New York Fashion Week represents a melting pot of conceptual fashion ideas shared not only in a country of mixed cultures, but the city itself has profoundly mixed cultural roots. This is why the fashion line Urban Masala is so apropos for metropolitan markets such as New York.
The Designer, Sehar Peerzada (see below image) creates clothing which are designed as ensembles but are sold as separates that can be mixed and matched to the wearers taste. This is a design feature that has significant economical benefits as well as aesthetic benefits to the customer.
The Urban Masala collection incorporates handmade, non-seasonal fabrics from around the world; as well as unique shapes of pants, tops, jackets, shawls and dresses –which are easy to fit and comfortable to wear.
“Urban Masala is a cultural hybrid collection because it brings the ethnic mix to a level where it is wearable, not as costume but as everyday wear. Many people won’t wear ethnic clothing because it’s perceived as a costume. As a form of cultural expression you’re not obligated to wear the complete cultural dress anyway. Because we are in an era where corporate culture is not supportive of cultural dress as everyday wear, people tend to take a little dab of culture and apply it to contemporary dress. This is something I noticed when I sold full mud-cloth coats through Nordstrom some years ago. Mud-cloth was my entree into Nordstrom Department Stores. The coats sold well, so I know that there is a market for cultural hybrid fashions”, states Peerzada.
Typically, the younger generation consciously purchase separates; and looks to mix different designer pieces. The Urban Masala fashion line is a new moniker for what Peerzada has always created using hand block printing on non-seasonal fabrics. The line is intended for a broad customer base that identifies with a cultural hybrid approach to achieve a modest metropolitan style.
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