Top 10 Pakistani Fashion Designers in 2026: Bridal and Pret Collections
The top 10 Pakistani fashion designers in 2026 are HSY, Bunto Kazmi, Faraz Manan, Ali Xeeshan, Élan, Zara Shahjahan, Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari, Sana Safinaz, and Maria B. Planning a wedding? Look at the first four, because that is where Pakistani bridal couture is strongest. The next four suit formal events, and Sana Safinaz and Maria B are the pret labels most women already know.
There's no ranking here, just groups by specialty. Lahore accounts for six of the names, Karachi for the other four. Under each name: the year it started, what it costs, and where to shop. There's also a section on booking a bridal designer, since the 2026/27 wedding season is close.
Top 10 Pakistani Designers Compared
| Designer | Based in, since | Known for | Best for | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSY | Lahore, 2000 | Bridal couture and groomswear | Barat, walima, grooms | Couture, by appointment |
| Bunto Kazmi | Karachi, family house for over 50 years | Heritage hand embroidery | Traditional brides | Couture, by appointment |
| Faraz Manan | Lahore, with a Dubai flagship | Glamorous bridal and formal wear | Bridal, high-end formal events | Couture, by appointment |
| Ali Xeeshan | Lahore, debut 2010 | Theatrical bridal | Statement brides | Couture, by appointment |
| Élan | Lahore, 2006 | Luxury lawn and couture | Formal events, luxury lawn | Luxury; couture made to order |
| Zara Shahjahan | Lahore, 2004 | Vintage-inspired florals | Nikah, formal, lawn | PKR 6,000 to 38,000 (lawn and pret); PKR 115,000 to 375,000 (formal and bridal) |
| Deepak Perwani | Karachi, 1996 | Bridal and menswear | Brides, grooms, wedding formals | Luxury; bridal on request |
| Nomi Ansari | Karachi, 2001 | Bold color and handwork | Mehndi, festive events | Luxury; bridal on request |
| Sana Safinaz | Karachi, 1989 | Lawn, pret and formal under one label | Eid, dinners, everyday luxury | PKR 5,000 to 216,000 |
| Maria B | Lahore, 1999 | Casual to bridal in one range | Eid, formal, everyday pret | PKR 13,000 to 63,000 (new arrivals) |
We picked these ten because their names keep coming up in Pakistani fashion press and designer lists.
In October 2026, we checked that each one has a current collection, its own studio or stores, and at least ten years in business, using the labels' own sites, Dawn, The Express Tribune and Arab News.
Where you see a PKR price, it's from the designer's own website; 'by appointment' means you'll get a quote after meeting them.
Bridal Couture Designers in Pakistan
Ask a bride in Lahore or Karachi who she's considering, and these four names usually come up. All of them make bridal to order, and you'll usually need an appointment.
HSY (Hassan Sheheryar Yasin)
Hassan Sheheryar Yasin opened HSY in 2000, straight after his course at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD). Say "couture" to most people in Lahore today, and his label is one of the first they think of.
Grooms aren't an afterthought at HSY, which is rarer than you'd think. That's why so many couples order the lehenga and the sherwani from him together. Expect rich, regal work with a very polished finish.
You can book a consultation at the Lahore studio or through theworldofhsy.com.
Bunto Kazmi
In many Pakistani families, "a Bunto Kazmi jora" means the most traditional bridal outfit money can buy. Her Karachi house has been making bridal wear for more than five decades.
The appeal is the hand embroidery, especially chatta patti work, in deep traditional colors. These are outfits families keep and pass down. She's also known for seeing brides herself at appointments.
For a timeless, classic look, start here. Appointments are at her Karachi boutique.
Faraz Manan
Faraz Manan made history in 2024 when Business of Fashion put him on the BoF 500, its yearly list of people shaping global fashion. No Pakistani designer had been on it before, and he has stayed on it since.
Lahore is his base. In 2015, he also opened a flagship in Dubai, something no designer from the subcontinent had done before. His brides usually wear pastels and metallics, often heavily embellished.
Brides in the Gulf tend to know him well. You'll find him in Lahore, in Dubai, and at farazmanan.com.
Ali Xeeshan
Ali Xeeshan showed his first collection at Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) Fashion Week in 2010. It did well enough that he opened Ali Xeeshan Theater Studio soon after. He likes his shows to say something, and one campaign tackled dowry culture.
The clothes are as theatrical as the name suggests. Think bold color, layers of ornament, and plenty of drama, so this isn't the place for a quiet, minimal bride.
He has studios in Lahore and Karachi and sells online at alixeeshanempire.com.
You don't need full couture for every function, though, and most nikah and mehndi outfits come from the next group.
Luxury Formal Wear Designers
These four sit between everyday pret and full bridal. They're where you go for a formal outfit or a wedding guest look, and most also take bridal orders.
