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Malaysia Fashion Week returns for a second year to headline Malaysia as the fashion hub of Asia. A dedicated trade fashion/lifestyle exhibition FACIT@INTRADE to take centre stage
Returning for a second year to continue its mission in raising the bar of Malaysia’s diverse fashion industry, Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW) 2015 will see the converging of the best local and International fashion industry players in Kuala Lumpur this November. Conceptualised as the sole B2B trade fashion event with a dedicated fashion/lifestyle trade exhibition called FACIT@INTRADE taking centre stage, it will be further supported by a series of fashion shows and gala events under the MFW 2015 banner.
This was announced at the media conference held in KL yesterday, which simultaneously saw the signing ceremony between, CEO of MATRADE & Chairman of MFW 2015 – YBhg. Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud and Co-Chairman of MFW 2015 & Chairman of Mercedes-Benz STYLO Asia Fashion Week – Datuk Nancy Yeoh, witnessed by Mr Roland Folger – President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Datuk Jimmy Choo – Honorary Advisor of MFW and YBhg. Datuk Normah Malik – Executive Director, Socio-Economy Development of DBKL, in front of representatives of the various fashion fraternities in support of MFW 2015 including Bumiputra Designers Association (BDA), Malaysia Official Designers Association (MODA) and Young Designers Arena (YODA), universities/schools, designers, government, corporate entities and the members of the media.
The Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW), a collaborative effort between Malaysia’s national trade promotion agency MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and Malaysia’s leading fashion event organiser STYLO International, is to boost the Malaysian fashion industry by propelling local fashion brands internationally, whilst aiming to elevate Malaysia into a major fashion hub both in Asia and globally.
This year, the MFW 2015 is focused around YOUTH ENGAGEMENT with broad-based programs highlighting young designers, fashion expressions by design and fashion students and youth collaborations with the fashion and music industry.
YBhg Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, CEO of MATRADE and Chairman of MFW 2015 quoted during his speech, “We are happy to have a whole list of exciting initiatives centred around “youth engagement” this year at MFW 2015 with our biggest being X-STYLE, a pet project of MATRADE created as a fashion expression for emerging designers and students of fashion schools with Level 1 at Menara MATRADE dedicated to this”
X-STYLE is a fashion expression creative centre open for use by emerging designers, students at Fashion & Design faculties from universities and colleges around Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to create fashion installations and exhibitions.
Besides X-STYLE, the Ground Level will feature FACIT@INTRADE – the fashion/lifestyle component of MATRADE’s trade initiative INTRADE (International Trade Malaysia) – will anew its presence at MFW for a second year. INTRADE is a very successful national and international trade fair that has been running for the past 8 years, and last year’s introduction of FACIT acted as an industry investment towards fashion and lifestyle as key growth areas for Malaysia. This lifestyle segment of the trade exhibition gives special emphasis to Fashion, Art, Cosmetics, Interior and Textiles.
One of the key components of FACIT@INTRADE is a dedicated Muslimah fashion pavilion called MODEST-YLE. The pavilion will be see a whole list of Muslimah designers, exhibitors with the spotlight on celebrity designers Mizz Nina – The Madeena Shop, Hip Hop performer Altimet – BENUA , Rozita Che Wan – Padusi Couture and Yatt Hamzah – SUCI.
Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud further added, “We will also highlight Malaysia’s diverse culture with the inclusiveness of Sabah, Sarawak and Peranakan designs through our designers and exhibitors at FACIT@INTRADE this year.”
A fashion showcase representing the uniqueness of multicultural Malaysia including modern Peranakan designs by established designer, Bill Keith, Sabah batik designs by Deanoor, Sarawak’s pua kumbu designs by Datin Melia Gelen, Muslimah by Blancheur and Ready to Wear (RTW) by Fairuz Ramdan was presented during the media conference.
Besides the above, another exciting feature at MFW 2015 will be the Special Gallery Exhibition @ Level 3 with two main presenters:
• Mercedes-Benz Fashion Tribute featuring top Malaysian designers & Industry brands the luxury automaker has awarded in the last 10 years through its collaboration with STYLO International
• Datuk Professor Jimmy Choo Couture Gallery – the world renowned shoe couturier’s exhibition will highlight his most beloved designs and creations over the years
MFW 2015 is also in partnership with an exciting upcoming event, ‘Tree of Life’ co-organised by World Crafts Council, curated by designer extraordinaire Edric Ong (Senior Vice President of World Crafts Council Asia Pacific & Vice President for South East Asia region) . The partnership will be a joint promotion between both events happening simultaneously in November.
