“Most of the design epiphanies come at night; it is weird but I sleep with my iPad next to me and make a sketch in the middle of night while I am trying to sleep,” Annus confesses to me, as he talks about his creative process making me raise my eyebrows in admiration. And likely so, the magnitude of his tireless endeavours, unselfish creativity and determination to excel, resonates in the designers’ craft and his eponymous brand, Annus Abrar which he launched in the year 2012. Discovering a penchant for creating designs and bridal apparels in the crunch of his youth, the young designer has so far been mounting the stairway to fame and amassing a loyal clientele. In a candid tête-à-tête with MAG, Annus walks us through his personal journey into the fashion trajectory and how it lead to him becoming the admired and respected designer, he is today. Excerpts;

Please begin with telling us something about yourself. How would you describe yourself as an individual?

Born and raised in Karachi, I was brought up in a family full of skilled individuals in diverse fields. I admit that being the youngest, I had quite a few role models to look up to (and to spoil me) and that has a lot to do with shaping me as the professional and person I am today.

As an individual, I take time to open up when I meet people socially, but I am quite the opposite in a professional setting – my clients become my best friends for the moment. I think I am a fun person once you get to know me, I love to laugh and make others laugh.

At what point in your life did you realise that you were destined to be a fashion designer?

There was never a moment of realisation – from a young age my fascination grew with my mother and sister’s sartorial choices and style. They are the inspiration behind all the magic I do. I was in a medical school for my degree and that was when the destiny “decided” something else for me. Ultimately fashion just seemed to be much more exciting and creative, so that’s the way things went. My parents were conservative and they didn’t get it, but they didn’t stop me from trying anyway. But ultimately they were super proud of me even before I graduated from design school.

What is your vision with your eponymous brand and what inspired it?

My brand stems in some way or the other from a nostalgic feeling. I always blend that distinct feeling with a current event, a trend or a circumstance that’s dominating my head. Annus Abrar has an intent to link the past with the future and to bring together hands and technology. We always make an effort to inject youthfulness into my aesthetics while retaining the lady-like aura that charms our festivities. My brand has a career-long romance with colours and flowers. Our philosophy is not to dress up the client with just an outfit, but also with charm and confidence.

Bridal wear is found in much abundance as the market for it keeps on stretching and growing. How have you amassed a strong name and repute for yourself in the midst of such competition?

As you mentioned, the market is ever growing. So there is enough room for most of the great clothes and some bad ones as well. I believe there are so many levels of taste variations that there is a customer for anything. How I feel I make a difference is that I respect myself as a designer and my customer-bride-to-be by not putting out just another pretty bridal outfit. It needs to mean something to both of us. So rather than asking them to choose from my designed samples and make a mix of what she likes and dislikes, I sit with them and get to know them first. I talk about their vision of their big day and what their dream wedding is like. I find out her vision and then amalgamate it with my mine. My aesthetics are always born keeping her body-type, complexion, the event and budget in mind.

Would you agree that many designers have replicated designs from overseas designers, particularly Indian, in the name of inspiration? Your thoughts on this practice?

What is there not to agree, we see plagiarism happening left, right and center. And sometimes it is done shamelessly. Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram have made a lot of bored housewives into “Drawing room designers”. It’s a sad state nevertheless.

According to you, at present what does the Pakistani fashion industry need and how can designers like you, contribute to it?

What our current industry needs is certain checkpoints on inclusion. The fashion industry has become too inclusive for anyone, and that could be regarded as a good thing too. But earlier, when I was young and a student, it used to be seen as quite exclusive. That was one of the reasons I used to love it and wanted to struggle to get in. Now that exclusive mystery is lost as anyone with an Instagram account is part of fashion.

How would you describe your personal style?

It is quirky and cool and ever-changing. I do not stick to one way of outward representation, that’s boring. Some days you will find me in athleisure, while on others I’ll be all up for monochromes with a splash of colorful slides. One thing is always there though; confidence.