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Blending Fashion with Heritage: East Meets West

Zulaikha Mahmood

BSc (Hons) Fashion Management graduate.
BSc (Hons) Fashion Management graduate.
Hire me via Arts Temps

When East Meets West: Reimagining Dior Through a Pakistani Lens

This project explores a contemporary fusion of Pakistani heritage and Western luxury, positioning Dior as a space for cultural exchange and inclusive elegance. Despite, the on-going demand for diverse representations in the fashion industry, there is still a gap in the market for truer reflection and authentic representation of cultures. In response to the rising demand for authentic representation in the global fashion industry, When East Meets West proposes a capsule collection that reinterprets Dior’s legacy through the artistry and visual language of South Asia.

Drawing inspiration from the richness of Pakistani craftsmanship including traditional embroidery, intricate pattern work, and historic textile practices, this collection merges Dior’s iconic silhouettes and artisanal techniques with the textures and narratives of Pakistani culture. The outcome is a thoughtful dialogue between East and West: a celebration of identity, femininity, and timeless design.

Created with a new generation of global consumers in mind, particularly Gen Z and Millennial diasporic communities in the UK. This collection aims to expand Dior’s cultural narrative while staying true to its values of innovation, craftsmanship, and elegance. By bridging tradition and modernity, this project seeks to redefine what luxury can look like today: inclusive, authentic, and deeply rooted in respect for diverse identities.

Final work

Final Major project image - dress with authentic south Asian embroidery fusion with Dior

FORGOTTEN DREAMS

This garment bridges past and future by merging Western tailoring with intricate South Asian embroidery. One half (left) reflects a traditional 1990s silhouette once worn by women in Pakistan, while the other (right) reimagines that legacy through a contemporary lens. The piece reflects the untold dreams of a past generation and the shifting identity of daughters of immigrants in the UK, navigating the space between cultural inheritance and self-definition.

Instagram details for the creative team:

Designer: Zulaikha Mahmood @zul_aiikha @byzulaikhamahmood

Fashion Design Assistance: My Mum & @quiltsandbrownies

Photographer: @inno.vative

Models: @sassykeets @glambyhmx

Makeup Artist: @glambyhmx

Set: @contentfactorystudio

Special thanks to the technicians & tutors whose support, skill, and problem-solving were essential throughout this project. Your contributions were invaluable.

  • Embroideried fusion dress
  • Close photo of fusion dress
  • Fusion dress for south Asian embroidery with Dior
  • Detailed embroidery shots of the dress
  • Close photo showing south Asian embroidery and fabric detailing
  • Close shot of the back of the dress embroidery
  • 1990s Pakistani embroidery outfit
  • 1990s detailed Pakistani embroidery suit
  • 1990s embroidery Pakistani design

Research and process

Mood board visuals for design process

Concept Board

Detailed design mood board for the design process of the artefact created as part of the full project.

Visual images using clo3d

Digital Design (Clo3d)

Design and Pattern created digitally with the support of my technician Rebekah Guo for the design process for the creation of the artefact development.

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Blending Fashion with Heritage: East Meets West

When East Meets West: Reimagining Dior Through a Pakistani LensThis project explores a contemporary fusion of Pakistani heritage and Western luxury, positioning Dior as a space for cultural exchange and inclusive elegance. Despite, the on-going demand f...

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