The Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW) returns for its fourth edition from 18-22 October this year with the theme ‘Art Beyond Fashion’ – The Capsule Collection. In line with the theme, this year’s MFW will be a blending of art and fashion, featuring artistic displays of the many fashion and lifestyle capsule exhibition clusters and galleries, fashion shows by local and international designers, and a showcase of antique Mercedes-Benz cars and TIGA motorcycles, vintage Coca-Cola collectibles and other activities.
To announce this year’s MFW highlights, its organiser, STYLO International held a press conference cum signing ceremony with its main partners and sponsors today.
Those in attendance include Datuk Nancy Yeoh-Reissiger, President & CEO of STYLO International and Chairman of MFW 2017 and Mercedes-Benz STYLO AsiaFashionWeek, Datuk Professor (Dr.) Jimmy Choo, OBE, Honorary Advisor of Malaysia Fashion Week and Mercedes-Benz STYLO AsiaFashionWeek, Dr. Claus Weidner, Chief Executive Officer & President, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Abu Bakar Yusof, Director of Lifestyle, Lifesciences, Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Section, MATRADE, and Raymond Cheah, Chief Operating Officer, Commercial, UEM Sunrise Berhad.
Also, participating in this year’s MFW is Official Beverage Partner, Coca-Cola and Official Accommodation Partner, Airbnb, “Belong Anywhere with Airbnb”. In addition, playing an important role in supporting the performing arts section, Keep It Local (KIL), the Official Entertainment Partner.
Coinciding with this year’s Deepavali Celebrations, MFW 2017 will begin with a fashion and lifestyle exhibition throughout Publika which is opened to both trade and public visitors featuring various clusters which are: Fashion, Modest Fashion, Menswear and Lifestyle, Beauty, Hair, Aesthetics and Wellness.
The clusters for this year are curated by some of the most experienced names in Malaysian fashion and lifestyle industry such as Bon Zainal, Mahani Awang, Datin Maylene Yong, Datin Winnie Loo, Professor Dr. Coco Alex and art curation led by Professor Derek Tolcher, Linton University College.
At the press conference and MoU signing ceremony to announce this year’s event, Yeoh-Reissiger, President and CEO of STYLO International, the organiser of Malaysia Fashion Week said that these clusters represent the capsule collections for MFW ‘Art Beyond Fashion’ theme this year.
She said, “’Art Beyond Fashion’ pays homage to the intertwining of art and fashion. “Every piece of fashion item begins with an artistic interpretation by its creator, and similarly it ends with an artistic interpretation of its beauty and appeal by fans and buyers”.
She added that moving forward, beginning next year, all these clusters will be the template for a series of ‘MFW pocket events’ that will be held throughout the year at specific venues culminating at Malaysia Fashion Week event fourth quarter of 2018.
Among the highlight of this year’s event will be Malaysia’s renowned shoemaker Datuk Prof. (Dr.) Jimmy Choo’s “My Tribute to Diana”Gallery, which will showcase a replica collection of shoes he designed for the late Princess of Wales over the course of their close friendship.
The centrepiece of the tribute gallery will include the last pair of shoes he designed for Princess Diana shortly before her passing but never collected. This will be the first time ever in Asia that this showcase is held here, shortly after his showcase in London following his appointment as Ambassador for The Diana Award.
At the press conference, Yeoh also announced the recent appointment of Kelantan-born Datuk Zang Toi as Honorary International Business Advisor for the Malaysia Fashion Week. His appointment will help mentor young Malaysian designers and guide them on the importance of building a strong international business network.
“Today, up-and-coming young Asian designers are creating waves in the global fashion industry, and for the past few years the Malaysia Fashion Week, backed by our partners Mercedes-Benz and MATRADE have successfully open doors for the young and talented to be discovered by the fashion industry’s key players from the East and West. With the presence of international and local fashion buyers, MFW is the perfect platform for emerging Malaysian designers who are seriously looking to go beyond Malaysian shores to participate in and show their talents,” added Yeoh.
This year’s edition will also see MFW focusing on international business by organising a number of business matchings with potential foreign buyers.
The initiative will be carried out with the facilitation of MFW’s trade partner and former co-organiser, MATRADE, to champion the spirit of private-public partnership. This time around, the participating Malaysian fashion designers and lifestyle curators will be meeting with buyers from South Africa, Vietnam, Australia, France and Indonesia.
According to Abu Bakar, this segment of MFW is what sets MFW apart from other events. “The focus on creating opportunities in global trade for Malaysian fashion industry players pushes our designers to step outside of their comfort zone and offer the world the unique Malaysian styles that are influenced by our multicultural background. MFW over the years has proven to be an effective platform for us to promote Malaysian fashion to the world. Last year, MFW has successfully generated RM 212.78 million of sales and MATRADE looks forward to a fruitful business outcome from the event this year,” he said.
