Honing students’ fashion skills
TEN Diploma in Fashion Design students from the INTI Centre for Art and Design (ICAD) learnt all about the fashion industry.
These included material selection, designing, price strategising, photo shoots and marketing activities, This was thanks to INTI’s recent collaboration with Royale Demure, the first global crowdfunding platform for fashion collections.
It helped expose the students to the fashion industry and skills needed to remain relevant.
The industry-academic collaboration, which is a first for Royale Demure, showcased the best of what ICAD’s fashion students had to offer in terms of creativity, innovation and drive to make it in this highly competitive industry.
Throughout the competition, the 10 final year students were required to select, design and prototype one garment of choice from their graduation collection to be sold on the Royale Demure platform. The students received support and guidance from Royale Demure’s experts.
The students were then required to market and promote their designs to gain pledges on the crowdfunding platform and secure a maximum of 10 pledges to have their designs manufactured and sold.
Using social media as a means to market their products, the students worked out creative ways to gain support from friends and followers.
Marcella Mia Lomoljo was named the winner for her classic Polar Boatneck Blouse. She received rave reviews from the judges. Designed as part of her graduation collection entitled “Maharlika”, the blouse is inspired by the traditional Filipino attire.
Drawing from her cultural roots in the Philippines, Marcella designed the modern versatile boatneck blouse for young chic women who wish to go from a day to a night look with ease.
“I’m so thankful to have won this competition,” she said.
She said the competition has helped her to understand the marketing elements involved in being a fashion designer.
“It was a challenging process but I enjoyed every second of it,” shared Marcella who took the time to thank her lecturers and family for encouraging her during the entire process.
Walking away with a RM500 token from INTI, Marcella will also earn a 40% share of profits from the sale of each of her design piece sold on Royale Demure’s platform.
Royale Demure founder Yap Sue Yii said this was an exciting collaboration.
“As a crowdfunding platform, our customers decide what is fashionable, trendy and worth manufacturing.
“In this way, the students got to understand the customers’ choices and needs,” she said.
INTI Centre for Art and Design dean Ang Tong Yin said such collaborations expose students to the right experiences, skills and people in making it in their relevant industries.
Encouraging students to enhance their entrepreneurial experiences and gain relevant industry exposure, INTI works with over 450 industry partners on various initiatives.