INDUSTRY SUPPORT: (left-right) Prof Dato’ Dr Ahmad handing a token of appreciation to Guest of Honour Dato’ Munirah while Dato’ Mahadzir looks on.

MODERN TWIST: Merging traditional songket with modern silhouettes, Nur Azierah Binti Mat Deris’s collection was one of the nine collections by graduating students of De Institute of Creative Arts and Design.

ROCKING THE PELIKAT: Safety pins and kain pelikat featured prominently in the designs by graduating student Nur Azlyn Abu Bakar.

WINNING DESIGN: Evis Chow Sook Kuen’s unique collection, incorporating origami birds was voted Best Collection by some of the most influential names in the fashion industry.

SPREADING HER WINGS: Evis Chow Sook Kuen, the winner of the Best Collection Award, with her designs depicting origami birds in flight.

EXCELLENCE: (left) Dato’ Mahadzir handing Evis Chow Sook Kuen her Best Collection Award while Dato’ Ahmad looks on.

KUALA LUMPUR: The recent UCSI University (UCSI) Graduation Fashion Show 2014 – themed, Silhouette, proved that the University’s new generation of designers has a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to reinventing fashion. 

From giving the traditional songket a modern twist through edgy cropped tops made with the material, to creating regal gowns inspired by the intricate origami birds, the collections impressed both fashion lovers and the who’s who in the industry. 

Notable industry names who attended the show included Baizura Tazri, President, Young Designers Arena (YODA), Dato’ Mahadzir Lokman, Chairman, National Visual Arts Development Board and representatives from Multimedia Development Corporation and Club 21. 

Held at the esteemed National Visual Arts Gallery, the event showcased the collections of nine recent graduates and final year students of De Institute of Creative Arts and Design – the design arm of UCSI. The use of songket was the brainchild of Nur Azierah Bt Mat Deris who named her collection ‘Fusion Songket’ while the futuristic capsule collection, ‘Back to the Future’ was designed by Amelia Justina Ng Hao. 

The other collections were, ‘Aesthetic Hover’ by Evis Chow Sook Kuen, ‘Road to Morocco’ by Warood Abdul Karim, ‘Snow Queen’ by Kelly Soo Jing Jing, ‘Glitter Black Dress’ by Sherly Cynthia Shandy, ‘Simple but Significant’ by Amilia See Wei Shin, ‘Rebel’ by Nur Azlyn Abu Bakar and ‘Stepping Outside’ by Kittye Kong Ai Yee. 

The show is the pinnacle of ICAD’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Marketing programme and aims to provide a first-hand experience of the fashion industry. As part of the show, the students also needed to conceptualise the entire marketing campaign for their collection – from marketing strategy to materials. 

This all-encompassing approach to fashion design is something that was commended by the Guest of Honour, Dato’ Munirah binti Abdullah Bajanuddin, Director General, Women Development Department; Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. 

“The ability to have a vision and look beyond the drawing board is important in launching your careers. Your involvement today is a good way to immerse yourself in the industry,” she said in her officiating speech delivered on behalf of Datuk Hajah Azizah bt Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Dun, Deputy Minister, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. 

The event also saw some of the notable attendees judge the collections for the Best Collection Award. Evis Chow Sook Kuen was the clear favourite with her detailed and innovative collection that was inspired by origami birds. 

“The show and the marketing aspect will definitely help in my dream to become an entrepreneur designer, as I want to create my own brand instead of limit myself to just designing clothes,” said the quiet and ambitious lass. 

Speaking after the event, Prof Dato’ Dr Ahmad Zainuddin, Director, ICAD and Chairman, Malaysia Design Council (under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia), pointed out that the event was attended by notable names from the fashion industry andin the film world, such as Malaysian actress Anzalna Nasir. 

“The event aims to help our students make important contacts – not just academicians but also notable members of the public,” he said. 

He shared that he hopes the event will give the students the boost they need to penetrate the international and regional market, particularly the ASEAN community. 

The venue selection was something that Dato’ Mahadzir Lokman felt was noteworthy as most renowned fashion shows in the world are held in art galleries. 

“It is very inspiring that ICAD held this fashion show at an art gallery because art galleries are the basis of many beautiful things,” he said.