Posts Tagged Malaysia
Muslim fashion giving a nod to spandex
news from Malysia…
Breaking through the mold of sequined tunics and abaya, fashion brand Up2date has stormed the Indonesian market with comfortable pieces using fabric that was once unthinkable for Islamic fashion wear: cotton spandex.
Since the opening of their first store in Bandung two years ago, the brand has aggressively expanded, with 17 stores across Indonesia and sales representatives in Dubai and Tehran.
Introducing a mix and match concept by providing colorful clothing pieces with fashionable cuts using comfortable fabric, the fashion label makes it possible for Muslim women opting to cover up according to religious teachings in their own personal style.
“Women who have decided to wear a jilbab (headscarf) of course do not want to lose their character in the way they dress,” Up2date manager Tia said Wednesday.
“Often, the desire to wear jilbab has always been there but there is no Islamic wear that suits their character, making them indecisive about wearing the jilbab. By giving women the option to mix and match clothes made from comfortable fabric, they can adjust the clothes to their own style.”
The popularity and acceptance of the jilbab began to surge in the late 1990s, triggering the development of Islamic fashion in Indonesia. With the majority of the population adhering to Islam, Indonesia has a huge potential market.
1 comment December 24, 2008
Funky Islamic fashion struts conservative catwalk
fashion from Malaysia
After years of turning heads with her riotously colorful frocks in Malaysia, fashion designer Tom Abang Saufi can’t decide whether to shed a few shades on her batik dresses for the Middle East.
“If you wear red and fuchsia in the desert, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb,” she says. “(But) it’s slowly getting to be accepted because the Saudi Arabians are well traveled people. They’re global, they wear Roberto Cavelli and they’re all very colorful.”
For many, Islamic fashion might seem synonymous with strait-laced garments that leave everything to the imagination, but some Asian designers are trying to equip modern Muslim women with a wardrobe that obeys both sartorial trends and spiritual dictates.
This fusion of creativity and conservatism is showcased in the Islamic Fashion Festival, which which has entered its sixth year and runs through Thursday in a Kuala Lumpur hotel. Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates take turns hosting the event.
The festival opened last week to a catwalk show audience of Malaysian royal princesses and corporate women who cheered an avant-garde celebration of chiffon and crystals that cast off black burqas, austere abayas and homely headscarves. Shows featured 1,000 outfits by top couturiers from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Diverse influences lent a twist to typically loose tunics and serpentine skirts.
Add comment December 4, 2008
Malaysia:Fashion for fashionistas
nice news from Malaysia
The Malaysia International Fashion Week 2008 begins end of this month. There’s much anticipation this year, with more than 23 countries strutting their creations in high fashion.
PUT on your stilettos, make-up and your best clothes and step out in style this month in conjunction with the soon-to-be-held Malaysia International Fashion Week 2008 (M-IFW’08).
This year’s event has an impressive line up of participants from over 23 countries. See some of the best designer outfits from Russia, China, Australia, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
The event, which will be held from Nov 26 – 29, is in collaboration with the Global Fashion Alliance (GFA).
The GFA is an organisation that supports the growth of the fashion industry and also increases member access and participation with the Russia Fashion Week, the New York City Fashion Week, Air New Zealand Fashion Week, and Miami Fashion Week, all of which are members of GFA.
Among the designers who will be showcasing their collections here are Russia’s Serguei Teplov, Dorian Ho from Hong Kong, China’s Ding Yong and Malaysia’s Eric Choong, and Amir Luqman, as well as twin designers Azalea and Yasmin. The presence of international buyers and key fashion players further enhance the importance of this event.
Add comment November 5, 2008
Malaysian-born Sisters Capture World Fashion Scene By Design
I´m back from my vacation and happy to deliver the best news to you
Childhood memories of Malaysia have inspired three sisters to spin their yarns of romance and intrigue via catwalks and boutiques from Australia to Europe.
While these young designing women — Rowena, 30, Juliana, 28, and Angela Foong, 25 — call Australia home, and home to their burgeoning fashion venture, they pay tribute to their Asian and family roots through their East-meets-West label, “High Tea with Mrs Woo”.
The whimsical title recalls a Malaysia of times past and Sunday afternoons dressing up for high tea with the many “Mrs Woos”, real and imaginary, in the girls’ early lives in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan and later in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
“We express our ideas like an eventful setting of delicacies, tea and conversation,” Rowena says. “We create quirky designs that explore and give meaning to our feelings of cultural displacement — to make sense of who we are.”
Each garment tells a tale in which the sisters celebrate their heritage, infused with images from travel, cinema and music (aided by Asian satellite TV).
Pieces in each collection even sport their own titles — such as “Russian spy in Shanghai”, “Never-ending nighthawk”, “Alice weeps” and “Mildred Pierce” — that echo a character, movie scene or book chapter.
The result is a striking cultural bridge with a theatrical bent, blending modern and retro, bold and pensive, cheeky and sensuous.
“Fascinated with weaving memory into clothing, we explore the ability of fashion to unfold a great yarn,” Rowena says.
“We explore nostalgia and romantic escape by recapturing journeys and translating tales into contemporary wearable inventions. We collect wistful moments and recreate them”.
Discarded fabrics and objects are rescued and mixed with natural materials from Australia and New Zealand and as far afield as Japan and Italy.
“Using colour, texture and pattern to spin our stories, we make new fabrics by piecing together antiquated prints in unexpected material combinations.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of one significant journey for the Foong sisters, from Malaysia with their parents Fong Chee Yee and Lucy Yap to beachside Newcastle, two hours’ drive north of Sydney.
Add comment October 6, 2008
Natural touch to Malaysian fashion show
a big hello to my readers from Malaysia !
BEAUTIFUL nature-inspired gowns, dresses and shirts with earthy pastel colours took centre stage at the Summer Fashion Show 2008 held at the MJ Fashion Store in Gurney Plaza, Penang.
The 80 pieces, exuding trendy yet classy elegance for both men and women from signature brands, were from a collection themed ‘The Good Life’.
As the photographers clicked away, models strutted down the catwalk in signature Victorian-styled UK brand Laura Ashley, showcasing pieces mixing leaves and flower prints with Indian styled woodblocks and African graphics. The earthy colours were accented with white and black floral motifs, giving a fresh, natural look.
East India Company’s collection also made use of natural earthy colours, inspired by the cultures, wildlife and beautiful landscapes of the African safari. The men’s shirts sported khaki shades for an adventurous feel.
Add comment September 1, 2008
