Dona Paranayil
Saudi Gazette
“A young creative soul, travelling through life” as she describes herself, 25 year old Mehvish Khan is an aspiring fashion designer from Wales, UK who currently promotes her clothing line M.Durrani in KSA. She is a qualified paediatric nurse of mixed Welsh Pakistani descent who wants to create her own identity in fashion without the presence of any cultural gaps. Her couture creations are a fusion of Arab, Pakistani and Western designs. She came to Riyadh after her marriage.
SG: What inspired you to join the fashion industry?
MK: Growing up in the west, I would often find myself wavering between two cultures, torn between wearing the latest western apparel and traditional Asian clothing. I wanted to find my own identity; I wanted to create cultural co-existence, which is what fuelled my desire to start creating my own garments. Furthermore, my mum is a professional seamstress therefore I had some knowledge of sewing and putting designs together.
SG: What elements, trends, styles and designs do you prefer for the Saudis?
MK: I really enjoy using fabric sourced from Pakistan so to support the local economy over there. Recently I have enjoyed designing Abayas/Kimonos using subtle coloured western influenced prints and traditional Pakistani appliqué, to bring something different to the current Arab market.
SG: Can you talk about your fashion influence from Pakistan and Wales?
MK: My vacation to Pakistan in the spring of 2014 was the start of an inspirational journey, which led to the eventual creation of M.Durrani. The colours, scents and the dreamy scenery of the village life were an ideal source of imaginative thinking; it was during this trip I was able to combine my skills learnt over the years, by fusing Arabian influences with Pakistani and Western elements.
SG: Was it a struggle for you when you started your fashion journey in KSA?
MK: I struggled to showcase my work whilst taking into account the different responsibilities I had, to respect a culture that I was new to. For example, previously in the UK, I could easily access fashion models, photographers and do photo shoots in public. However, I feel that with challenges, you grow creatively when you try to think of alternative ways to overcome them.
SG: What differences do you find between the styles women choose to wear in Pakistan, the UK and KSA?
MK: I have found that women in Pakistan and KSA are increasingly influenced by trends that have Western elements to them because of the increasing influence over the years of the western media in the Middle East and Asia. Whilst women in the West are progressively looking for garments that are flowy and loose, which would not only enhance their personality, but adds to the flavour of their personal image as a Westerner.
Instagram: @m.durrani
Facebook: @m.durrani89
