KUALA Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) is set to wow style enthusiasts again this year at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur with more than 40 local designers taking part to showcase chic and trendy ready-to-wear collections on the runway between August 17 to 21.
This time round, the affair will be observed in a more ostentatious manner as the trademark event will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary.
“When KLFW started back in 2013, I knew that it would be a tremendous risk and a huge undertaking,” said KLFW founder Andrew Tan.
“I had previously worked for other event organisers with similar themes but had so many reservations in terms of the benefits it gave to Malaysian designers.
“I had a completely different vision in mind to push forward the local fashion scene and the result is in what you see KLFW has achieved or managed to promote over the years,” he added.
According to the fashion figure, the initiative behind KLFW has always been cultivated to realise three core principles – i) to create tremendous interest in Malaysian fashion (awareness), ii) to raise the bar for ready-to-wear (RTW) collections as an addition to the participating designers’ Made-to-Measure business model, and iii) to find ways through networking and knowledge sharing for the viability of the Malaysian fashion industry.
“I am proud to say that KLFW has all these three parameters set as a stronghold, and having to wrap up the first decade with this understanding is amazing,” noted Andrew, highlighting that the years' worth of making the scene active and colourful could not have been possible without the support of the event’s sponsors.
“Each of them has something unique to contribute that transforms the way we work, interact with one another, and the use of technology relevant to present times,” he added.
Participating KLFW 2022 sponsors include Pavilion KL, AmBank, Samsung, Vespa, Isuzu, Poh Kong, Moccona, TimedotCom, AirAsia, Brandavision, Shu Uemura, Oribe/Miko, Nobel, Glam and Harper’s Bazaar.
More than just runway
Breathing in the next phase for the KLFW brand onwards is Fashion Connect.22, which is set to launch this September.
In its inaugural initiative, the campaign will be filled with meet and greet(s), networking, educational engagements hosted by AmBank to further promote the dialogue between financial institutions and industry experts.
Scores of entertaining and thought-provoking conversations and experiences with designers, industry insiders, cultural figures, along with other opportunities are up for public consumption if they are looking towards getting involved directly in the industry.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur director of marketing Kung Suan Ai shared: “While the shows are the glamourous aspects of KL Fashion Week, we are heartened by the success we have seen in budding local designers, some have gone on to become established brand names with retail stores in our malls.
“The positive impact on the Malaysian fashion industry as a whole is undeniable and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is proud to be a part of this important legacy,” she added.
This year, the anticipated event will also witness a partnership with the winner of the Most Stylish Female Celebrity 2021 at the last Anugerah Fesyen Kuala Lumpur 2021, Scha Al-Yahya.
Known for her impeccable taste in fashion, Scha will be releasing her own unisex perfume brand called Homage under Nobel.
“KLFW is the best platform for us to give a sneak preview of Homage due to many reasons.
"For one, it is the only event in the country that focuses on pushing forward Malaysian talents – not just designers but everyone involved with the retail industry – to become better at their craft and to be known as an active player of the industry,” said the actress.
“I am truly honoured that KLFW has agreed to partner up with Homage this year despite us being new. I hope that this affiliation would continue for many years to come.” – The Vibes, August 6, 2022
