Last week, Fashion Week went East as it hit Pakistan in a flurry of glitter, sequins and some good old fashioned fierceness - a certain Miss Tyra Banks would be proud. PFW took place in Karachi, Pakistan, just two hours away by plane from primary nesting places of those pesky Taliban and Al Qaeda. I suspect they probably weren't watching. Shame. They could probably could've learnt a thing or two from it, as their long robes and beirds are like, so 300BC... sigh.

Anyway, two hours away from the Taliban, the oppressed women were out in packs - you go girls! With many risking their lives for the love of fashion, the event was drama, drama, melodrama from the off, having to be rescheduled twice because of security issues, but hey, nothing goes to plan in the fashion world.                                    

The world's most fabulous fashionistas travelled to the Eastern landscape, including Anna Wintour, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in tow as they sashayed into the front row with the grace you expect from the top names in fashion. Oh hang on, news just in... turns out, that didn't actually happen, as given the high security risks there were no designers or models from abroad being flown in. Apologies, I was thinking about the Paris version...

Anyway, the show was still all you would expect from a Pakistani fashion showcase; rich silks, intricate embroidery, and a defiance in that catwalk swagger that had a little more oomph than usual. Then again, this would be expected from models that were not so much fearing blood from anti-fur protesters, more fearing the threat of militant violence from Taliban supporters because of an exposed shoulder. Well, as Coco Chanel said, daring to bare isn't for everyone. Luckily mini-skirts are out with last nights' trash, so this time the girls were lucky.

On with the show... Karachi showed how to put on an inpirational fashion spread; the oppressed got creative with an edgy, defiant and fierce spectacle, the catwalk boasted exposed tattoos, and light chiffon teamed with punk-influenced spikes... yes, spikes - if only the models were as carefree and looses as the garments. Let's not read too much into the designer's concept, but the audience would've speculated at who the designs were aimed against - cue Designers vs Taliban bitchfight!

Heads were covered, some said because of outside oppressive interferance, but we would like to think it was designers flagging up winter fashions... at last, hats are back! International style icon Isabella Blow would've been proud, and well done to all the Pakistan designers who paid homage to the extravangant woman who died in 2007.

But it wasn't only the eccentric garments that drew attention, the catwalks dictated that next season is all about smoky eyes, with the make-up having hints of John Galliano – with combat-force camouflage. How ironic! Well, not really, I suppose, as combat-force is a reflection of the conflict Karachi civilians see on a regular basis.

So, the women stormed the catwalks in skyscraper heels, each signature walk giving a little more than Miss Jay Alexander (America's Next Tope Model judge) himself could give - a firm two fingers up to the Taliban's dictum that states a 'Ban on women wearing high heels, lest the sound of a woman's footsteps excite a man.' Wow, never has the strut of a Christian Louboutin been so political.

In conclusion, next season is all about head coverings, studded detail, and of course, big old stilettos. A big air kiss to the Karachi catwalks for showing us the way, despite the hiccups from anti-women Taliban supporters, militant arrests and suicide bomb threats... but whatever, as we all know, fashion is killer!

Next week: Fashion Week comes to Palestine!... Maybe.

Words: Kieran Yates. Kieran is a freelance writer for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD and many others.
Photos: Flickr user www.first-pakistan.blogpost.com