Ammar Belal
Ammar Belal started his career in 2002 by launching a Bespoke Denim label, which deciphered traditional couture techniques into street-wear. Within five years, this evolved into Pakistan’s first luxury Menswear label and expanded to five retail outlets in various cities. By 2012, Ammar Belal had won national design awards for “Best Emerging Talent”, “Best Original Song” and “Best Menswear” after consistently showing his collections in over 20 fashion shows in Pakistan and the U.K. His multicultural articulation of design is a realization of his upbringing in Boston, Geneva, and Lahore (Pakistan). He pursued a Bachelor’s degree at Clark University in Massachusetts and descends from a family that pioneered manufacturing and exported premium sportswear from Pakistan. Being the first individual from South Asia/Middle East region to complete an MFA degree at Parsons in Fashion Design & Society translated into new challenges and opportunities. His trans-disciplinary narrative of teaching BFA Fashion (Senior Thesis) with BBA (Design & Management) is part of an evolving vision to explore the harmony between fashion, critical awareness, and social entrepreneurship. Ammar continues to design for his eponymous custom menswear label in New York and is launching “ONE432,” a heritage footwear label from Pakistan that promotes craft and shares half its net profits with local primary education initiatives.