Brand in focus: Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY)

HSY have no necessity of any kind of introduction because his own name is a remarkable starting of a successful business venture known by everyone who belongs to his field even rather only in an inspiration. Off course he is none other than Hassan Sheheryar Yasin who is one of the biggest names in Pakistan Fashion industry. He was born in Lahore Pakistan. This stylish fashion designer has also launched his new studio in the highly fashionable district of Zamzama in Karachi. The flagship studio of this fashion designer is currently in the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore.

A graduate of the “Pakistan School of Fashion Design” in 2000, HSY is affiliated with the La Chamber Syndical De La Couture Parisians in France. Started out in 1994, Pakistani Fashion Designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin worked both as a choreographer and as Fashion designer in various shows within Pakistan and in international shows in Dubai, London UK, New York City USA, and Toronto Canada.
The introduction of Yasin’s own Fashion Label Clothes enters in the marketplace in year 2000, HSY. He starting his career with a bridal collection and formal wear couture house, it has since become one of the most recognized South Asian fashion labels in the world and currently employs over 350 people and six stores internationally, with the flagship studio housed in Lahore.  Among very few Pakistani fashion designers, HSY has won international appreciation and considered among the top Pakistani Fashion designers.

In 2003, First time a Karachi-based top fashion magazine “Diva” of that time placed this Pakistani Fashion designer on the cover of their “Most Powerful People” and also as one of their 10 Faces of the Year. In 2007, this radiant Pakistani and emerging Fashion personality also introduced HSY brand jewelry. Behind all his business ventures set up his philosophy could be explained by his popular quote about designing art is “Creativity is very important to be a designer, but if you want to be a successful designer then you need to be successful in every single way like being innovative and understanding the market”.

HSY is the winner of the Lux Style Fashion Designer Award of the Year (2005). Hassan Sheheryar Yasin has done one of the biggest thing to happen in fashion dress designs in the last decade in Pakistan that was his aim at HSY to showcase a diverse dresses collection in order to represent the rich cultural heritage of the East.
Now in 2010 Hassan Sheheryar Yasin has been actively involved in the world of fashion for over 15 years. This year, his label HSY, celebrates 10 years of excellence. Predominantly a Bridal House specializing in fashion design & tailoring. HSY’s distinctive Pakistani and Middle East inspired designs are infused with western influences. Augmented by vacillating and systematic embroidery, refined cutting, and judicious color choices the HSY brand is tantamount with the art of elegance. It is the thing overwhelming too in his recent collection of “Dubai Fashion Week Collection of 2010”. 

Ambreen Bukhari- Menika Mines

An entrepreneur needs special skills and confidence either male or a female and belongs to whatever country land. But, on the other hand it is quite true that in developing countries he/she has to face more than the developed one. In Pakistan, as in many other developing countries, women are handicapped in society. Therefore they face many challenges, as they do not enjoy the same opportunities as men. They are not only deprived of financial resources but also lack access to basic needs such as education. Limited access to the essentials of life undermines their capabilities, limits their ability to secure gainful employment, and results in low income, poverty and social exclusion. Their ambitions and aspirations are suppressed.
Gradually things are improving for women, which have been caused by their tremendous determination and courage. They are entering in the field of education, health, engineering, IT and active participation is seen in the sports and politics arena. About 60% of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan have opted for traditional business such as parlors, bakeries, boutiques, but the largest number is employed in the garments and handicrafts sector. One example of such a nice and encouraged lady is Ambreen Bukhari; she is running her jewelry showroom named Menika Mines in posh area of capital city Islamabad.
Ambreen Bukhari faced numerous challenges and criticism when she dared to enter into the difficult business of collecting, cutting, and exporting precious stones and preparing studded jewelry for the domestic market. Nobody believed she could succeed when she decided to open for business 11 years ago. The precious stone trade was considered a purely male domain, as one is supposed to travel to the mountains, interact with male entrepreneurs to manage the inner and outer workings of the business, and to actively explore for niche markets. Many of her colleagues thought that it would be insulting for men to have a female entrepreneur in their sector, but she has opened her doors and done very well.
Ambreen Bukhari completed her post-graduate studies abroad, specializing in geology, after which she returned to Pakistan with her two daughters to start a stone trading business. She soon found herself in very difficult circumstances. Yet, she took stock in her business and strove to be able to support her children and strengthening her resolve to fight against all odds. Today, she has full floor showroom for her jewelry in a business center in the most famous market of Islamabad. She also arranges exhibitions in Islamabad and Karachi and has participated in international events. She is a leading exporter of precious stones and has represented Pakistan at international forums. She also works as a consultant and imparts training in stone-cutting techniques.

 

Atiqa Odho, an Entrepreneur - New trends in cosmetics business in Pakistan!

Happily, there are many examples of people in Pakistani show business who appreciate and recognize the virtues of their hard work and ingenuity. Such an example is Atiqa Odho, who is amply gifted with numerous qualities; she is a make-up artist, a hair stylist, a model, a TV star, a film star and now an entrepreneur as she moves to her own business of a cosmetic company- Atiqa Odho. Born to a liberal family, she received the best possible education and upbringing in the U.S.A. Though initially she gives the impression of an ordinary child but later on her zeal set her apart from her peers.

