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PTI's Zulfi Bukhari says Imran Khan didn't don designer wear on his US trip, except it looks like he did

PTI's Zulfi Bukhari says Imran Khan didn't don designer wear on his US trip, except it looks like he did

Is Mohtaram, the company that tailored Khan's shalwar kameez and sherwanis just your run-of-the-mill local tailor?
26 Jul, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan recently made a three-day official visit to the United States, and was lauded for his charisma, his conduct, and for donning traditional wear while representing Pakistan.

Questions about who stitched Khan's sherwani and shalwar kameez have been asked multiple times online, in light of which PTI's Sayed Zulfi Bukhari felt the need to step in and clarify a few things.

Bukhari who is Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis & HRD tweeted that the PM does not wear luxury designer wear, and that in fact the first lady buys cloth for him and gets it stitched from a "simple local tailor".

Fans of Khan and PTI supporters appreciated and lauded the statement:

Mohtaram, the company that tailored Khan's clothes and whose Instagram bio reads 'Designer Menswear' posted a statement on their Instagram adding that the pieces worn by IK weren't bespoke: "While Mohataram does have the privilege of stitching clothes for the Prime Minister, it is similar to many other tailoring facilities in Pakistan. Any connotation suggesting or inferring creation of a 'designer wear' or an exclusive product for the Prime Minister is over-stretching the context of the occurrence."

The company added, "As highlighted earlier, we would reiterate that there has been no special design development, no special treatment or protocol given to the creation of Mr. Prime Minister's clothes."

Except is the label just your run-of-the-mill local tailor?

Marketed as a luxury brand, a look at Mohtaram's social media will tell you that it has dressed many celebrities, including Osman Khalid Butt, Ahmed Ali Akbar and Shamoon Ismail to name a few. A glance at their website will reveal that their ready to wear kurtas are priced from Rs13,000-Rs15,000 and upwards and the sherwanis range from Rs50,000 to over a hundred thousand rupees.

A screenshot of Mohtaram's website
A screenshot of Mohtaram's website

While the pieces worn by IK might not have been bespoke, is it really fair to say they've been designed by a simple tailor? Maybe not.

