
The Legacy of Nilofer Shahid
For the past three decades Nilofer Shahid has enthralled fashion connoisseurs around the world with the creative genius of a true maestro – a pioneer of haute couture in Pakistan. She is an ambassador of her country’s rich traditions as she opens the portal to the subcontinent’s history through her profound collections. Her label, Meeras, meaning heritage, is truly an immortalization of the past captivated in her classical ensembles. The designer from Lahore is Pakistan’s finest legacy to fashion, interwoven with her own spiritual realization of God’s ubiquitous presence manifesting through her beautiful creations.
Nilofer Shahid has been acclaimed and honored extensively, locally and internationally. In 2013, the French Government honoured Nilofer by conferring on her their highest civilian award, ‘Grade de Chevalier’ in the Order of Arts & Letters, in recognition of her major contributions towards Art and Culture. She is the only Pakistani designer to have been knighted.
Nilofer Shahid continues to redefine elegance and style; she experiments with shapes and silhouettes with spectacular results. She continues to raise the benchmark and at all times maintaining her pole position. No doubt she is the undisputed “Runway Empress of Pakistan”.
Awards & Achievements
2018: December 7
Event: Pantene
Award: “Strong is Beautiful”
2016:
Event: Lux Style Awards
Award: Lux Lifetime Achievement
2014: May 29
Event: Savvy & Successful Annual Awards
Venue: Expo Centre Lahore
Organized by: CCBP (Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan)
Occasion: To honor Six Pakistani women of great strength including Nilofer Shahid, for their remarkable and outstanding achievements
2013: May 27
Venue: The Governor House, Lahore
Occasion: Conferment Ceremony
In 2013, the French Government honoured Nilofer Shahid by conferring on her their highest civilian award, ‘Grade de Chevalier’ in the Order of Arts & Letters, in recognition of her major contributions towards Art and Culture. She is the only Pakistani designer to have been knighted.
2013: February 25
Venue: Kinnaird College for Women Lahore
Occasion: Centenary Celebrations
Recognized and honored for her achievements by her Alma Mater
2012:
Appointed to the Board of Governors of SABAH Pakistan (SAARC Business Association for Home Based Workers)
2011:
Venue: Karachi
Event: International Conference: Women Leadership
Received an award for one of the Top 7 Women Leaders in Pakistan
2006: May
Event: Indus Style Awards
Life time Achievement Award
2005:
Appointed to the steering committee of the PM Shaukat Aziz’s project “AHAN” (One Product One Village.) headed by the Minister of Industries, Mr. Jehangir Tareen
2004:
Appointed to Board of Governors for the “Lux Style Awards”.
2003:
Appointed as the Chairperson PFDC – Pakistan Fashion Design Council.
2003-04:
Appointed to the Board of Governors of the ‘Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design’
2003:
Award: Lux Style Award
For the Best Designer Couture/Bridal wear
Runway Report
2018 December 7
Event: Bridal Couture Week
Collection: “Badshah Begum” organized by Hum TV
2017 October 3
Show: Defile Paris Fashion Show
Venue: Embassy of Pakistan Paris
Collection: Seven Decades of Pakistan
Occasion: To commemorate 70 years of Pakistan’s Independence
2017 February 6
Venue: One Marylebone Church London
Concept: Fashion Parade Bride
Presented by: Mustang Productions
Nilofer Shahid showcased her collection in the Grand Finale to glowing accolades
2016
Venue: Mauritius
Event: Pakistan Mauritius Friendship Week
Organized by: TDAP
The President of Mauritius, H.E Ameenah Gurib-Fakim especially requested for Nilofer Shahid to participate and show her latest work
2015
Venue: Karachi
Event: Fashion Pakistan Week
Collection: Rembrandt
A glorious tribute to the 17th Century Dutch painter Rembrandt
2012
Venue: Konya & Istanbul, Turkey
Show: ‘Kemal – the Perfect Man’,
Theme: Mystical journey of man’s spiritual accent through intellect and love to the perfect – a tribute to ‘Pir-i-Rumi’ and ‘Mureed-e-Hind’ as Dr. Iqbal liked to call himself.
2010
Event: Bridal Couture Week
Bridal collection inspired by five regions of the subcontinent steeped in rich culture
2009 October 2-5
Event: “The Box” a high end accessories fair
Organized by: “Pret a Porter Federation”, Paris.