Additionally the vivacious and vital Atiqa had her own position from her earlier days. Atiqa was persuaded by Pakistani television in 1990 to work for a drama serial. Her acting appealed to the masses and one can easily remember her great performances till now. She was highly successful in modeling as well. After nearly a decade, Atiqa grew too tired of travel between U.S. and Pakistan. Hence, she decided to make Pakistan her permanent residence. She has a keen desire to provide an amiable atmosphere to her two children, and her husband, Javaid, in Pakistan.

In fact, Atiqa stepped into her working life as a make- up artist and got training in England. Later, she moved to Pakistan and practiced her profession as a beautician. She started her own beauty parlor and appropriately named it “Cuts and cappuccino”. Since returning back to Pakistan after years in the States, Atiqa Odho is proving unstoppable she is all set to make a difference and has already realized her vision of launching own cosmetics line.

She had several reasons for launching a color cosmetic range in the market but the two main ones were my belief that a woman understands another woman’s needs and that she was simply tired of seeing what was available in the marketplace. Either very substandard products were on the shelf in retail or alternately extremely expensive imported products that were not affordable to the Pakistani women. 

 The product has beautiful and glamorous packaging color that is “Red” which makes consumers exciting. The unique coding of lipsticks makes it easy for consumer to remember like for pink lipstick “AP” and for brown lipstick “AB”. The code automatically tells about the lipstick shade.

At present Atiqa brand consists of 35 Lipstick colors, 20 Loose Eye-shadow colors with applicators, 25 Pressed Eye-shadow colors with applicators, 10 Blush-on colors with applicators, 8 Cake Face Powders colors, 8 Eyeliner colors, and Mascara. Atiqa says that the market is still abundant in opportunities for new entrants and that she likes healthy competition.

 

Syed Babar Ali - An entrepreneur and industrialist of Pakistan

Syed Babar Ali is the man behind Packages, Milkpak, LUMS and Ali Institute. He is a great industrialist and a most successful entrepreneur of Pakistan. After completing his graduate degree, Babar Ali got admission in the University of Michigan, United States. He was spending a year there and came back to Pakistan on his parents demand. He has a great passion for getting knowledge. So after coming to Pakistan, he started working on the development of a great education institute in Pakistan, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). 

LUMS and Ali Institute of Education are the two great ventures of Babar Ali as he thinks. LUMS is the pioneer institute of business education in Pakistan. LUMS produces the lots of economists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, marketers and accountants each year. Ali institute of education focuses on training of teachers, so they able to groom our young generation.

Syed Babar Ali envisioned and set up the great businesses in Pakistan including;

• Packages Ltd. – one of the most recognized company worldwide
• Milkpak Ltd. – now Nestle Milkpak Limited
• Tetra Pak Pakistan Limited
• International General Insurance Company of Pakistan Limited
• Tri-Pack Films Limited
• First International Investment Bank and Systems Private Limited 

  Achievements and Honors:

• Served as the Minister of Pakistan – Finance and Economic Affairs in 1993
• An International President of WWF (1996-1999)
• Honorary Doctorate Degree of Laws from McGill University, Canada (1997)
• An OBE from Britain (1997)
• Receive many awards from the Government of Sweden and the Netherlands.

"Haste does not bring success. Hard work, persistent hard work, is the key." Babar Ali's massage for youth.

 

Mian Muhammad Mansha – The Successful Entrepreneur

Mian Muhammad Mansha – a name suggestive of continuous struggle, hard slog and a faith so firm in his Almighty Allah that nothing on the face of earth ever stopped him from attaining the heights of glory.

“I have had many lucky breaks. Lady Luck has always been on my side. New projects just crop up before I stop doing the old ones" (Mian Muhammad Mansha)

Mian Muhammad Mansha is the Chairman of the Nishat Group – the largest industrial and fiscal corporation of Pakistan. He is regarded as the richest man in Pakistan and biggest single exporter. Mansha is born in Lahore to a wealthy Chiniot family. After completing his studies in UK, he joined the family business.

Mian Mansha's business significantly benefited from the privatization impel of the 1990s. He made a number of acquisitions and overthrows throughout this period. Mansha had get hold on a controlling position in Adamjee Insurance, the country's largest non-life insurer. Then he acquired D.G. Khan Cement, previously owned by the Saigol family. He was concurrently expanding his renowned Nishat Textiles while going through big acquisitions.

The acquisition of MCB, Pakistan’s most profitable bank is the master-stroke of Mian Mansha. MCB has newly connected hands with Maybank of Malaysia which has a 20% controlling share in the bank.

Nishat Group includes; Nishat Textiles, Nishat Power, Omer Fabrics, Nishat Chemical Industries, Raza textiles and some other.

Mian Mansha is the most successful entrepreneur in Pakistan. He contributes much in the exports of Pakistan. He is a true Pakistani and has the vision to see Pakistan, the most developed nation. And Inshallah Pakistan will.