Mahira Khan did not just attend the Toronto International Film Festival without making an impact. As she walked for her first TIFF appearance, the Pakistani actress made the red carpet an ode to South Asian maximalism in an exquisite Kashidakari-embroidered chiffon saree that captured the essence of culture, craftsmanship, and unapologetic glam. Minimalism is often favoured in the fashion world nowadays, but Mahira provided a dramatic argument for the other side, as sometimes being loud and extravagant is the best way to stand out.
Because of the remarkable use of floral, botanical, and natural designs in the motifs, kashidakari is a popular form of embroidery synonymous with Kashmir and is quite popular.
The word “kashidakari” is derived from “kashida,” which means embroidery in general. It usually includes motifs of vines, leaves, birds, paisleys, etc. The embroidery can be very fine and can produce an impression of being painted on the fabric, whereas the patterns of the embroidery appear graceful and flowing without any rigidity. Kashidakari is traditionally handcrafted and exemplifies the hard work and efforts of the skilled Kashmiris, and it can be seen in shawls, suits, sarees, kurtas, and other clothing lines. For this ethereal pick, Mahira carefully picked her accessories and wore a pair of heavy golden dangling earrings with pearl detailing at the end. Keeping her neck and hands bare, she simply wore a statement stone-gold ring and flaunted a delicate golden chained hairpin at the back of her half-hairdo style. With soft curls and little tendrils at the front, she gave an elegant overall finish with glowy base makeup, natural blush, muted eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, and soft pink-hued lips.