New Straits Times

My first Raya collection

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RAMADAN has arrived and I know someof you have 10 different baju Raya in your shopping cart and are just waiting to check out (don’t lie, I do too).

I’ve been asking a few retailers and designer friends how Raya has been going so far. Some said it’s been slow while others said customers have emptied the shop, including the sample rack!

Raya is actually the most unpredicta­ble and chaotic season of all. My experience from being on the sales floor at Mimpikita a few years ago, to styling major Raya campaigns and also from having my own Raya collection this year, tells me that every Raya shopping “episode” is different.

There’s the drama when customers are not able to get a baju Raya in the same colour as their spouse (certainly one of the funnier moments) and many other interestin­g experience­s.

But I have also experience­d the satisfacti­on of witnessing my Raya styling work on billboards and banners and the reason that this Raya will be one of my most proudest moments is because I finally have a collection that I can call my own and am truly in love with.

And here’s the breakdown of why Khoon Hooi X Min Luna is the celebritie­s’ favourite Raya collection this year. resulted in this beautiful bespoke Eid collection. During myfirst design meeting with KhoonHooi,Iwasshowin­ghimmy mood board of bows and metallic rose gold. He nodded with a smile and later flipped open his sketch book and filled it up with so many different ways of doing a bow.

Our eyes met and I knew then I was collaborat­ing with the right person. When you see the collection, you will realise that it brings exciting updates to the traditiona­l Eid wardrobe.

There is also a fresh take on bow placement and some of the bows have raw trimmings and come adorned with diamante encrusted buckles, taking the traditiona­l Raya look to a whole new glamorous level.

One of my favourite styling tips for Eid is combining a few different brooches to elevate one’s look. You can see how Khoon Hooi has arranged these amazingly appliqued bling andput them together on some of our luxe taffeta pieces.

I wanted to create a truly inclusive collection to pay tribute to every single woman who has said “I can never carry off that look”. With this collection, I want to say to those women that now they can. We have statement sleeves if you need to hide your arms, flowy tunics if you want to look taller, appliqued bling that can be arranged to make your whole look appear more proportion­ate and elegant waist flourishes to cinch your waist. I would only give others something that I wouldalso wearmyself­andthislux­emadeto-order collection introduces new colours such as raspberry sorbet and pistachio while also presenting the famous palette of magnificen­ce iridescent jewel stones.

We have flowy pant suits set in butter and white, chic, simple two-piece ensembles in emerald and teal and also sculptured pieces in pastel brocade.

Khoon Hooi’s signature artisanal details are also evident throughout this collection and beautifull­y complement my sense of playfulnes­s.

The full collection featuring 17 looks is available for viewing at the Khoon Hooi Boutique.

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