ISLAMABAD: On display at the Iqra University are solid expressions of individual talents of the 2014 graduating class of textile students.
Spread on two floors of the campus, the Textile Thesis Exhibition 2014 included creative efforts of textile design degree candidates.
Curator of the display, Muniza Zafar, explained how the featured projects in the presentations were manifestation of four years of research, experimentation, critical thinking and artistic proficiency.
Through the talent of these students, and the skills they had learnt in their programme, came to life the diverse and personal stories of the designers.
Taking inspiration from different sources, these textile students had designed the end products along the themes of constructivism, traditional jewellery, currency, tree silhouettes, armed forces, typography, graphic and fashion illustration, truck art and musical instruments.
Making seemingly everyday items into exclusive products, Jiza Zainab found inspiration in her father’s profession, who was an officer in Pakistan Air Force. The theme of armed forces gave her finished products both traditional as well as contemporary look.
The outdoor or garden furniture, bench, steel chairs and lamps were decorated with shapes of aircrafts and patterns that brought to mind military designs using a technique called typography, where text is used to emphasise or make images.
![]() |
Putting in equal amount of hard work and determination, Saira Saleem saw inspiration in constructivism and traditional jewellery.
“Painting all the designs on to the research board, printing select patterns and then transferring them on to the end product, all are equally time consuming and difficult tasks,” said Ms Saleem who spent last four years in classes and studios, experimenting with materials.
Her wall panel, sculpture and the off-loom woven lamp were all eye catching.
The diverse artistic showcase represented the accumulation of four years of intense research and implementation. The projects made by the 12 graduates, now textile designers, covered a vast array of products, which included, outdoor and indoor furniture, interior design, apparel design and costume jewellery.
Another student had incorporated truck art into her final products and the intricate designs and colours made her wall a lot more attractive than the others.
It took Husna Fiyyaz plenty of effort, time and a lot of money to execute her project.
Specialising in screen printing, the young designer had constructed a try room mirror for a boutique. Her presentation was based on theme of fashion illustration with abstract art.
The students were assessed on innovative and speculative textile design ideas and concepts, as well as the depth of research for the proposed design opportunities.
The exhibition is a regular feature at the university as a confidence building initiative. The exhibition was a one-day show.
Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2014