Élan (Khadijah Shah)
Élan has been Khadijah Shah's label from day one, set up in Lahore in 2006. Evening and bridal wear built its reputation, and these days plenty of women wait for its luxury lawn every summer.
Don't expect loud color from Élan; the appeal is in small, careful detail. The label now runs couture, pret, ready-to-wear, and unstitched lawn and silk.
Visit Maison Élan in Lahore or any Élan store, or order from elan.pk.
Zara Shahjahan
Before fashion, Zara Shahjahan studied at the National College of Arts (NCA) and painted miniatures. She started her own label in Lahore in 2004. She calls it a celebration of vintage Pakistani fashion.
You'll recognize her work by the soft florals and old Lahore feel. On her site, lawn and pret cost roughly PKR 6,000 to 38,000, and formal and bridal pieces roughly PKR 115,000 to 375,000.
Many brides pick her for the nikah. Her flagship, Zara Shahjahan Manzil, is in Gulberg, Lahore, and everything else is on zarashahjahan.com.
Deepak Perwani
Deepak Perwani launched his Karachi label in 1996 as a bridal house and later became one of Pakistan's leading menswear designers. He now runs a flagship atelier in Karachi.
On the women's side, there's luxury pret, raw silk, and wedding formals. Men can get sherwanis, waistcoats, kurtas, and suits, and there's a Legacy Wedding Wear line for couples.
He keeps things clean and well-cut instead of piling on embellishment, and couples after a modern look tend to like that. Shop at the Karachi atelier or deepakperwani.com.
Nomi Ansari
Nomi Ansari opened his studio in Karachi in 2001, and color has been his signature ever since. Today the studio makes bridal and occasion wear, plus a diffusion pret line called DNA.
His outfits are bright and color-blocked, with extensive handwork. Brides who find classic red too predictable often come to him instead.
Mehndi is where his clothes shine. You'll find him at his Karachi studio and nomiansari.com.pk.
For Eid and everyday dressing, two labels with very long track records cover the most ground.
Pret and Everyday Luxury Designers
Both sell ready-to-wear and lawn in large volumes, plus formal and bridal lines. Of the ten, they're also the easiest to buy from, with stores around Pakistan and delivery from their own sites.
Sana Safinaz
Sana Safinaz goes back to 1989, when two women, Sana Hashwani and Safinaz Muneer, started it in Karachi. Few Pakistani designer labels have been around longer.
They sell lawn, ready-to-wear, luxury pret, and formal wear, all with clean, modern cuts on traditional shapes. Luxury pret prices on their site start at about PKR 5,000 and go up to about PKR 216,000.
It's an easy pick for Eid and dinners. Buy in stores across Pakistan or at sanasafinaz.com.
Maria B
Maria Butt opened the first Maria B store in Lahore in 1999, soon after graduating from PIFD. The brand is now known well beyond Pakistan.
No other designer on this list covers as much: casual pret, formal wear, and bridal all sit under one name. New arrivals on mariab.pk cost roughly PKR 13,000 to 63,000.
If your budget is mid-range, this is a good place to start. Maria B has stores across Pakistan, outlets abroad, and an online store.
More Pakistani designers to know
Sania Maskatiya set up her Karachi label in 2010 with her brother Umair Tabani, and people know it for prints and modern cuts. Zainab Chottani made her name in bridal first. She opened her first Karachi store in 2016, and now sells luxury pret from Karachi and Lahore.
Zonia Anwaar's Lahore design house covers bridal, formal, and luxury pret, while Faiza Saqlain's formal wear leans traditional. All four still release new collections, so they're worth keeping an eye on.
Booking a Bridal Designer for the 2026/27 Wedding Season
Wedding season in Pakistan follows the weather, running roughly from November to February. That puts the 2026/27 season right on our doorstep, and couture studios get booked up quickly at this time of year.
When to book
Nothing in couture bridal comes off a rack. It's all made for you, and most studios won't see you without an appointment. So message your shortlist months ahead, not weeks, and ask each studio what lead time they're working with right now.
Living abroad? Then start even earlier. Fittings, shipping, and customs can each eat up weeks.
What to ask at a consultation
- Total price, and exactly what's in it (shirt, lehenga, dupatta, alterations)
- Number of fittings, and whether they can do one remotely
- The delivery date, and what happens if it slips
- The deposit amount and the payment schedule
- Whether they ship internationally, and who pays duties
Handwork terms you will hear
- Zardozi: raised embroidery in metallic thread
- Dabka: coiled metal wire, stitched for texture
- Tilla: gold or silver thread embroidery
- Gota: woven metallic ribbon, used on borders and motifs
- Resham: silk thread embroidery
Lahore vs Karachi Fashion Designers
Pakistan's designer scene lives mostly in two cities, and plenty of brides travel to one of them for fittings.
