New York fashion show features Malaysian designers

NEW YORK: Three female Malaysian fashion designers, currently in New York as part of a Malaysian women’s business and fashion mission organised by Peniagawati, showcased their haute couture collections that included a blending of modernity with the traditional.

The Malaysian fashion show, organised on Friday at New York’s Crowne-Plaza hotel, was part of the Couture Fashion Week in which designers from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Slovakia, Russia and other countries also participated.

The three Malaysian fashion designers displayed their creative excellence with models of different ethnicities – AfricanAmerican, Caucasian and Asian – strutting on the catwalk before a discerning audience.

Sara Jamaludin, whose designs appeared under the insignia “Sara J”, presented her songket-based designs with the traditional hand-woven fabric material using gold and silver threads.

The motifs were generally patterned after flora and fauna.

Sara, of Kuala Lumpur, is trying to bring back songket into vogue and aiming to produce songket to make it practical and affordable for daily use.

Her creations included a white dress with silver frills and green trousers and a pink dress with light-coloured stripes in different shades.

Eja Shahril, based in Kepala Batas, presented Muslim dresses that were syariah-compliant, with a host of elegant hijab designs and long flowing robes that were in keeping with Islamic tradition.

Erma Fatima, who runs Rumah Karya Citra (M) Sdn Bhd in Selangor, presented her “Mak Cun” collection of traditional contemporary designs, embedding a traditional touch in every piece of her work that combined modern and traditional fabric.

“Fashion is all about expressing and creating one’s identity,” said the film director and actress who had participated in the Asian Islamic Fashion Week in Kuala Lumpur and the Torino Fashion Week in Italy.

Erma will also participate in the Beverley Hills show in December. — Bernama