February, 2012

: Saving Face directed by Pakistani investigative documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Daniel Junge, received the prestigious Academy Award in the category: Best Documentary (Short) at the 84th Annual Academy Awards®.
The category of Best Documentary (Short) was presented by Rose Byrne & Melissa McCarthy to Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Daniel Junge. This marks both Sharmeen and Daniel’s first ever Oscar award and was also the first Oscar to be awarded to a Pakistani in the history of the Academy Awards. Upon receiving the award, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy thanked the Heroes of Pakistan , The Academy, her colleagues, cast and crew, fellow nominees, parents, friends and family and said “I am deeply humbled and blown away by the outpouring of support and well wishes that I have received. It is an indescribable feeling and is a dream come true! This is for all the budding filmmakers who think that their work will not be appreciated or recognized; if I can do it, so can you. Today, Pakistan was in the news for all the right reasons and I am thrilled that we are now recognized as artists and story tellers. Zakia, Rukhsana- this one is for you”

The 84th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California and Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony, while Brian Grazer produced it. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy walked the red carpet with her husband Fahad Chinoy wearing a custom made and quintessentially Pakistani outfit by renowned couturier Bunto Kazmi with jewellery exclusively designed for Sharmeen for the occasion by Kiran Aman of Kiran Fine Jewellery. After the main Academy Awards ceremony, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy attended post-Oscar events on which she wore an ensemble by leading fashion designers Sana Safinaz with exclusive jewellery by Sherezad Rahimtoola.

Saving Face chronicles the work of acclaimed British Pakistani plastic surgeon, Dr Mohammad Jawad as he travelled to Pakistan and performed reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid violence. Acid violence, an extreme form of physical abuse, is systemically underreported in Pakistan; official figures state that 150 cases of acid violence are filed every year, though it is estimated that the actual figure is far greater. This is caused in part by structural inequalities that make it difficult for women to access the judicial system in addition to longstanding cultural practices that support gender discrimination. Saving Face is an account of such violence told by survivors through their personal journeys of endurance, recovery and reconciliation. Saving Face is equally a story about the ways in which women continue to struggle for justice in Pakistan as it is about their resilience and unwavering strength in overcoming difficult circumstances. The observational documentary was filmed entirely in Pakistan, primarily in the Seraiki belt in addition to Rawalpindi, Karachi and Islamabad.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy hopes to screen Saving Face in Pakistan, with special screenings at local schools, colleges, universities and communities in order to spread awareness and promote dialogue within Pakistan.

Renowned for producing hard-hitting, character-driven content, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy continues to set new standards for documentary films that address cultural and political inequality. With a formidable list of awards under her belt including a coveted Emmy Award for her film ‘Pakistan’s Taliban Generation’, this is Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s first ever Oscar award.

Saving Face is set to air on America’s premier television cable network HBO, on March 8, 2012.

SHARMEEN OBAID CHINOY

In 2001 the global view of terrorism and Muslims changed forever – and like the millions of people affected post 9/11, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, an aspiring journalist turned to the medium of visual storytelling, with a decision to work as an investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker. Her vision has been to connect global audiences with the everyday lives of alienated and marginalised communities across the world. To date, Sharmeen’s work has taken her to over ten countries around the world where amongst other things she has had the opportunity to connect with refugees, women’s advocate groups and human rights defenders.

Sharmeen started her career in journalism while enrolled at the prestigious Smith College where she read Economics and Government, while freelancing as a writer for newspapers in the United States and Canada. She later completed her post graduate degrees in International Policy Studies in 2003 and Communication (Journalism) in 2004 from Stanford University.

Her work as an international documentary producer and correspondent progressed in 2002 when she started working at New York Times Television while she was still enrolled at Stanford. Since then, Sharmeen has worked as a producer, director & reporter at Channel 4 (2004-2009), a director & reporter at PBS Frontline World (2004-2009) and at Al Jazeera International (2006-2007). Indeed Sharmeen was one of the first Muslim women to be broadcast on mainstream Western media.

