NEW YORK (AP) — Designer Naeem Khan sent models down the runway Tuesday in a shimmering, star-spangled collection the immigrant called his love letter to America, recalling how he started his brand with only $500 and plenty of determination.
“I am where I am today out of sheer time and hard work and it’s because of this country,” he said during an emotional interview backstage. “This is my homage to thanking America.”
The opening look was an almost couture take on Uncle Sam with white satin pants, a bold red belt and navy blouse covered with white stars. Next up were shimmering blue sequined prints with white stars — one an elegant long-sleeved jumpsuit, the other a glamorous hooded caftan. Several of his signature caftans were also done in American reds and blues.
Models wore elaborate gold and silver headpieces, evocative of the Statue of Liberty. Others had gold and silver sprigs shooting out of sleek buns, giving off the feel of fireworks.
“It’s an election year and I wanted something to make a statement that says America,” said Khan.
His love affair with animal prints continued in this collection with leopard print blouses and dresses, both short and long. A short, pink, sequin fringe dress was paired with thigh high leopard print boots. A show-stopping, full skirted dress in head-to-toe leopard had a dramatic neckline that plunged to the navel.
But the stars and stripes fuss waned toward the end of the collection when Khan sent models out in a rainbow palette of elegant, A-line gowns. Some had elaborate hand-beading in a floral motif.
Head-to-toe sequin looks were also woven throughout the collection, in body skimming numbers reminiscent of his Halston days, in modern jumpsuits and in a pantsuit with a matching sequined bandeau.
Khan dressed “The Irishman” actress Stephanie Kurtzuba for the Oscars over the weekend, but confessed he was too busy with the collection to pay attention to the red carpet fashion.
But pal Ryan Seacrest, who attended Tuesday’s show as part of New York Fashion week, listed Renee Zellweger, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz and Beanie Feldstein as his best dressed.
Seacrest said he’d seen sketches of Khan’s collection before the show.
“He’s a dear friend and when I come to see him work, I am in awe … the magic that this man creates for people.”
Actor Ewan McGregor watched the show from backstage with the designer.
In addition to the collection, Khan said he had been working on sustainable fashion in what he called “farm to your body” clothing and is considering growing his own hemp for material as a way to reinvigorate fabric production in the United States.
“Sustainability has to be that you actually make an impact on the footprint,” he said. “It’s an ambitious project. It has to make economic sense. We’ll see.”