“Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. An independent fashion designer’s journey through 24 years”
It’s noon, and somewhere in the New York City, the front shades of a row of condos are lowered against a hazy glare. Through the metal gate, the courtyard is silent, except for the distant splat of a fountain against its plastic basin. Then comes that 5 year old boy sitting on a bench drawing something on the page and playing with colours. Hassan come here, mama has something to show you. His mother calling him from inside. Hassan in his excitement ran towards his mama. See I have bought new clothes for my boy.
Hassan always wants to wear new clothes like his other classmates but his mother who is working day and night to raise his son all alone is unable to fulfill all his dreams and couldn’t buy him new clothes. She is trying her best just to give him a promising future and all what he wants in his life. His childish mind desires for clothes instead of toys. At that time there was something in his mind which he couldn’t describe in words but used to tell his mother about the dream wardrobe that he would have one day. He not only builds his own wardrobe but making dream clothes for people all over the world. This is the story of a boy the world now known as HSY.
Source: His Verified Instagram Account
In school Hassan is a quiet but a very bright student. Always a topper whether it’s studies or any other activities. He is mama’s favourite boy and mama always proud of him. That boy who’s always thinking about doing something big to build his dream wardrobe completes his early education in New York. Born in Pakistan and raised by only his mother in New York, he faced so many challenges throughout his childhood starting from shifting countries to living away from his father and his only sister.
Upon returning back to Pakistan his mother was not financially strong so he decided to do something. He knew there’s something deep in his mind. While planning about future and thinking on how to overcome his mother’s burden there comes a dark moment in his life. It was November 13, with a flood of thoughts in his mind walking on the road side and suddenly a car hit him and next moment he was lying on the road all alone. His world turned into darkness. In this terrible accident, he lost his eyesight and became blind for almost one and half year. That was the turning point in his life. This accident changed everything around him. His life was ended after this accident.
“I was dark, not just dark my eyes, dark my heart, dark everything around me”
He could only hear his mother crying of misery. Eyes full of tears and nerves shattered by the fear of being blind for his whole life, he decided to do something exceptional and become someone not conventional. Luckily he got his eyesight back but unluckily he had undergone 16 corrective surgeries for that. For a year, the only colour he could see is Red. For him red is the colour of life. When he got his eyesight back, he told his mother that he wants to do things that he likes the most. It wasn’t about designing clothes. It was about KHOOBSURTI.
He wants to see beautiful things, wants to make things that make other people feel beautiful. He wants to be around colours, wants to create things with patterns that he couldn’t see before. At first his mother didn’t agree with him as she wanted him to join army or become a CSS officer. Many people opposed his decision as people were like “DARZI BANAY GA KYA”. But he was very determined in his decision. After a long debate, he finally got the permission but as his mother always wanted him to be an educated person so she said if you want to be a designer first go and find some good fashion schools, get yourself educated in fashion designing and then continue because this is also a profession.
In 1990, he got admission in Pakistan School of Fashion Design (PSFD). His mother was not financially very strong and therefore he had to work at pace as a checkout boy to pay his dues and at the same time worked in a leather factory. Finally in 1994, after 4 years of struggle and hard work he topped the college and got his degree in fashion designing. At the same time he wanted to work as a model but was rejected by many because he had so many scars on his face due to the accident he met when he was 16. Due to all the tragedies in his life, he fell into depression but with the support of his mom, sister and his gut, he turned the table and became extraordinary. He did not take too long to shift from a rejected model to rejecting models.
Starting as a fashion choreographer in 1994, Hassan worked both as a choreographer and designer in various shows within Pakistan and international shows including Dubai, London, New York City, and Toronto. In 1996 he perused his career as a fashion designer, that time he did a lot of local shows , traveled a lot and did lots of international shows. During that time he decided not to throw away his career and become someone conventional. He learnt how clothes are put together, the philosophy behind them that led to the opening of his fashion house.
THAT 5 YEAR OLD BOY DREAMING ABOUT HIS OWN WARDROBE BECAME HASSAN SHEHERYAR YASEEN AKA HSY. The year 2000 marked the introduction of Hassan’s own fashion label, HSY. Starting as a bridal 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 based in Lahore. In 2003, Karachi-based Diva Magazine placed Hassan on the cover of their “MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE” issue and also as one of their 10 Faces of the Year. HSY is the winner of Lux style Fashion designer of the year award 2005-6.
THE BIGGEST PART IN THE HSY SUCCESS STORY IS THAT HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT FAILURE AS AN OPTION. He had faith that his passion could make anything happen. In a country where most young people look towards their family for support and financial help, Hassan never asked his family for help and believed he could achieve anything. He made a game plan and followed through. He just didn’t have the resources or the clout to become a designer. Today, he is a force to be reckoned with. He is one of those few who didn’t give up. A salutatorian graduate of the Pakistan School of Fashion Design (class of 2000), Hassan is affiliated with the LA CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DE LA COUTURE PARISIENNE IN FRANCE.
He holds an honours degree in couture and currently serves as a member of the board of directors and the executive committee of the fashion institution he graduated from. He celebrated his 2 decades into Pakistani fashion industry.
“I have been fortunate to have been a part of Pakistan’s fashion industry from when it was a mere fledgling, to playing a part in what it is today, a thriving vibrant space. In these past twenty years, I have been privileged to work with some of the region’s most prolific personalities and minds, from fashion to entertainment, brands to television. I look forward for another twenty years of directional expansion, collaborations and continuing to push Pakistani fashion industry within Pakistan and globally”
Hassan Sheheryar Yaseen
Beside his commercial success, HSY has been involved with charity work in collaboration with Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) says he wants to give talented youths the resources to materialise their dreams under an initiative he has launched,“MUSAFIR”. Hailing from various walks of life, 24 youths have been selected who will be extended every possible help to make a name for themselves in their areas of choice.
“I personally reached out to these people and told them HSY is there to guide and facilitate them on professional or even personal levels”. He had been a leading fashion personality for more than two decades, but now he had realised it was time that this generation must get up and become positive thinkers to build a society based on tolerance, peace and love.
“People should be extending helping hands to each other in society now. I wish to see these 24 youths extending helping hands to as many other talented but resources-less people next year, Takay Diyay Se Diya Jalta Jaye Aur Roshni Hoti Jaye Chaar Su”
His name has been associated with Pakistan’s top fashion showcases currently including all the coveted PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Weeks & PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Weeks, Fashion Pakistan Week and Pantene Bridal Couture Week. The government of Pakistan has just appointed him in the Board of Directors of the school as well and in the Executive Committee. His passion for fashion and creativity is visibly seen in his designs. He aims to expand his fashion label all over the world.
Kiran's Closet 