Flying fashion forward
THEY are still in the process of fine tuning their craft but three students were lucky enough to showcase their fashion artistry in the third season of the AirAsia Runway Ready Design Search.
The contest was part of Malaysia’s biggest fashion event - Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2017.
The three students from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology were given the opportunity to have their three designs worn by models on the runway.
For 22-year-old student Phynix Tan Pek Han, the chance to feature his designs in the international competition was a dream come true.
He says the competition allowed him to show the fashion industry what a “village boy sees” when it comes to clothes.
The Pantai Remis, Perak, native says that his collection, named phyn.Fw18, was born after six months of conceptualisation and creation.
He adds that he was inspired by the women living in the rural parts of Malaysia.
“Women who spend most of their time labouring under the sun; women who sacrifice themselves for the betterment of the society; women who have no time for themselves and no time to dress up and look ‘pretty’.
“This collection is to show beauty through these women who despite not fitting the common standard of beauty, are beautiful.”
The other two students to take part in the contest hailed from Limkokwing University Creative of Technology, Cambodia Campus.
Both Kong Sothea, 21, and Leach Savuthpenghuy, 21, say they wanted to feature the unique aesthetics of their country during the show.
Sothea says he fused elements from traditional clothes, such as the dolman collars from men’s shirts, Chong Pong (a wrap over on the chest for women) and the Apsara outfit into his pieces.
“For this women’s ready to wear collection, I wanted to bring out the elegant spirit and power of women,” he explains.
He adds that he took part in the contest to gain experience and exposure to “the real world of fashion.”
He admits that he was nervous but never intimidated to be competing against 19 others in the finale.
All the designs at the show had to be based on an Asean theme.
As a student, Sothea says it was challenging trying to juggle between school and competition but in the end, he was satisfied with his collection that was heavily influenced by Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
Savuthpenghuy who is a Fashion Design and Business Innovation student, says he wanted to show the Asean community what Cambodia has to offer when it comes to fashion.
He adds that there were many challenges during the four weeks it took him to come up with his designs.
Though admittedly a difficult process, he says that all the sweat and tears was worth it when he saw his collection on the models.
He drew inspiration from the Khmer Shadow Theatre, a shadow puppet show similar to Malaysia’s wayang kulit.
The AirAsia Runway Ready Design Search was launched in 2015 as a platform to discover young Malaysian design talents, but expanded its reach to neighbouring countries the following year.
Last year’s Search winner, Anuruk Jaidee from Thailand, also made a special appearance and showcased his full collection on the runway during the 2017 finale.