Fashion is a diverse field to be a part of. One has to look around for inspirations and keep an eye on current affairs. Designers not only focus on creativity but also diversity of imaginations, influence and versatile inspirations to come up with something new for their audience. Some focus on creating a signature look which goes a long way with their new collections while others choose variety and change in theme/ story line/ trends.

It’s not something new to talk about but what we are going to share here is definitely something unique that Miss Stella Jean has come up with recently.

STELLA JEAN is someone who believes in the anatomy of multi-culturism and promotes fashion based on diversity and array of ethics.

STELLA X CHITRAL

Stella’s latest collection was inspired from the women of Kalash, Chitral. Stella Jean is a designer who’s been working actively to use fashion as a tool for development; titled Laboratory of Nations. This project aims to create a bridge between Italy and nine mission destinations, one of which is Pakistan. To accomplish her mission Stella made her visit to Pakistan this year and lived in Chitral for two weeks.

DURING HER STAY IN CHITRAL:

Her main aim was to know talent which is inherited from generation to generation in Kalash and needs to be known by the world. During her stay she made researches on the embroidery techniques, which are on the verge of extinction. Fascinated by the vivid colors, design elements and embroidery techniques indigenous to Chitral, Kalash and Hunza, she worked with the women to preserve them in such a way that people will get to know about it and alternatively promoting women empowerment, allowing the craft international exposure.

Extracted from Vogue,

“For several weeks, 46 women in the center embroidered more than 4,000 meters of material. On the runway inside Milan’s Palazzo Arengario, the colorful stitching wrapped around dresses, adorned belts, and decorated the hemlines of Jean’s summer dresses. According to a press release, it was the first time the embroideries were ever produced for use outside the Kalash community.”

Stella Jean collaborated with the Chitral Women’s Handicrafts Centre which is founded by the 22-year-old Karishma Ali and the entire mission was facilitated by the government. The designer’s visit was organized in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under the patronage of the Ministry of Commerce.

ABOUT STELLA’S COLLECTION:

Giving a glimpse of what inspired her; one mood board, for example, was inspired by a truck art design made by artists in Lahore under the artistic supervision of Professor Mazhar Rizvi, Head of Department of the National College of Arts, Lahore. During her collection showcase at Milan Fashion Week, the shoes that models were wearing had the art inspiration from Pakistan truck art. Pakistani model Mushk Kaleem opened the show for Stella Jean at Milan Fashion Week, clad in an outfit that boasted colours of the Kailash region. Alicia Khan walked the runway in a luxe jersey that read CHITRAL 20 in bold across the front, standing in front of the Duomo Di Milano.

The collection is based on edgy cuts, long frocks having handmade embroidery over the borders, mixed flowers and geometric shapes, a kimono jacket, a shirt-dress featuring utility pockets and a puffy blouse with baby collars to some dresses.

While showcasing her collection in Pakistan at Fashion Pakistan Week, 2019, Stella chose Karishma Ali as her showstopper. Karishma is said to be the brave founder of Chitral’s Women’s Handicraft Center and football champion. Fashion actually goes beyond aesthetics.