Comments

Aziz Jul 26, 2019 03:38pm
Who cares???!!!!
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ahmedj Jul 26, 2019 03:51pm
From Goldsmiths of London to Blacksmiths of Lahore all who shop at upscale shops of Mayfair for Western suiting which the Captain could have done too but Shalwar Kameez is your national identity. The attire PMIK wore with dignity and pride has made us all proud regardless who designed it or not.
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Kamran Jul 26, 2019 03:54pm
13,000 - 15,000 is not something that Imran Khan cannot afford nor it is too lavish. Spending this much on a visit to USA is quite Justifiable. People were spending much more money than this in taking their families and media on state tours.
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zebswati Jul 26, 2019 04:01pm
So we as a nation love to find faults no matter what , if He wear national dress , than lets find a fault if it is designer or not, if that not the topic to discuss than lets talk about the color , if not than lets find some fault in shoes !. Maturity needed as a nation ,specially media
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Mahmood Jul 26, 2019 04:11pm
How ignorant or un-occpied with more pressing issues are we, that we start analysing the cost of PM's shalwar Kamiz and the tailor? As if Re, 15000 or even Rs. 150,000 is in anyway comparable to $10,000 custom-made suits from London, that NS used to wear for his cabinet meeting, along with $500 Gucci loafers and Piagent $40k watches!? So if IK spent even 1% of ~what self-styled King Nawaz spent out of our treasury, is that going to bankrupt the country? Did we cry foul when NS was robbing the nation blind before our very eyes? Until Panama Papers were leaked by a German newspaper, no one in Pakistan even paid attention to the lavish lifestyle NS and his family were enjoying at the expense of the poor nation, The huge Raiwind Estate, the exotic animals on the ground, the Versaille like Gardens, the crystal and fine-bone china imported from Europe, the PIA 777 Jets at his disposal for his monthly visits to London. Please, focus on more meaningful and important issues that matter.
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PostMan Jul 26, 2019 04:13pm
Zulfi is not wrong - in fact the suit most probably was stitched by a simple tailor whereas the profits appropriated by the firm.
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Arshad Javed Sandal Jul 26, 2019 04:13pm
To my opinion dress do not matter what to think, say, and stand.
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putho madre Jul 26, 2019 05:01pm
Why the first lady didn't go with him.
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SadFaces Jul 26, 2019 05:09pm
I guess Zulfi Bukhari regards Pakistani brands as inferior.
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Swiss Neutral Jul 26, 2019 05:16pm
Nothing better to discuss?
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TK Jul 26, 2019 05:19pm
Who cares man? Did your PM look good or not? He looked so much more classy, yet authentic than Nawaz Sharif or for that matter Musharraf wearing a business suit to the US. Those outfits used to scream "we are client state, hukum jahanpanah".
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Shan Jul 26, 2019 05:50pm
Another u-turn!
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TKhan Jul 26, 2019 06:08pm
@ahmedj / Shalwar Kameez - National Identity? Who decided that? I prefer Kurta Pajama. Actually governments should never dictate what one should wear. And I don’t have to wear any particular outfit to prove my patriotism.
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ABE Jul 26, 2019 06:19pm
Are we really this pathetic and destitute that we have our jaws drop when somepone pays Rs, 15000 (just $100!) to have a good tailor stitch a shalwar kamiz suit?? Did we lose any sleep or got constipated when NS used to shell out $10,000 for suits tailored in London's Mayfair - with people's money??? There is no dignity in sweating over small change. Stay focused on the bigger picture. What is IK doing for the nation and how does it benefit all of us?? At least he didn't have anything imported from London for his US trip or to make himself look dandy for Trump.
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Amir Jul 26, 2019 06:27pm
It's immaterial who designed or sewed Mr Khan's clothes. What matters that he looked very dignified in our traditional clothing. One suggestion I have for Mr Khan as well as his colleagues is to keep their suit jackets and jackets over their kameez' buttoned up as our MQMers do. This gives a very formal and dignified look. i hope you will pass on this suggestion to the PM House.
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Observer Jul 26, 2019 06:29pm
I want to know how must investment he brought to Pakistan not how much he saved on his cloths.
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Expat (usa) Jul 26, 2019 06:43pm
It was n't his dress (designer or not) - what mattered, it was a Pakistani dress, unlike his predecessor who wore 3 piece Armani suit.
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Girish Tarwani Jul 26, 2019 07:15pm
@TKhan right said! And, you know when someone asked Nehru about his views on wearing Gandhi cap, he replied that the cap is not important, what is important is the head that is covered by the cap. Think with your head, he meant! In fact we give too much importance to banal things rather than anything of substance. That is the sub-continental quality!
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Syed ali Jul 26, 2019 07:30pm
Having gold buttons takes the attention away from his face to buttons; my first impression was to see if there are 4 stars on his shoulders too; may be next time; no pun intended they were gold or.
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Antihate Jul 26, 2019 07:41pm
Khan is a hypocrite, he knows it too but he terms it "leadership based on u-turns". It's actually the higher immorality where all principles and values are variable based on the situation, which is why Khan was comfortable and quiet while Trump stated that Pakistan took US money and did nothing before he assumed office, and now things might change .
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Jul 26, 2019 07:42pm
Such frivolous discussion.What happened to Pakistan Rupee and Stock Exchange and Inflation?
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Faisal Jul 26, 2019 07:44pm
We know he doesn't care for fashion, who wears socks with Peshawari chapals ?
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Anon Jul 26, 2019 07:44pm
@TKhan Go to India.
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Bhaijan Jul 26, 2019 07:49pm
Historically Sherwani is a known fusion of British frock and an Lucknowi Achkan of 1820. PM Imran Khan Sherwani was perfect, and we must appreciate the tailor contribution for such a successful visit. Thanks to Mohtaram.
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aslam khan Jul 26, 2019 07:50pm
Band master look.
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ahmed Jul 26, 2019 08:03pm
PMIK don't bother responding to this issue about wearing designer outfits. You looked great and dignified and that's what counts. Good clarification from the CEO and Bukhari.
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M. Saeed Jul 26, 2019 08:22pm
Imran khan was very uncomfortable in his quick off the shelf outfit worn in his meeting with Trump. He was very visible during his one to one meeting, setting the neck band of his waist coat, several times, perhaps because it was hurting. Even the neck band of shirt was narrower than waist-coat's thus making the waist coat's band pricking the neck. He was also uncomfortable in his shirt because he was observed scratching even with his hand pushed under the waist coat, somewhere in the right shoulder area. he was also observed frequently shifting and adjusting his sitting position probably for some fresh-dress pinching, or for his efforts to control his nervousness.
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Kamran Zaki Jul 26, 2019 08:28pm
Creating a story out of nothing.
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Kamal Jul 26, 2019 08:55pm
Please ask Imran to get the buttons of Vest to a darker blue collor. Right now the buttons stand out and does not look sophisticated.
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N abidai Jul 26, 2019 09:33pm
Why all pak men designers not sending great styles for PM IK to wear, this is free advertising for the designers on international plateform ! They do this USA,U.K.,and France !
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Shahid Jul 26, 2019 11:50pm
Even if the clothes were stitched by a simple tailor, I do not like Zulfi's tweet where he accuses some designer as being a liar and a cheat. These people who have come from no where and have become ministers and advisers should learn to avoid crude language. Instead of calling him a liar and cheater, he could simply have narrated it as not a true claim.
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Faizan Jul 27, 2019 01:02am
That's not expensive for a decent Kurta or a Sherwani. Kudos to the PM for making this decision.
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Naveed Jul 27, 2019 01:07am
@Observer a penny save is penny earn..
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Observer Jul 27, 2019 02:45am
@Expat (usa) I am glad you see the value in the right thing unlike has own team who focus their points on designer made and cost.
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Guest Jul 27, 2019 03:46am
He is not a fool like moody.
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HAATHI Jul 27, 2019 08:34am
C'mon guys, He's the PM of Pakistan.... At any international forum, he is representing his country and hence, he has to look extremely presentable. The country's pride is at stake here... So, nothing wrong even if he is wearing expensive designer clothes
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Amir Ali Jul 27, 2019 08:41am
i like dawn news..
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