A multi-faceted entrepreneur, Sharmeen started her eponymous film production company Sharmeen Obaid Films in Toronoto in 2006 and recently opened a sister company in Karachi. Sharmeen has produced sixteen critically acclaimed films, all of which have been aired across international channels to global audiences including networks such as CNN, CBC, Channel 4, PBS, Al Jazeera and HBO. Sharmeen is also the co-founder of Pakistan’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to cultural and historic preservation, The Citizen’s Archive of Pakistan and continues to serve as the company’s President and leading cultural preservationist since its founding in 2007.  As a senior fellow at TED 2011 international, Sharmeen has also been one of the driving forces behind the locally organised Tedx Karachi events in both 2010 and 2011 where she reached out to iconic personalities such as Imran Khan and Mukhataran Mai, to share their stories of inspiration .

In September 2011 Sharmeen spoke at Google Zeitgeist in Arizona alongside the likes of Ted Kopple & Ariana Huffington. She was also selected as one of eleven rising young leaders from Asia by the Asia Society in 2011. and participated in the Asia Society’s sixth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, which was held in New Delhi India in November 2011.

Over her career, Sharmeen has received diverse international and national awards and accolades for her intrepid filmmaking and to this end, she has been the recipient of the esteemed International Emmy Award for her documentary Pakistan’s Taliban Generation (2010) and is still the first non US citizen to have received the coveted Livingston Award for Best International Reporting under the age of 35 in any medium, print and broadcast. She was also the proud recipient of the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction award for her services in the field of Communication, making documentaries that touch upon the lives of women in extraordinary situations, from the refugee camps of Afghanistan, to the plight of aboriginal women in Western Canada.

Her ongoing projects include: Saving Face, a documentary chronicling the work the work of acclaimed British Pakistani plastic surgeon, Dr Mohammad Jawad as he travels to Pakistan and performs reconstructive surgery on survivors of acid violence.

Pakistani plastic surgeon aiding victims of acid attacks in Pakistan, which she is co-directing with acclaimed international director Daniel Junge. The film will air on HBO on March 8th  2012, Saving Face has won an Academy Award for the Best Documentary, Short Subject as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; Transgender: Pakistans Open Secret is another more recent film with Sharmeen at the director’s helm – the film was released in the UK in December 2011. The film explores the lives of transsexuals in Pakistan who exist on the fringes of society.

Sharmeen is also producing an animated television series for children in Pakistan for national broadcast which endeavours to explore issues in identity, history and culture in Pakistan.

For more information on Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Films visit http://sharmeenobaidfilms.com

This Spring/Summer season, Kayseria launch
their ‘SummerI’ collection for 2012 simultaneously in Pakistan, the
United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and India. Exhibiting
in Karachi for the first time from 23rd to 25th February 2012 at
Dolmen City Mall – Clifton, Kayseria’s SummerI Collection will include
a mix of embroidered, embellished & print only designs; furthermore,
their collection also include 5 exclusive Saree pieces in chiffon,
each one uniquely hand painted by Kayseria’s artists. The sales
proceeds for these one-off pieces will go to Shaukat Khanum Cancer
Hospital lending support for the Arts & Crafts awareness in Pakistan.

The Collection:

As a brand, Kayseria is constantly inspired by the allure of all great
traditions of the world, past and present – a vast reservoir of ideas
aesthetics and concepts handed down, across countless ages by artistes
who have historically striven towards the creation of that which is
beautiful. Indeed the SummerI collection design aesthetic is manifest
of this.

Available in 60 different designs, the collection comprises of a mix
of embroidered, embellished & print only designs, printed on flat
belt, rotary with some of the exclusive designs such as printed Gallas
and Laces printed on Mimaki (digital printing) in addition to Screen
Printed designs. Kayseria’s prints will represent a minimum of 3 and a
maximum of 6 colour variations per design. Also, in keeping with the
brands’ commitment to quality, the collection will come in a Silicone
Finish which softens the fabric and is complemented by a Moisture
Management Finish which supports the natural cooling system of body by
dissipating perspiration efficiently and drying quickly thus enhancing
comfort in the Spring/Summer season.

Inspiration:

For this collection, the Kayseria design team researched traditional
themes to create contemporary designs that are rich because of their
traditional context with an infusion of the brands’ signature, to
create magic in prints. The SummerI collection is inspired by themes
such as Art, Architecture and Folk along with Floral inspired designs.

