Fashion Designs, Fashionable Parties Gala
By Jawahar Malhotra
Last Updated: June 13, 2008

Hina Khan brought together a Trunk Show featuring her colorful women’s wear designs at Mezban Party Hall this past Saturday, and brought along with her several other vendors.

HOUSTON: On a hot Saturday afternoon last weekend, what could be better than to check out fashions for a party and a banquet hall events party with a Neo-Mughal feel?

“I just started talking about doing a show for my design line,” gushed Hina Khan, as she stood before racks of salwar-kameezes, kurtis, tunics and other colorful pieces. “Before I knew it, other vendors wanted to get in the act, and well …” she shrugged and turned around to show the results spread around the hall.

A buffet table laid out with chrome-plated covered serving bowls laid over a 20-foot long table decked in gold and green table cloth with a canopy over the top. A canopied semi-tent with cushioned armchairs. Rectangular tables in front, set with white china and wines glasses, a few with square colorful canopy umbrellas.

While she has no formal training in fashion design, Hina makes up for it with sheer talent and passion. She has refined her designs over the past 6 years, and started her business in the past year. “It was a busy year as I took part in shows in Louisiana, Kentucky, the Bibi magazine bridal show, and another in Houston.”

Hina moved to Houston from Kansas City and hopes to open her own retail store later, but prefers to be focused on wholesale right now. “But, I hope to organize my own bridal show soon,” she said with a twinkle in her eye and a smile.
Across the table, Sohail Feroze looks on with a grin, but still mindful of the demands that come form the kitchen in the back. “We have two – one for the restaurant, and one for the hall and catering’” he explains as he steps away to help with the arrangements for the evening’s party.

Feroze is a natural fit for the Mezban Restaurant in the new shopping center on Harwin at Hillcroft, and is clean, airy and bright, and with the young people who frequent it, gives the feel of a trendy eatery in the city.

Feroze has been in the Bayou City for the past 17 years, and “was forced into this business 12 years ago by his family,” he jokes. He used to own Laziza Grill until 2 years ago and his latest project is “A Perfect Event”, a one-stop shop for party and wedding rentals, to which he adds his own touch of creativity. This hall, which is attached to the restaurant, can accommodate 140 people.

The other vendors at the trunk show were Waleed Ali of Frame Photography, make-up artist Sarah Ali, jewelry designer Raziya and DJ Arshad. The event was also being recorded for a short piece on Geo TV in Pakistan by Houstonians Shahbazz Anwar and Haseeb Ahmed, both of who are budding filmmakers and have two movies to their credit, one of which is currently in the buzz in Dubai.

Mezban and A Perfect Event (at Harwin, east of Hillcroft) can be reached at 281-650-4444 or sohail@apehouston.com. Rivaj By Hina can be reached at 913-579-2552 or the web at www.rivajbyhina.com