Hiba Arshad

Hiba Arshad

Hiba Arshad is a Lahore-based fashion designer and blogger with a sharp eye for unusual and different style. As part of Pakistan Week on UrbanDuniya I interviewed her about her fashion line Arsh, her inspiration for writing, and her thoughts on life in Pakistan.

What was the motivation for you to start Arsh?

I have always had an aesthetic temperament and I get inspired by things around me… plus I love decorating things and adding that spark. My brain keeps brimming with ideas and recently I had been giving it all a serious thought as I perused my way through different shops looking for the design I would love to wear; that fusion of trendy yet creative ideas. So one thing led to another and I just took the plunge.

Great! And what sort of things inspire you? How can it be seen in your designs?

The odd ones… I find beauty in weird and out-of-the-way things. If I had my way my designs would completely be dark and mysterious like symbols and stuff. But I am aiming to attract girls so I have made sure that colors and girly designs are added but with a personal touch.

How has the response been so far for Arsh?

Well it’s slowly picking up pace. With all the substandard stuff available online people take their time in trusting a new name, and I dont blame them considering my personal experience with online shopping.
So if I get to exhibit my work once or twice and people get to see it themselves I believe they will love them as much as I do.

Do you feel that Pakistan, and Lahore in particular, are ideal places for such a business

Pakistan is internationally recognized as a fashion hub, and like Karachi, the Lahore fashion scene is really sizzling these days. The competition is really high and the demand for innovation is increasing rapidly. People welcome originality and creativity and thats the only way to survive. It is not what you present, rather how you present it.

Interesting! You have a blog… Do you find inspiration from Lahore and Pakistan for your writing too? 

Pakistan itself is an inspiration. You may look at the chaos before you, I focus on the flowers within. There is so much to be inspired by and I just hope that one day I can write such words in praise of my country that people can’t resist visiting and being inspired themselves.

I hope so too! What sort of things are you writing about these days? 

I usually post random thoughts however it is difficult for people to comprehend my ideas and thus I have started writing about more ordinary things. I have recently started blogging about places I visit, the food and the environment.

Finally, what do you love about Lahore?

The Punjabi touch – its in the air. Even though it is a metropolis, still amidst its modernity the rustic soul lives on.

If you would like to see more of Hiba’s designs, go to the Arsh page on Facebook where you can contact her and even place an order! For her musings, head on over to Hiba’s Blog and get reading! Don’t forget to to hit ‘like’ when you’re there!