Revolutionary vision
> BEHATI introduces a new wave of contemporary Muslimah wear and a range of extravagant floral brooches
FORGET the subdued minimalistic jewellery pieces and make space for local jewellery and fashion brand BEHATI. The newly-established brand mixes exotic floral blooms while playing with dramatic proportions in a series of extravagant brooches alongside a Bespoke collection. Its creative director Kel attempts to change the public's perspective on modest fashion.
He said: "I came up with the brand because I think Muslimah can dress so much better than we commonly see right now.
"Essentially, BEHATI is an entirely different vision of Muslimah wear that I'm trying to portray. The brooches are unique in their own ways, they are modern yet playful, bolder and bigger in size – a perfect fit for an artistic fashion statement."
The quintessential BEHATI woman is none other than Behati herself. Kel tells a story of his aunt who he decided to name his brand after. A woman so confident in her own skin, she is never afraid to express her individual style.
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"I'm truly inspired by her style, she wears only a scarf around her head instead of a conventional tudung. She frequently plucks flowers from her garden to put them in the house or behind her ear," Kel explained.
Hence, BEHATI's first collection celebrates the quintessential BEHATI woman in a luxury visage. Featuring 16 flower brooches rendered in dazzling crystals to pair creatively with its Bespoke collection.
BROOCHES 1
Enclosed inside a dolphin blue box with a gold leaf embossed logo of BEHATI, sits a decadent brooch on a red velvet bed. BEHATI is as luxurious and majestic as it sounds. Its brilliance cast back by the multi-faceted glass rhinestones with every stupendous bit of coloured gems complementing and contrasting one another. On one side, by channelling the rare elegance and elevated femininity similarly to the iconic decorative art movement of Art Nouveau, BEHATI proved what is considered dated can still be celebrated in a 21st-century adaptation. The revival witnesses Kel's post-modern vision in how fashion must evolve or reinvent through time.
And for that matter, BEHATI's debut collection envisioned 16 brooches as realistic flowers crystalised into delicate work of art in unusual colour combinations including chartreuse with blue and purple.
The first of its kind – Hawa brooch takes the form of a vivid orchid named 'Chocolate Thunder' in bright yellow petals with dark purple spots, while a full white rhinestone stigma takes centre stage.
Following the radical approach – "go big or go home", BEHATI went one step further to create over-the-top jewellery goals. A gigantesque piece like the Dahlia brooch – measuring 15cm tall – is the biggest of all. The Gladiolus flower alternatively known as 'sword lily' burst into expressive blooms encrusted with predominantly purple diamantés.
BESPOKE COLLECTION
Futuristic, bold and sophisticated are all the right words to describe the Bespoke garments. The risky reinvention of the daring yet experimental modest wear has developed into an acquired taste many might struggle to accept. In the first collection, the typical oversized men's Baju Melayu is redrafted for women into structured silhouette with fitted shoulders and sculptured sleeves. A vibrant scuba top made of breathable lycra is sewed together with a tudung and detachable gloves. Another simple taffeta tudung is given a new spin with more volume as it is casually draped around the head and secured with three BEHATI brooches. BEHATI's glamour and luxury comes alive through these never-before-seen silhouettes of Muslimah wear. The truth is, such an audacious approach is neither intimidating nor overwhelming.