Fabrics:

Kayseria’s SummerI collection comes in a variety of fabrics including
Lawn , Chiffon, Cotton Net, Malmal, Grip
Silk, Cambric and Cotton Satin.

Accessories:

The Kayseria SummerI Collection comes with the following accessories:
Brochettes , Buttons , Embellished Lace materials .

On the launch of SummerI collection for 2012, Art Director at
Kayseria, Waleed Zaman said, “For 2012, we are proud and excited to
launch our Spring Summer collection and this being our first
exhibition in Karachi with simultaneous launches in 4 other countries,
our vision is to put the brand on the global map. We are developing
and evolving products that will make the international market more
permeable for us. We have grown over 160% over the last year and our
current expansion plan is to maintain that momentum without
compromising on quality while maintaining our design ethos. My five
year exposure and experience at London of both the traditional and
modern/postmodern perspectives leads me to believe that 2012 will be a
year of organic colours, folk inspired fabric and art inspired designs
which can be seen in our Spring Summer 2012 collection.”

Kayseria’s SummerI collection will be available at over 50 Kayseria
outlets across 5 countries.

Kayseria will be launching its Summer2 collection in April 2012.

For more information, please visit:
www.kayseriapk.com or https://www.facebook.com/Kayseria.by.Bareeze

Who’s kidnapped who? That’s the question that weighs heavy in the rom-com,
Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya, which is about a feisty girl who stages her own
kidnap to escape an impending marriage.

Out of a forced wedlock and into a ceaseless road adventure where the
acquaintance between the boy and the girl turns first into friendship and
then into love. Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza pair up for this
romantic comedy directed by Mandeep Kumar.

The movie also has Om Puri, Tinu Anand and Smita Jaykar in supporting
roles. Pakistani siren Veena Malik makes a special appearance in the film.

*Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya* is the third film of Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia
D’Souza together. The couple made their Bollywood debut together in the
2003 box office disaster Tujhe Meri Kasam and followed it up with the
commercially successful Masti in 2004. Interestingly, the leading couple of
the film got married during the film promotions after knowing each other
for 8 years. Fans in India & pakistan both are excited to see the couple
again on screen after their marriage. In Pakistan the film is being
distributed by IMGC Global whereas publicity is done by Encyclomedia PR.

(CELEBRITIES AND ANIMALS) Ian Somerhalder is set to receive an award, and it’s not for his acting. The actor is nominated to receive the United States Humane Society’s notable Wyler Award. Somerhalder has taken a stand for animals many times, even petitioning Congress to protect a number of species, but it is his work for homeless cats that has gotten him noticed this time. Read on for more on this animal loving celebrity. — Global Animal

Eccorazi

He may play a badass vamp on TV, but in real life, Ian Somerhalder is as sweet as they come. In his adopted town of Atlanta, the “Vampire Diaries” star is doing a great thing for the homeless — but not in the way you might think.

It turns out that the eco-friendly actor has a soft spot for cats, and has a gaggle of rescue kitties at home. He told Eonline, ”I’ve got a number of them and sometimes that number fluctuates because there will be a rescue that’s fostered a little bit. There’s a lot of fur.”

So just how does a busy guy like Somerhalder manage to take care of all those wayward felines? ”Ideally, I need to get them to a clinic first,” he told E!. “There’s an amazing clinic here in Atlanta, Pets Are People Too. These guys take care of all my animals. We get there and get them healthy because I don’t want to take them back to my pride and get my kids sick.”

Altogether now: Aww!

Of course, this isn’t the first time Somerhalder has stepped up for animals. Last year he petitioned Congress to protect a number of species, and also spoke up on behalf of leatherback turtles.

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. On March 24th, Somerhalder is slated to receive the United States Humane Society’s prestigious Wyler Award at the organization’s annual Genesis Awards. Named for the late Gretchen Wyler, the award is bestowed each year “on a celebrity or public figure who has made news on behalf of animals.”

According to an HSUS press release, Somerhalder was chosen for the award because of his work spreading the word about animal welfare issues such shark finning, fur in fashion, and the Canadian seal hunt.

