Lahore: Pakistani fashion designers drew attention during India's Diwali celebrations this year as several Bollywood personalities and members of the Kapoor family were seen in outfits attributed to labels from across the border.
The festival, celebrated on November 8, brought together actors, designers and members of the Indian entertainment industry for gatherings and family events, with fashion emerging as a point of cultural exchange between Pakistan and India.
Among those wearing Pakistani designs was Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of actors Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, who chose an ensemble by Anum Rajwani. She credited the designer in a social media post shared during the festivities.
Maheep Kapoor, television personality and wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor, was also reportedly seen wearing Anum Rajwani, marking another appearance for the Pakistani label during the celebrations.
Actor and television presenter Shibani Dandekar was linked to a creation by Pakistani designer Iqbal Hussain, whose work incorporates embroidery and clothing traditions associated with South Asian formalwear.
Sunita Kapoor, wife of actor Anil Kapoor, was reported to have worn an outfit by Pakistani label Sana Tara, while actor and television personality Malaika Arora was linked to Karachi based designer Shehla Chatoor.
Fashion connects audiences across borders
The appearances highlight the reach of Pakistani fashion houses within India's entertainment industry, where designers from both countries draw on shared traditions of embroidery, textiles and occasion wear.
Pakistani labels have attracted attention beyond their domestic market through celebrity styling, fashion publications and social media, allowing their collections to reach consumers without depending exclusively on physical retail outlets.
The Diwali appearances also come against the backdrop of restrictions on cultural and commercial exchanges between Pakistan and India. Political tensions have affected formal cooperation across several industries, although fashion continues to circulate through digital platforms and networks of stylists, retailers and consumers.
For Pakistani designers, celebrity appearances in India offer exposure to an audience beyond Pakistan and provide opportunities for their work to be recognised within the wider South Asian fashion market.
The selections during this year's festivities reflect how shared clothing traditions continue to influence fashion choices on both sides of the border, even as relations between the two countries remain constrained.
