PIA unveiled their new uniforms last night in a unique event that featured some of the biggest names in Pakistani Fashion.

Legendary designer Bunto Kazmi co-opted the likes of Maheen Khan, HSY and Sania Maskatiya into presenting possible designs for PIA’s new look.

A total of sixteen top designers presented their visions for PIA’s new uniform and a distinguished panel of judges awarded marks to each. Zeba Bakhtiar, Tariq Amin, Naz Mansha and Indus Valley Dean Shehnaz Ismail were among the judges.

It was a night of patriotism and nostalgia with designers reminiscing about their experiences on PIA and clearly excited about putting together a fresh look for the national carrier. There was a feeling that PIA staff are ambassadors for Pakistan and how they look reflects on us.

The presentations themselves were as varied as the designers themselves. Sania Maskatiya and Nida Azwer drew inspiration from the national flower and bird. Azwer paired her colourful scarves with shalwar kameezes trimmed with complementary colours. She included pants as an alternative to the shalwar and included pretty blue waistcoats in the look. She chose a beret as a cap which had too much of a military feel and didn’t really appeal.

Nida Azwer's collection showed digital printed scarves. —Publicity photo

Maskatiya, meanwhile, showed pants and waistcoats in her trademark textured fabric. Her buttoned hats were a hit but the outfits generally had too much going on. Maheen Karim took her inspiration from Pakistani Art and showed three beautiful outfits that drew on the same roots but were very dissimilar.