Malaysian Designers Shine On The Catwalk At Starhill Gallery Fashion Week 2016

Kuala Lumpur, April 8, 2016

Malaysian designers took centre stage during day three of Starhill Gallery Fashion Week’s four-day fashion showcase of the latest Spring/Summer 2016 collections. Three renowned Malaysian designers were given the opportunity to showcase their collections on the catwalk. Justin Yap debuted his exclusive 2016 Bridal Collection themed “Les fleurs de I’orient”. Design duo FIZIWOO showcased a handpicked collection of important pieces that made and shaped their brand. And London-based Tanya Steven of ANHDE unveiled her latest collection “exploring the lyrical” for the first time in Kuala Lumpur.

Justin Yap grew up watching his grandmother sew and spent his childhood crafting woven dreams of becoming his own brand. The self-assured designer approaches fashion with much appreciation for juxtaposition and now his bespoke line Justin Yap Prestige is sought after by local and international celebrities such as Deanna Yusoff, Ning Baizura, Sheila Majid, Sarah Lian, and Linda Chung. His 2016 Bridal Collection “Les fleurs de l’orient” was inspired by his recent trip to Japan, and pays homage to Asian beauties such as Zi Yi Zhang, Gong Li, and Michelle Yeoh in the Oscar winning movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”. The collection channels oriental elements of the east in its design and colour palette, playing with soft, romantic, demure designs with layers of shades to create a hazy, neoclassical ambiance enhanced by whimsical flared hemlines, quintessential mermaid silhouettes and delicate hand embroidery of oriental flowers and birds adorned with signature beading and twinkling Swarovski crystals.

FIZIWOO’s design duo Mohd Hafizi Radzi Woo and Izree Kai Haffiz, creates their designs with the principle ‘less is more’ in mind. Mixing their architecture and fashion background, the duo incorporates sleek and clean designs into their collections, but retains the softness and femininity of the materials to balance their creations. Their elegant, chic and timeless creations have won them numerous major competitions and have been featured in top magazines in Malaysia. Their fashion showcase featured specially handpicked designs from their collections commemorating the important pieces that shaped the evolution of the FIZIWOO brand over the last five years to be one of the sought after designers in the Malaysian fashion industry. FIZIWOO designer Izree Kai Haffiz said, “Although still considered as a young brand, we are honoured to be given the opportunity to be on the same stage as other established international labels and to strive more in establishing our wings and further make our brand as a household name in Malaysia.”

AHNDE is a London-based women’s wear label founded and led by Kuala Lumpur-born Tanya Stevens. Rather than follow season and fashion trend trajectories, Tanya instead lets her intuition and inspiration drive her creativity. Experimenting with old and new techniques using artisanal craftsmanship and multimedia technology, AHNDE’s latest collection featured bold, multi-dimensional pieces in rich, earthy tones and pays homage to the richness in nature – drawing out subtleties and details often forgotten and overlooked. From burnt ostrich feather embroidery to prints featuring blackberry constellations, every look embodied freedom of movement and imagination while demonstrating complexity in construction. Bringing the night to a close, Tanya offered one of her bespoke pieces up for auction at the end of the show for charity, with proceeds going to Riding for the Disabled Association Malaysia (RDA Malaysia).

This glamorous fashion event was in partnership with Armani Dolci, Armani Fiori, BMIC Nail Spa Salon, Buro 24/7, Inside Scoop, JW Marriot Kuala Lumpur, Kloth Lifestyle Sdn. Bhd, Mercedes Benz, Pernod Ricard Malaysia, Sephora Malaysia and YTL Info Screen. The event upholds Starhill Gallery’s status as Malaysia’s luxury shopping destination with its exclusive boutiques, international designer collections and fashionable society events. The four-day glitzy fashion event provided guests with the exclusive opportunity to view the latest collections from both international and local designer labels here in Kuala Lumpur.