“Ian is the epitome of a new kind of advocate who leverages his fame and an array of media platforms to draw public attention to animal protection concerns and other issues that he cares deeply about. From addressing Congress to making TV appearances to regularly blogging to informing his million-plus followers on Twitter, Ian is a major voice and force for animals and a most deserving recipient of The Wyler Award,” says Beverly Kaskey, senior director of The HSUS’s Hollywood Outreach and executive producer of the annual Genesis Awards.

And Somerhalder is both gracious and humble about the honor. ”The tireless efforts of The Humane Society of the United States to protect animals around the world has always been an inspiration to me and I’m honored to be recognized with this year’s Wyler Award,” he said.

But that’s not all: when suggested that perhaps Somerhalder might want to take his love of animals all the way with one of PETA’s famous nude shoots, he responded with, “Being naked is good.”

Get on that, PETA.

Courtesy: http://www.globalanimal.org/2012/02/21/somerhalder-has-a-soft-spot-for-homeless-cats/67146/

Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill told MTV that the band has patched up the differences that marred 2011 and that they plan to record new material sometime this year.

The band canceled tour dates when singer Caleb Followill dealt with problems relating to an illness and exhaustion. Nathan says, “Over the holidays, you break some bread, have some turkey, everyone makes up. I don’t think it was as big as people thought it was, but the press machine takes it and runs with it.” Ain’t that the truth. Sometimes a homecooked meal shared with family who also happen to be coworkers can do the trick to mend the fence and eliminate the media-created mountain that was really once a molehill.

Followill says the band has purchased a studio in Nashville and plans on recording there over the next six months. Caleb has been writing and is expecting his first child.

Can Kings of Leon make a comeback?

Iconic Productions is very honored and proud to be collaborating its first venture with the first digital channel and family favourite Zee TV.

Zee Network, in association with Iconic Productions, presents a crossover Bollywood, Brit-Asian movie, releasing on 9^th March.

The fast paced thriller centres around the struggles and hardships faced by a young immigrant from India, Jai, who feels that London will allow him to fulfill his dreams and aspirations. London is his most beautiful dream; he finds a friend on a council estate as well as love on the underground but one phone call changes his life forever. Jai is left trapped in a dark and dangerous world where only a jungle law exists.

The upcoming movie marks the debut of Zing’s very own popular presenter Asad Shan, from UK based Bollywood show Brit’s Bollywood. The talented British model-turned-actor is the leading man in the movie as well as its director. He calls out to his existing fan base, “The Brit’s Bollywood and Zee Network audience is my family and I love being a part of their lives on the small screen. Zing has allowed me to grow as an artist and as I embark on a new stage in my life, I would like you to be part of that. So now with a lot of pleasure and love I would like to take our relationship further into the cinema halls with ‘7 Welcome to London’ which releases on 9^th March. I know you have been enjoying the trailers and the music videos from the film and I am hopeful that you will enjoy the film as well. Thank you for all your support over the years.”

Archana Kanade, Zing Channel Head, UK “Zing is hugely supportive of UK talent and to see one of its own talented Brit-Asian members venture out into the exciting world of film-making is wonderful. Zing is passionate about showcasing all facets of Bollywood and with Brit’s Bollywood, presented by the hip Asad, it strives to tailor Hindi cinema to UK Bollywood lovers, building a bridge between Bollywood and Britain. We hope its viewers will support Asad and go out to watch his thrilling movie whilst continuing to enjoy him on Brit’s Bollywood.”

‘7 Welcome To London’ is a grisly thriller crafted in a gritty manner to draw on contemporary UK issues. It brings homegrown UK talent to the forefront right from the cast to the entire film unit.  Bafta and Oscar winning editor Chris Dickens is the creative producer for ‘7 welcome to London’ and has seamlessly blended Bollywood with international film techniques.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to this ‘on the edge of your seat’ romantic thriller, and for a chance to meet the charming Asad Shan, enter the ‘7 Welcome To London’ competition at www.zingtv.co.uk.

