Life,” celebrated the four elements of nature - water, earth, fire, and air - through flowing silhouettes and elemental motifs. I loved the way she used different textures to bring out the natural elements. However, the sari with the flame erupting from one corner of an intricately worked blouse and the puloo and border depicting fire, as well the midnight blue skirt and blouse with white accents depicting the depths of the ocean -- both ensembles paired with matching bags -- were my personal favourites.
Sanila’s collection was inspired by railways, reflecting her frequent travels by train. Her designs, particularly on bags, captured the essence of train journeys with a modern twist. The huge backdrop with a train, with uniforms of coolies hanging in front of it and artistically designed bags and suitcases arranged around it made for a colourful exhibit.
However, while every thesis has stayed with me even days after having seen them – which is unusual, as one tends to forget exhibitions almost as soon as one leaves the premises -- my indisputable favourite was the third display I saw, which was quite unforgettable. We were informed that one of the prerequisites of the thesis is that it has to be inspired by one’s personal experiences, and I think no one could have gotten more personal with her craft than Alina Sheikh, whose collection aimed to raise awareness about the skin disease rosacea, she has suffered from all her life. The four mannequins donning stunning garments depicting the different stages of rosacea were a testament to the young artist’s coming to terms with her disease, accepting and, in fact, embracing it and seeing the beauty in herself not despite but because of it. The ensemble with her profile cut out on the jacket was the icing on the cake – simply brilliant!
Saniya’s collection, on the other hand, inspired by the Milky Way, reflected the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky in all its glory with myriads of glittering stars that she became exposed to during her visits to Hunza. It drove home how much there is to appreciate in nature and how little we pay heed to it.
In marked contrast, Shafia Khushnood found inspiration in Darbar Mahal which she visited when she went to Bahawalpur, translating its intricate rattan work into her garments. Her collection was a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary fashion, using wickerwork as embellishment on most of her pieces.
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