IVS Hosts Blaze — A Fashion Show Fundraiser Celebrating Design, Craft, and Creative Community

The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS), Karachi, hosted Blaze, a landmark fashion
show fundraiser, bringing together leading names in Pakistani fashion, distinguished alumni,
and long-time supporters of art and design education for an evening rooted in creativity,
craftsmanship, and purpose.

Hosted by acclaimed actor and IVS alumna Sarwat Gilani, the event began with reflections on
how an education in communication design at IVS shaped her creative journey. Her
homecoming set the tone for an evening that celebrated the school’s enduring role in nurturing
generations of artists, designers, architects, and cultural practitioners in Pakistan.

Each designer presenting at Blaze was given a thematic brief, creating a cohesive narrative
across the runway. The showcase opened with Chapter 2’s collection inspired by Earth, led by
IVS alumna Saira Shamoon, foregrounding material exploration and artisanal sensibilities. This
was followed by Sania Maskatiya’s interpretation of Water, and concluded with Nida Azwer’s
powerful collection themed around Fire. Together, the sequences highlighted the depth of
Pakistan’s design language, craftsmanship traditions, and contemporary fashion practice.

Dean and Executive Director Dr. Faiza Mushtaq shared IVS’s institutional journey, the evolution
of its diverse student body, and future plans including campus expansion and enhanced
infrastructure to support emerging creative practices. Chair of the Board of Governors, Zuby
Soomro, reinforced the importance of supporting non-profit institutions dedicated to art,
design, and architecture education in Pakistan.

Alumnus and musician Bilal Maqsood reflected on his formative years at IVS, while Shehzad
Roy, co-founder of Zindagi Trust, spoke about the need to value creative education and sustain
institutions that shape Pakistan’s cultural landscape.

As a registered non-profit institute, IVS has dedicated the proceeds from Blaze to its Campus
Expansion Project, aimed at strengthening facilities, studios, and learning environments for
current and future students across disciplines including fine art, textile design, fashion design,
communication design, interior design and architecture.