Catch a special interview of Asad on Brit’s Bollywood, as he takes his viewers through his own ecstatic journey in film making with his debut, Sunday 4 March at 11:30am on Zing, Sky 789 and Freesat 509.

‘7 Welcome To London’ releases on Friday 9th March at cinemas across the UK.

The officail distributer for this movie in Pakistan is IMGC

“If it’s romance, it’s Karan Johar!”

When it comes to romance and romcoms, can Karan Johar ever go wrong? Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (EMAET), an urban romcom that comes from Dharma Productions has all the ingredients of an ideal date film.
The excitement level and the buzz around it, is at its peak, especially because it is a Karan Johar product.

“EMAET is a fun-filled film which promises a lot of laughter and happy moments. The audience is waiting to see the never paired before couple, Kareena and Imran on screen. The chemistry Imran and Kareena share on screen is contagious. The essence of the lead actors vivacious nature has been captured very successfully,” says a trade pundit.

When contacted Karan Johar said, “Very rarely do lead players in a film get the opportunity to essay characters that are so close to their real life character. Imran (Khan) and Kareena (Kapoor) are playing themselves in EMAET and that’s why they’ve been able to add that extra zing to their performances. Its a slice of life film… a slice of their own lives I must say!!!”

Having introduced a debut collection of fabrics and prints last year to much popularity and acclaim the House of HSY introduces a brand new designer lawn collection for the season with The World of HSY Prints this coming March to be followed by a limited edition prints collection later in the summer, specifically in celebration of Eid.  The House of HSY also proudly announces the launch of a brand new collection this year, HSY Nation – a range of prints that has been designed, printed and priced to cater to a wider diversity of people, thereby bringing the fashion houses’ coveted aesthetic to a larger audience of women in Pakistan. HSY Nation will be available in April directly through a list of nationwide stockists.

This year and as manifest across all three collections, the design house draws aesthetic inspiration from global culture referencing the Ottoman Empire, paisleys from Persia, florals from Havana, Ikat from South America to the regal embroideries and motifs of Lucknow. Following the trend of unisex prints set last year, The World of HSY Prints and now HSY Nation will also feature the unisex print options.

Speaking about the expansion of his prints into three annual collections, head designer and CEO of the HSY design house Hassan Sheheryar Yasin said “We are incredibly excited to be expanding our design and retail to three distinct collection of prints this year, all launching one after the other, marking a complete HSY lawn journey the season. I am particularly pleased to launch our new brand HSY Nation through which we are now able to cater to a wider audience allowing us to be one of the first designer lawns’ to respond to so many different audiences. All of our prints are being heavily quality tested internationally as well, so be it a World of HSY Print or something from our HSY Nation line, we will give our clients quality products.”

The World of HSY Prints will be exhibited in Lahore on the 9^th and 10^th March 2012 and Karachi on the 10^th and 11^th of March 2012 with an Eid collection to be retailed through distributers later this summer.  HSY Nation will be available on April through stockists only. More information on the “The World of HSY Prints” and “HSY Nation” will also soon be available at the official HSY Prints page.

https://www.facebook.com/TheWorldOfHSYPrints

About the House of HSY

Established in the year 2000, HSY is more than a label; it’s a lifestyle and is already one of the biggest names in fashion in the region. HSY is predominantly a bridal house specialising in Couture, best known for combining contemporary silhouettes with the traditional techniques of old. Indeed this synthesis is the cornerstone of the design philosophy at HSY. The brand’s inspiration is distinctly Pakistani and Middle Eastern peppered with Western influences augmented by refined cutting and judicious color choices represent such an option that, it is no wonder that HSY collections have taken the world by storm.

This synthesis, the cornerstone of the design philosophy at HSY gives it a definitive edge and enhances its appeal to an ever increasing clientele world-wide that has an appreciation for the grandeur and extravagance of a regal past but expect innovation and creativity. Hassan Sheheryar Yasin is the fashion force behind the label Hassan and holds an honors degree in couture from PIFD an affiliate of La Chambre Syndicate De La Couture Parisienne France. Currently serving as a member of the board of directors of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design and is also one of the founding members of the PFDC. The designer has been the recipient of multiple “Designer of the Year” awards including the Ahlan Fashion and Lifestyle awards 2009, the Lux style award in 2005 as well as in 2007 in Malaysia, the Most Stylish Fashion Icon at the MTV Style Awards in 2009 and Style Guru of the year by Indus Style awards in 2007. He was also one of I.Q magazine’s top 20 Fashion Icons of the world in 2009 and amongst Ahlan’s Hot 100 people 2009 and 2010. Most recently, the menswear line of the design house was the recipient of the 2010 Lux Style Awards.

