UNFILTERED ||
When was the last time you saw streetwear truly eye-catching? — yeah, it doesn't happen a lot nowadays does it?
My thing is that clothing should (A) be Comfortable (B) Must be full of personality — and that really is it!
Now how did my thing become a brand? let me tell you a short story
Comfort has always been my non-negotiable. “What’s the point of clothing if it’s stuck to your skin, too hot, too revealing, too itchy...” You get the picture — I liked shirts, I kept it simple.
Whether it be a party or just another Tuesday at uni, I preferred comfort over fashion. But then something changed...…
"ye kia faqeeron wala huliya banaya hua hai?" this line was said by my Ammi when I was leaving for my university one day, and it really did flip a switch in me to be honest (thanks Ammi).
Now I started looking in the mirror differently. Maybe I did need to step it up — BUT without killing my comfort.
So I started searching. And honestly? Everything looked the same — bland, recycled, soulless. Like, how many shirts with faded anime designs (no offense to anime lovers, I enjoyed Baki as well) or “deep” Tumblr quotes does the world need? I literally saw one guy at uni wearing a tee that said: “Hopelessness; an endless gray horizon of resignation and indifference.” Bro looked like a motivational poster for giving up.
So I said screw it — I have been sketching since I was 3, I understand color combinations very well, I like storytelling — I'll make my own stuff!
Then I did make my own stuff — The very first article I designed was City of Lights. It reflects the story of the common people of Karachi — the Mango People (Aam Log)
Saddar, the heart of the city’s trade and daily hustle, is at the center of the design, a place where countless lives intersect framed by Mirza Ghalib's infamous shair — "maut ka ek din muayyan hai, neend raat bhar kiun nahi aati" and below that is a very profound quote of Saadat Hasan Manto which can be concluded with "What had to happen, did, and what will happen, will".
Ghalib's shair subscribes to the notion that a fear of something is more nerve wracking and louder than the actual thing itself. Your worries, your insecurities and your constant anxiety is formed in your brain for you own suffering — I'm sure that the resilient people of Karachi can relate with this state of mind ( including me )
So what’s the antidote to this constant fear and anxiety? Amor Fati. Love your fate. Embrace both the good and bad in life. Focus on what’s in your control and let go of what isn’t. Or as Manto put it: “What had to happen, did, and what will happen, will.”
Even the G-11 bus makes its mark here — truly a cultural symbol of this city.
If you ask me, this is a design that holds meaning, that can be relatable to you because this is your story — and this is my story.
All of our designs carry personality — they don’t just sit on fabric; they speak, they tell a story, they’re alive.
Nizaam Clothing isn’t just a brand to me ; it’s my and my partner and brother-like friend Mujtaba’s personal wardrobe. Every piece we create is built on two non-negotiables: (A) Comfort and (B) Personality.
Every Saturday, you’ll find us at a bustling local café, two cups of chai between us, sketching ideas, debating colors, and crafting designs that feel as alive as the streets we walk...
PS: My Ammi praise my fits now 😊
