Emerging talent shines out at the LSA Fashion nominations

KARACHI - The much awaited Fashion Nominations for the 7th Annual LUX Style Awards have been announced.

The nominations were announced for the nine fashion categories of Model of the Year (Male and Female), Best Emerging Talent - that evaluates the work in the field of fashion of new entrants who have been working since the past three years - Best Fashion Photographer, Best Hair and Make up Artist, Best Couture Designer, Best Pretwear Designer, Best Menswear Designer and Best Retail Brand.

LUX Style Awards winners and regular nominees HSY, Faiza Samee, Maheen Khan, Nomi Ansari, Ather Shehzad, Karma and Amir Adnan did not get nomination slots for 2007 for a variety of reasons. Their focus on expansion beyond Pakistan and consolidating their businesses within meant that despite many shoots and shows during the year the jury missed the cutting edge innovation, bright new spark and the signature stamp that characterised the nominees who made the grade.

The Female Model category is one of the most evolved and dynamic fields in fashion with new entrants and new challengers edging out the old guard completely.

Understandably, there is last year's winner Neha Ahmed and the winner of the Best Emerging Talent of a year ago Fayeza Ansari but apart from that there are new faces Fauzia Amir, Nadia Ali and Nooray Bhatti in the top five.

As against that the Male model list is very predictable with Abdullah Ijaz, Ameer Zeb Khan, Iffi, Hareeb, Rizwan Ali taking top slots on account of their diverse work during 2007.