There’s no way that proud Punjabi designer Ali Xeeshan would not be on the dictionary’s cover if “eccentric” had an image. This is the man who freely acknowledges to going to the bathroom in the middle of the night while wearing a fur coat and necklace. When the designer was establishing himself in the fashion world, Xeeshan’s daring and unconventional wardrobe choices made him stand out from the crowd.
The extravagant designer, who looked like “a Saudi prince” with his hair sleeked down on his head, hip sunglasses, and silken robe, made an appearance as a guest on Ahmad Ali Bhatt’s podcast. He sang in a sing-song voice about the incredible bullying he had experienced as a young fashion icon in Karachi, which was reminiscent of Mean Girls.
“This is how I was born,” Xeeshan declared, gesturing to his flashy attire. This is how I live. I’m sincere. I dress however I choose. I usually say that being silent is violence and being vocal is proud. Xeeshan, who was reared in a huge joint family, revealed that his mother, “who is me, magnified by a hundred,” is the source of his sense of style.
“As Lahori as it gets” with pride “I attended a government college, and it really shaped me,” Xeeshan stated. I excelled academically. I graduated from fashion school with distinctions and A marks.
Dispelling the long-standing myth that only a particular class of people may pursue a profession in an industry that seems so exclusive, Xeeshan said, “You know, fashion doesn’t belong to the elite. Though it took some time for me to succeed, my inventiveness helped me win them over. From Lahore to London, from Multan to Milan, my sense of design has its own voice.
The ambitious and self-described workaholic angrily denied being “upper class,” saying, “I may be successful now, but I have done everything under the sun to get to where I am.” While my family comes from an entrepreneurial background, we did experience financial difficulties when I was growing up. I’ve made ends meet by selling sandwiches and even bracelets during the Chaand Raat.
Drawing back bitter memories of the inevitable Lahore vs. Karachi fashion argument, Xeeshan said, “It became really ugly, and I was a victim of that.” Lahore and Karachi are clearly separated in the Pakistani fashion industry. In Lahore, I suddenly rose to fame. The people in Karachi were not fond of that.
Xeeshan remembered the center of a harsh criticism, demonstrating the extent of disapproval in Karachi. It was the Karachi Fashion Week after-party. All the people in the fashion sector were gathered around a rectangular table, according to Xeeshan. “I had no acquaintances. Then, I saw the review he had written about me in which he disparaged me as “trash from Lahore.”
Xeeshan was so upset at the moment that he ran to his car and started crying. He remarked, “I cried like I had lost my baby.” In me, something broke. I was really wounded. Xeeshan found the embarrassing memory so upsetting that tears welled up at the thought of it. “I was by myself in the city,” he remarked. Someone like that shouldn’t have to experience it. It was very incorrect. Xeeshan took a long breath and steeled himself, turning his face towards the camera. He pounded on the table to emphasize his point, bellowing, “Fashion is democratic.” It is everyone’s property.
Xeeshan is content now that he has used his career in fashion to make a financial contribution to both his nation and the people in his community. “I empower those around me and I know my worth now,” he declared. Xeeshan names his agent, his tailor, his cleaner, and everyone who has contributed to the success of his company to date. With his heart “clean,” he can rest easy.
He clarified, “I’m not here to give you a sob story.” “I don’t lie or steal. My income is in halal. Taxes are paid by me. I thank God that my work is nice and I attempt to contribute back to society. I have a pure heart. Xeeshan continued, “If your craft is rubbish and you are rude, then there is something wrong with you,” recalling others who had hurt him in the past.
Xeeshan can now be himself without worrying about receiving bad feedback, despite any traumas he may have had to overcome to get to the top.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.