With the design house setting new benchmarks for the business of fashion with every passing year, the tenth year anniversary of the HSY fashion house marked the debut of their lawn brand “The World of HSY Prints”. 2012 marks the launch their second lawn brand “HSY Nation” which caters to a wider spectrum of audience.

Having introduced the International Fashion Academy Pakistan in November 2011, Model and Entrepreneur Mehreen Syed along with her team announce the commencement of the first batch of classes at IFAP as of 30 January 2012. A multi-dimensional academy and indeed among the first of its kind in Pakistan, IFAP’s mission is to establish a platform that allows the next generation of fashion industry professionals, specifically stylists, models, makeup artists and photographers, to study their field in a professional environment, equipping aspiring specialists with the technical know-how and exposure enabling such students to be able to pursue such studies as a viable career.

A private training institute, IFAP will be providing comprehensive training and resource programs for their first batch of students within the Grooming Academy, the Make-Up Academy and The Modeling Academy. IFAP’s first batch of students in these academies will be taught by instructors including; Shahzad Raza as the Head of Faculty and Hassan Sheheryar Yasin as the Head of Visiting Faculty, Nickie & Nina, Mohammad Mehdi, Iffat Umer, Hamza Tarar, Sabina Pasha, Nael Ahmad, Emmad Irfani, Shammal Qureshi, Redah Misbah, Asmaa Mumtaz, Yasir Nisar, Ali Xeeshan, Isma Majeed, Dr. Haroon Nabi, Dr. Azmat, Dr. Saqib Mehmood and Uzma Baig.

With a course duration of 1 month for The Grooming and The Modeling Academies respectively and 2 months for The Make-up Academy, classes are expected to take place each day of the week, with courses covering a series of subjects including but not limited to: Runway Coaching, Health & Wellness, Acting Essentials, Hair & Skin Care and Speech Enhancement et al, to create a new generation of trained professionals who can lead Pakistan’s fashion industry nationally and within the global arena. Each class will also focus significantly on practical training.

Indeed in line with its aim and vision to professionalise the industry at par with global standards, IFAP is proud to have the world’s leading beauty brand L’Oréal Paris as the exclusive Make-Up partner for IFAP’s Make-Up Academy for 2012.

Speaking about the commencement of classes at IFAP, CEO and member of the Board of Directors, Mehreen Syed has said, “We have received thousands of applications from Pakistan and even abroad. It has been overwhelming to say the least as this shows there was a major dearth of such training institutes in Pakistan and with IFAP we are delighted to be able to provide a platform which allows the aspiring students to learn their trade from the leading experts giving them confidence and tools to shine for a lifetime. Our panel of experts/instructors are not only some of the most experienced individuals in our industry today but they are also individuals who have inspired, taught and paved the way for us all to stand where we are today in the global arena. It is therefore a conscious decision on our part to have those genuinely experienced in their respective fields, teach students from this practical perspective.”

Upon successful completion of a course at IFAP, students will receive a formal diploma and an opportunity to work closely with their instructors and L’Oréal Paris, the exclusive Make-Up partners for IFAP. Dates for The Photography Academies first class commencement will be announced in February 2012.

For more information on IFAP, please visit: http://www.ifap.com.pk/

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Course details with a complete time table are available upon request.

