Pakistani designer Mahpara Khan has styled Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the recent Jordanian royal wedding.
A local media outlet spoke to the designer about her stunning gown to whom she told that it took a team of 20 people, rotating in shifts, around 100 days to complete the surface design.
According to the designer, the design was completely handcrafted. Even though the designer had not met the queen for fittings and measurements, she still managed to amaze everyone.
Khan revealed how Queen Maxima’s visit to Pakistan in 2019 became the driving force behind the unexpected collaboration. The production house and the royal stylists got in touch later.
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“The Queen had seen a few samples at our studio and understood the level of detail and intricacy that would go into each design. This led to several months of coordination and design,” Mahpara said.
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Khan recalled the Queen’s visit to her studio in 2019 and how “incredibly genuine she was” and how “her security staff and the people coordinating the visit were down to earth and humble.”
“The challenge was to design a silhouette that was global while keeping the motifs and patterns traditional, as an ode to Pakistan,” explained the master behind the gown.
Diving into details, Khan said that “The outfit created for Queen Maxima was white with silver Mughal patterns fused with traditional dapka, naqshi, resham, and gota work.”
The designer also detailed how the “challenge” was to make the dress light enough to carry while still having its ornate and intricate details.
“I feel Pakistani bridal and formal wear is truly unique in that it truly is handcrafted in every sense of the word. The techniques used are ancient, and passed down from generation to generation. When everything is said and done, each dress has 50 different artisans who have worked on it,” she said.