At the media conference yesterday, DBKL’s involvement this year at MFW 2015 was also announced in the presence of YBhg Datuk Normah Malik – Executive Director, Socio-Economy Development at DBKL, who quoted, “We aim to make KL a fashion hub, and to be amongst the top fashion destinations in Asia. I believe the involvement of MATRADE, STYLO International, Mercedes-Benz and DBKL makes a formidable partnership in putting KL on the fashion map with the inclusion of not just established and young designers and all other significant parties involved in fashion.”
Other key announcements at the media conference included a list of relevant activation programs currently undertaken by the MFW 2015 team to actively promote the trade fashion event leading up to the event which was announced by Datuk Nancy Yeoh (Co-Chairman of MFW) including :
1) Closing of Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix (KLGP) 2015
A special preview of Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW) 2015 showcased a select list of upcoming and established designers’ including Bon Zainal, Fairuz Ramdan, Illiza Ho, Yii, Nabil Wolker, Zoe Liew and Phuna Boon Yi much to the delight of the 400 local and international guests present at the KLGP 2105 winners’ party a week ago.
2) Jiangsu International Fashion Festival 2015 in Nanjing, China
In early September, MFW 2015 will showcase some of its designers at the Jiangsu International Fashion Festival 2015 in Nanjing.
3) Global Launch of MFW 2015 in Paris, France
The MFW 2015 will see its Global Launch in Paris in mid-September as a strategic way forward to promote the trade fashion event in Europe. The launch will be at the Mercedes-Benz Paris showroom in the famous fashion centre, Champ Elysees, Paris. Datuk Professor Jimmy Choo will serve as its guest of honour with a select list of designers from Malaysia including Bon Zainal, Fairuz Ramdan, Yii, Illiza Ho and Blancheur showcasing their designs to over 200 guests, French media and buyers.
A SNAPSHOT OF MFW 2015:
MFW 2015 will be a 4-day event with the first two days dedicated to trade (B2B) and the last 2 days to consumers (B2C). The closing will see the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Stylo Asia Fashion Week (MBStyloAFW) Awards recognising the talents of established designers in Asia.
This year in keeping with the YOUTH ENGAGEMENT direction, The MFW 2015 will introduce another sought after award, Datuk Professor Jimmy Choo Education Program Awards, where young, emerging designers will be recognised and stand a chance to win a coveted fashion mentorship with the famous personality in London.
The main pillars of the MFW includes:
FACIT@INTRADE exhibition (abbreviation for Fashion, Art, Cosmetics, Interior and Textiles)
A fashion trade exhibition to support and showcase fashion and its related industries. The exhibition will include local and international designers, manufacturers and players covering the following categories
• Fashion Apparel & Textiles
• Fashion Accessories, Footwear & Jewellery
• Cosmetics and Personal Care
• Textile for interior & Apparel
Malaysia Fashion Showcase (MFS)
Highlighting the very top tier of leading and emerging Malaysian designers and their collections such as Joe Chia, Bon Zainal, Fairuz Ramdan, and many more; as well as creative talents from accessories, hair and make-up industries.
Mercedes-Benz STYLO Asia Fashion Week (MBSAFW)
MFW 2015 also sees the injection of luxury automaker, Mercedes-Benz presenting the Asian segment called “Mercedes-Benz STYLO Asia Fashion Week (MBSAFW)” into further boosting the trade fashion event. MBSAFW presents a list of the best Asian designers from various Asian countries with China being its biggest, showcasing their designs using the MFW as its Asian platform.
Ranked as the 30th fashion week in the world, this “Asia for Asia” fashion week will feature international designers from over 15 countries from the ASEAN and Asian region.
Placed in an international B2B arena, MFW is also used as a platform to further promote the Malaysian retail sector and boost the country’s standing as a top global fashion and shopping destination.
Malaysia Fashion Week will be held from 4-7 November 2015 at Menara MATRADE, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For more information, browse over to malaysiafashionweek.my or follow the social media pages by searching for Malaysia Fashion Week on Facebook/Instagram and stand a chance to win exclusive opening/closing gala & fashion show tickets by ‘Liking’ our Facebook page and hastaging your photos/videos with #myfw2015.
For more information on the Malaysia Fashion Week and FACIT@INTRADE exhibition and fashion shows please email [email protected]