Designers based in Lahore
HSY, Faraz Manan, Ali Xeeshan, Élan, Zara Shahjahan and Maria B are all Lahore labels. Many of the city's designer stores are in Gulberg and around MM Alam Road, including Zara Shahjahan Manzil.
Designers based in Karachi
On the Karachi side, you have Bunto Kazmi, Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari and Sana Safinaz, plus Sania Maskatiya and Zainab Chottani. A few of them have Lahore branches too, so check before booking a flight.
Which Pakistani Designer for Which Occasion
Use it to narrow things down, then go back to the profiles for prices and stores.
Weddings and bridal events
| Occasion | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Barat, classic bridal | Bunto Kazmi, HSY | Traditional hand embroidery, heirloom shapes |
| Statement bridal | Ali Xeeshan, Faraz Manan | Drama, glamour, heavy embellishment |
| Nikah and walima | Zara Shahjahan, Élan | Soft palettes, refined detail |
| Mehndi | Nomi Ansari | Bold, joyful color |
Eid, dinners and everyday
Eid shopping usually starts at Sana Safinaz or Maria B because their ready-to-wear is easy to buy and ships fast. Going somewhere dressier? Zara Shahjahan and Élan both fit, and their lawn is good for summer too.
Grooms and menswear
HSY and Deepak Perwani are the obvious names for sherwanis and groomswear. Republic by Omar Farooq is another well-known menswear label, with stores in Karachi, Lahore, and Dubai, and a range that includes suits, sherwanis, and waistcoats.
Buying Pakistani Designer Wear from Abroad
Ordering from outside Pakistan is easier than it used to be. Most of these labels ship worldwide from their own sites, and a few have stores in the Gulf.
Use official websites and stores
The safest route is the label's own website or store, or a stockist the label lists itself. In the UAE, you can walk into Faraz Manan's Dubai store, and Maria B and Sana Safinaz will ship to you from their sites.
Plan for delivery time and duties
International orders take longer than local ones, and made-to-order pieces take the longest. Buying for a wedding date? Look at the delivery estimate on the product page before you pay.
Duties are different in every country. Check at checkout whether you or the seller covers them.
Where JEEM Fits
You won't find JEEM in the list above, and that's deliberate. JEEM is a Pakistani label making women's formal wear, luxury pret, and bridal wear, and we ship worldwide.
In price and handwork, we sit somewhere between the big clothing brands in Pakistan and the couture houses.
Everything is embroidered by hand on raw silk, chiffon, organza, or jamawar, and you can order it ready-to-wear or made to your measurements. In Pakistan, a formal piece usually arrives in 15 to 20 business days; abroad, we ship via DHL Express.
Formal wear
JEEM formal dresses start at about PKR 39,500. Lavender White pairs a pearl- and resham-embroidered jacket with a silk sharara. See the rest in our formal dresses collection.
Luxury pret and silk
Sia Green is an emerald raw silk kaftan set. Maya Black is a two-piece in raw silk, embellished by hand. Browse luxury pret and silk dresses for more.
Bridal
Red Bridal is an embroidered net kalidar with a jamawar lehenga, priced at PKR 280,000. See all our bridal dresses, or read our guide to winter wedding bridal dresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best designer in Pakistan?
That depends on the outfit. Brides ask about HSY, Bunto Kazmi, and Ali Xeeshan most. Faraz Manan has the biggest name abroad, as the first Pakistani on the BoF 500. For lawn through to formal wear under one roof, it's Sana Safinaz or Maria B.
Who are the top 10 fashion designers in Pakistan?
In our view, the top 10 fashion designers in Pakistan for 2026 are HSY, Bunto Kazmi, Faraz Manan, Ali Xeeshan, Élan, Zara Shahjahan, Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari, Sana Safinaz, and Maria B. To make the cut, a label needed current collections, its own studio or stores, and ten years or more in business.
Which Pakistani designer is most famous internationally?
Right now, Faraz Manan is Pakistan's most internationally famous designer. The Business of Fashion added him to its BoF 500 in 2024, a first for Pakistan, and kept him on the list in 2025 and 2026. He's also had a boutique in Dubai since 2015, so plenty of his clients live in the Gulf.
How early should I book a Pakistani bridal designer for the 2026/27 wedding season?
Give a Pakistani bridal designer several months' notice. Studios make every couture outfit from scratch and usually see clients only by appointment, so ask each one how long their current waitlist is. Living outside Pakistan means extra weeks for fittings and shipping, so plan for that too.
Which Pakistani designers are based in Lahore and Karachi?
Six of these Pakistani designers are based in Lahore: HSY, Faraz Manan, Ali Xeeshan, Élan, Zara Shahjahan and Maria B. Four are based in Karachi: Bunto Kazmi, Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari and Sana Safinaz.
Planning your outfits for the wedding season? Browse JEEM's formal dresses and bridal dresses, or read our guide to formal dressing for ladies in Pakistan for the dholki, mehndi, and dinner events in between.
