Maram & Aabroo

Maram Azmat and Aabroo Hashimi
Nationality	Pakistani
Known for	Photography
Awards	MTV Style Award, 2008

Maram & Aabroo are a makeup and photography duo in the Pakistani fashion community. Based in Lahore, Maram Azmat and Aabroo Hashimi are the sole proprietors of their make up and photography studio and salon. Their work has featured in fashion publications in Pakistan and they have worked with Pakistani fashion designers. They work in print, runway, television, music videos and film.

Early history

Close friends through childhood, Maram Azmat and Aabroo Hashimi grew up in Lahore. Their fascination with photography began when they first met while enrolled in the B.S.C program at Kinnaird College Lahore in 1994. During their time together in Kinnaird College, they were involved in college theatre productions where they did stage makeup. Their love for photography encouraged them to participate in photography competitions and led them to work as the schools official yearbook photographers.

Pursuing makeup and photography as a hobby, Maram Azmat and Aabroo Hashimi continued on a more conventional educational path and attended the Punjab University where they attained a Masters in Public Administration in the year 2000. After graduating from the Punjab University, Maram and Aabroo completed a six-month beauty course with the Pakistani stylist, Mussarat Misbah of Depilex.

Early career

Having completed a course in makeup, hairstyling and skin treatment from Depilex, Maram and Aabroo left Lahore to further their careers and arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. They began work at a photography studio, Studio Photographya, where they honed their skills and began to develop their own style.

After six months of being in Abu Dhabi, Maram and Aabroo, left Studio Photographya and joined another studio, Pravda Photography. It was here that they had their first real immersion in the world of commercial fashion makeup and photography. In the three years they worked at Pravda Photography, their work was featured in local magazines like Almara Al Youm, Zahra Tal Khaleej and Aroos. While at Pravda Photography, Maram and Aabroo were commissioned with shooting portraits for the UAE royal family.

Career

Maram and Aabroo returned to Lahore in 2005 where they set up a purpose built facility, one of the first of its kind in the city. Financed by Maram's father, Azmatullah Khwaja, the studio is designed to be an exclusive establishment, focusing on quality work.

The studio expanded to include DermaCosmoCare, a dermatology clinic headed by Maram Azmat's sister, Dr. Sadia Ammad MD, an aesthetic physician and dermatologist.

Maram and Aabroo have expanded their business and launched their second salon on the MM Alam Road of Lahore.

Fashion

Over the years the duo has worked with many Pakistani designers including Sehyr Saigol, Nilofer Shahid, Zara Shahjahan, Saadia Mirza, Fahad Hussayn, Munib Nawaz, Ali Fateh, Kamiar Rokni, Maria B., Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari, and Kuki Concepts. Their work has been featured in fashion publications including Libas International, Me & My Wedding, Brides & You, South Asian Bride, Asian Woman, Asian Bride, SHE, Women's Own, Sunday Daily Times and Vixen. They have completed ad campaigns for brands like Sara Taseer Shoaib, Republic, Saira Ahsan, Platform, Lewre, Crossroads, HangTen, MenStore, Riverstone, Casa Hamza, Total Gold, Waseem Jewellers, Ammar Belal, Luscious Cosmetics and Pretty Fit.

Music

Maram and Aabroo have been involved with the production process of music videos over the years, providing makeup, photography and styling services. They have worked alongside directors Sohail Javed, Bilal Lashari, Ahsan Rahim and Mandana Zaidi. The artists and bands they have worked with on their music videos include Shehzad Roy, Jal: The Band, Mekaal Hasan Band, Noorie, Zeb and Haniya, Entity Paradigm, Adeel Chaudry, Jawad Ahmad, Ayesha Akram, Fareeha Pervaiz, Haider Hashimi and Raga Boys.

Maram and Aabroo have worked on campaign shoots and album covers for musicians like Jal: The Band, Josh, Dino Ali, Aaisha Akram, Aaroh, Junaid of Call: The Band, Jawad Ahmad, Mekaal Hasan Band, Zeb and Haniya, Faraz Khossa, Abbas Ali Khan, Siege, Faiza and Khawar, Fareeha Pervaiz, Ali Sher, Mahmood Rehman of Overload, Ali Zafar and Roxen.

Live media

The duo team have been involved with the production side of television shows, advertisements and films.

They have worked on television adverts for brands like Warid Pakistan, Prema Milk, and Wall's Ice Cream; and for television shows like VIP's Only and TV serial Sitara for Hum TV by providing makeup and styling services.

Maram and Aabroo were involved with Shoaib Mansoor's upcoming film Bol in the makeup and special effects department. Boudoir was also responsible for some still photography in the production of the film.

Events

Maram and Aabroo have been associated with the production of live events including fashion shows and launches.

Their salon provided makeup and styling for three PNCA Pakistan National Council of the Arts Fashion Shows, one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and two in Islamabad, Pakistan. They worked for the Lux Style Awards 2008, held in Karachi, Pakistan; in providing hairstyling and makeup for a segment of the show and for some celebrities for the red carpet.

Videography

Maram and Aabroo have directed their first music video for singer Haider Hashimi for his debut song Nahin in September 2010, which is being aired on most Pakistani television channels.