Venue: Pavillon Cambon Capucines, Rue Cambon, Paris
First Pakistani designer invited to showcase accessories in this exclusive exhibition
2009 June 28
Venue: Mississauga, Canada:
Event: A highly successful presentation for LRBT Charity
2009 June 16
Venue: Vancouver Canada
Organizers: Pakistani Consulate General, Vancouver
First solo presentation by a Pakistani designer; attended by a large audience; acclaimed by the local and international media.
2008 December 18
Venue: Golf Country Club Karachi
Sponsored by: French Consulate Karachi
Show: Two Great Empresses Nur Jehan and Josephine
2008 April 19
Venue: North Country Club, Westlake Village, L.A.
A very exclusive showing
2008 April 12
Venue: Hotel Intercontinental Dallas
Show: “Diwan-e-Khas: Mughal Night”
2008 February 15
Venue: Houston,
Show: “Colors of Pakistan”
2007 November 29
Venue: Baron’s Palace, Cairo
Event: The Grand Pakistani Night
To showcase the traditional and fusion/western collection for an international audience Organizers: Mobilink and Orascom.
2007 January 21
Venue: Salon Boucheron, 26 Place Vendome, Paris-France.
Event: “Haute Couture Fashion Week Paris”.
The first Pakistani designer to be invited by the “Le Chambre de Syndical de la Couture” In collaboration with the world famous “Boucheron” jewelers
2006 Dec 5
“Asian Fashion Show” organized by the French company “La Mode En Images,” directed by Olivier Massart and choreographed by Kader Belardi for the opening of the 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006. Nilofer Shahid was the only Pakistani designer amongst 30 International designers which included KENZO.
2006 October
Venue: Washington DC
Event: A Cultural Show
Occasion: President of Pakistan, General Pervaiz Musharraf’s visit to the US a
Amongst the august attendees were American Senators and Congressmen
2006 Jun 28- Jul 28
Venue: Joyce Gallery, Palais Royale, Paris
Event: Paris celebrates “Balenciaga”
Honoured to exhibit alongside “Balenciaga” during the Haute Couture Fashion Week
2006 March
Venue: Bab-ul-Shams (Desert Resort Dubai) ,
Sponsored by: ABN- Amro Bank
Show: Arabian Nights
Collection: Kahlil Gibran
Based on the profound narrations of Kahlil Gibran, the renowned poet and artist of Lebanon
2006 January
Event: Lux Carnival de la Couture
Prestigious fashion show in Pakistan which also included the top designer of India, Rohit Bal
2005
Venue: New Delhi, India
Event: Bridal Asia International Fashion Week
2004
Venue: Mumbai, India
Event: “Femina Bridal Show”
In collaboration with Libas
2004
Venue: New Delhi, India
Event: Bridal Asia International Fashion Week
2003
Venus: the Royal Albert Hall, London
Event: Part of a high profile cultural event titled “Rhythms of the Indus” graced by President Pervaiz Musharaf
Collection: Lahore Collection (Legacy of the Mughals)
2001
Venue: Athens & Warsaw
Single Country Exhibition
Sponsored by Cable Network Greece and Export Promotion Bureau Pakistan
2000
Venue: London
Show: Journey of the Soul
Collection: Omar Khayyam
Inspired by the quatrains of the great mystic poet Omar Khayyam
1999
Venue: New Delhi
Event: Bridal Asia – International Fashion Week
1999
Venue: World Trade Centre, Dubai
Fashion Show: Theme A Midsummer Night Dreams
Sponsored by the Government of Pakistan
1998:
Designed Watches and Belts for “Boucheron Jewellers” based in Paris, who are amongst the top five jewellers of the world.
1997
Venue: The Louvre Paris
Event: Paris Fashion Week
Collection: Chughtai Collection
Inspired by the paintings of the Grand Master of the Sub-Continent A.R. Chughtai; immortalizing poetry of the two greatest poets of the Urdu language Ghalib and Iqbal.
The first Asian to share the Paris runway with the leading names in couture Olivier Lapidus and Boucheron
Sponsored by Boucheron Jewelers
1996
Venue: Paris:
Event: Grand Premiere Ball,
Organizers: “Point du Vue” top French Magazine
29 top designers from all over the world participated
1996
United States: Paramount Studios – Hollywood, Chicago and Houston.
Theme – “Tapestries In The Looms Of Time”.
(A multimedia show based in the cultural history of the sub-continent, from 5000 B.C. to Pakistan today).
1996
Venue: Zurich
Invited by O.S.E.C.
Theme: “Mughal Flora”.