Make-Up Class:                                 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Grooming Class:                               04:00 PM to 06:00 PM

Modeling Class:                                06:00 PM to 08:00 PM

Practical Classes for all:                   01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

About International Fashion Academy Pakistan :

The International Fashion Academy Pakistan is Pakistan’s first private training institute which provides a comprehensive training and resource programs; The Grooming Academy, The Photography Academy, The Make-Up Academy and The Modeling Academy, for individuals seeking to enhance their skills. Through a series of in-depth courses, such as Runway Coaching, Photo Shoot Direction, Health & Wellness, Acting Essentials, Hair & Skin Care, Spirituality and Speech Enhancement, IFAP aims to create a new generation of professionals who can lead Pakistan’s fashion industry nationally and in the global arena. Indeed it is IFAP’s belief that Fashion, Makeup, Grooming, Photography and Modeling are often perceived as glamorous yet highly inaccessible and unpractical fields. Their mission is to help change this perception and establish the belief that such fields can be viable and lucrative careers.

IFAP is led by model and entrepreneur Mehreen Syed as its CEO. With industry stalwarts such as Shahzad Raza as the Head of Faculty and Hassan Sheheryar Yasin as the Head of Visiting Faculty, the academy has garnered a diversity of permanent and visiting faculty consisting of leading names from the fashion, media and entertainment industries such as; Umar Sayeed, Deepak Perwani, Nickie Nina, Kamiar Rokni, Mehdi, Nomi Ansari, Iman Ali, Saba Ansari, Iffat Umer, Hamza Tarar, Nael Ahmad, Emmad Irfani, Nadia Hussain, Shammal Qureshi, Redah Misbah, Juggan Kazim, Sabina Pasha, Asmaa Mumtaz, Yasir Nisar and Dr. Haroon Nabi; allowing students the chance to benefit from their expertise, exposure and guidance.

Courses at IFAP span between a series of weeks and months. Indeed upon successful completion of a course at IFAP, students will have a formal diploma and participate in their own fashion challenge, preparing them to meet with confidence and training the real-life trials they are likely to face as members of the fashion community. IFAP’s interior has been designed by Hamza Tarar of Casa Hamza.
With an initial focus on training and grooming within modelling, IFAP will soon be expanding to encompass all further essential elements of the fashion industry in its curriculum. The eventual aim is to establish a complete fashion academy under one umbrella, which will produce the country’s next generation of models, stylists, make-up artists and fashion photographers.

IFAP Contact:-

Address: Suite No. 706, 7th Floor, Siddiq Trade Center, Main Boulevard, Gulberg II, Lahore-Pakistan.

Registration and Information Desk: +92 42 3578 17 61-62

Class Registration: register@ifap.com.pk
For Inquires: info@ifap.com.pk

Website: http://www.ifap.com.pk/

About Mehreen Syed – CEO International Fashion Academy Pakistan:

Mehreen Syed is one of Pakistan’s top supermodels who has set national, regional and international fashion runways ablaze with her show stopping poise and confidence. She continues to grace the pages of local and international magazines and is among Pakistani’s most sought after supermodels. An entrepreneur, Mehreen has most recently launched the International Fashion Academy Pakistan where she combines her expertise in fashion with her business acumen to lead the institute with a passion to succeed and indeed contribute positively to institutionalizing and organizing the fashion industry in Pakistan today. Indeed through IFAP Mehreen has sought to establish a platform that allows the next generation of fashion industry professionals, specifically stylists, models, makeup artists and photographers, to study their field in a professional environment, equipping aspiring specialists with the technical know-how and exposure enabling such students to be able to pursue such studies as a viable career.

As model, Mehreen has also achieved numerous accolades which to her credit include the “International Model of the Year” award in 2005, “Face of the Year” award in 2007, “Glamorous Entrepreneur” award in 2010 and was ranked 16^th in the Hottest 50 Asian Women in the World 2009 survey.

Claiming a right for a multi-faceted beauty over a standardized or perfect beauty, L’Oréal Paris, the world’s leading beauty brand, and its international ambassadors have always been influential personalities from the world of arts, fashion and beauty; Penelope Cruz, Aishwarya Rai, Eva Longoria, Beyonce Knowles, Jane Fonda and Patrick Dempsey are a few amongst the many who have come to represent a cross section of age, morphology and ethnic origin – all illustrative of the brands’ beauty philosophy.

L’Oréal Paris Pakistan’s spokespeople share the same brand philosophy and in December 2011, the brand proudly introduced glamorous model and media personality Mehreen Syed as a Spokesperson in Pakistan.