1995
Venue: Embassy of Pakistan, Tashkent
Show: Central Asia.
1995
Venue: National Museum Washington DC and Convention Centre Los Angeles
Occasion: Part of PM Benazir Bhutto’s entourage, supported by E.P.B
Show: Flames of Eternity
1995
Venue: Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi,
Show: Central Asia, Islamic Calligraphy and Mughal Art
Clientele
Some high profile local clients
- Begum Samina Alvi wife of Arif Alvi 13th President of Pakistan 2018
- Begum Fozia Raza Gillani wife of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani (2008-12) and currently member of the National Assembly
- Begum Sehba Musharraf and her family, wife of Pervez Musharraf 10th President of Pakistan 2001-08
- The family of Nawaz Sharif three times Prime Minister of Pakistan 1990-93, 1997-99 & 2013-17
- Late Benazir Bhutto twice Prime Minister of Pakistan 1988-90 & 1993-96
- The family of late Ghulam Ishaq Khan 7th President of Pakistan 1988-93
- The family of Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Chief Minister of Punjab, currently speaker of the Punjab Assembly
- The family of Ch. Shujaat Hussain – interim Prime Minister of Pakistan 2004, a leading politician and head of Pakistan Muslim League Q
Royal and high profile international clients
- Cherie Blair -wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair 1997-2007
- Madonna – American singer & songwriter, also known as the “Queen of Pop”
- Madame Laure Bouley, Editor “Point De Vue” magazine in Paris
- Princess Haifa (daughter of Late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia) and her extended family.
- Princess Nourah Bint Mohammad (wife of Governor of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
- Princess Jawaherah Al Thani of Qatar
- Diana Princess of Wales (1961-97)
- Jemima Marcelle Khan daughter of James Goldsmith, ex-wife of Imran Khan 1995-2005
- Lady Annabel Goldsmith wife of James Goldsmith
- Olivia George Harrison – wife of the famous Beatle singer ‘George Harrison’
- & Mrs. Yann Debelle (Director of Communications, Dunhill, UK)
- Mily Boston wife of Mr. Mark Boston, Chairman H. Goldie & Company Limited – International Diamond Broker (now De Beers)
- Janus et Cic (President Pacific Design Centre, California, USA)
- Countess Joy de Rohan Chabot, France
- Countess Martha Morzotto
- Royal family of Mauritius
- Nazik Hariri wife of the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri (1992-98 & 2000-05)
International Media Coverage
PRINT MEDIA: Magazines & Newspapers
- FGC magazine 2017.
- Touch magazine 2017 by Walma
- Hello magazine Style Icons 2016 Pg 76-84
- STIJL magazine voruwomen mode Catwalk Karachi 2016
- Signature Style in “VISAGE” magazine 2015
- Cover page of SHE Magazine BridaL Collection shoot by Ather Shehzad 2013
- The perfect Man Couture Collection (Rumi & Iqbal) “Brides & You” magazine
- Diplomat – UK based March 2011
- Collezioni Accessori – 2010 Spring/Summer
- Collezioni Accessori – 2010-11 Autumn/Winter
- Collezioni Sposa
- Revived Book “The Journey within” 2008 by Walter Publishers
- Oui Magazine
- Byzance Magazine 2006-7
- A shaded view on Fashion. com by Diane Pernet 2007
- Je Magazine- 2006-7
- Le Figaro- 2007
- TF 1 2007
- Pakistan Un Autre regard by Delphine Evmoon-2006
- L’ Expansion Magazine-2006
- Leon HaToT- 2006
- Madam Figaro Taiwan Magazine 2006
- NEW YORK TIMES USA – 2004
- BBC WORLD – 2003
- “VALEURS” France – 1997
- VOGUE French Edition – 1997
- Al-Jareedah – 1997
- MATCH DE PARIS – 1997
- POINT DE VUE Paris – 1995 & 1996
- TIME magazine Golden Anniversary Edition October – 1996
- TIME magazine Special Edition August – 1997
- ELLE magazine – 1996
- BLICK Zurich, Switzerland – 1996
- HELLO (UK and Middle East)
- HERALD TRIBUNE.
- SELECTA MAGAZINE, USA.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA:
- TV 1 2007
- FTV International 2007
- TV LUXE 2007
- VISION Australia – 2004
- South African Channel – 2004
- ITV, London – 2003
- LTV [London television] – 1997
- FTV (thrice) 1995-1996-1997
- POLISH TV – 1994