*Written by Louise Carmen*
To all aspiring designers out there, this is your chance to shine! Kronenbourg 1664 has created a fashion platform – Kronenbourg 1664 L’Aperitif Fashion – for young designers out there to showcase their best designs yet, and broaden their horizons in the fashion industry.
The most exciting part of the competition is *drum roll please*… the GRAND PRIZE! The Kronenbourg 1664 L’Aperitif Fashion Show winner will get an amazing opportunity to intern at one of the top fashion houses in London with all expenses paid for three months! This is definitely a dream come true for many aspiring designers out there, and it’ll allow the winner to learn from the best in the fashion industry at an international level, which will also open many doors in the future!
The theme for this year’s competition is French Masterpieces - cultivate and celebrate the rich cultures of France. Designers will be graded according to their creativity, workmanship and inspiration. The top 20 designers out of all applicants will participate in a qualifier challenge before they get shortlisted as top 5 finalists! Each finalist will then have the opportunity to showcase their collection on the 2013 Kronenbourg 1664 L’Aperitif Fashion Show runway.
A public voting system is implemented for the top 5 finalists this year, and it will create a more interactive process leading up to the finale. Gillian Hung, President of Malaysian Official Designers’ Association (MODA), will act as professional mentor so designers are assured diverse ideas and feedback.
I’ve been to Elegantology a few weeks ago cos Justin Yap stocks his collection there and i went to meet him for dinner and drinks. It’s on a row of restaurants and bars that seem to be very popular in Publika and is always crowded with people (same row as The Bee and Social).
Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant is a store, a bar and a restaurant. Essentially, it’s a creative space in celebration of fashion, gastronomy and mixology.
Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant is a three-way collaboration between
notable Malaysian fashion designer Beatrice Looi,
Celebrity Chefs Sherson Lian & Johnny Fua,
and the oldest cognac house Martell.
Their mutual desire to support the local creative fashion and gastronomy industry resulted in the creation of this remarkable space dedicated to emerging talent.
Do you remember the Rising Personalities Award that was organised by Martell?
Well, i guess this is the long-term version of recognising new and up-and-coming talent while having a space to promote them!
Celebrity Chefs Sherson Lian (above) & Johnny Fua (below)
The two celebrity chefs refresh their Ever-Changing Menu every 3 to 4 weeks as to ensure new dining experiences for loyal customers. They also regularly evolve the menu by collaborating with rising guest chefs, and constantly encourage these aspiring chefs to create unique and innovative gastronomy experiences.
Dining areas are carefully placed inside Elegantology, so you have different atmospheres and more privacy.
Besides serving gastronomic fanfares daily, Elegantology’s large space displays exclusive men’s fashion and lifestyle products through co-creations with reputable local designers. Pieces are tailored in limited numbers for the most sophisticated of tastes, allowing the Elegantology man to rise above with style.
There is even a team of personal stylists (aka Elegantologists) at the gallery, who are always on hand to style you up or find you exactly what you need – whether it’s for a special occasion or a complete wardrobe overhaul.
There is a wide selection of men’s apparel and accessories in there, and they’re all designed by established as well as up-and-coming designers in Malaysia. The gallery is really a platform for which they can create a series of limited edition fashion and lifestyle collections for.
Despite being proclaimed as being menswear, i don’t see why women can’t wear the fashion items in there too! I rather fancy the pretty bows, and i am sure many women like me nowadays are embracing menswear-inspired fashion with the ubiquitous shirt. It’s so effortlessly classic to cinch in a men’s shirt with a belt and carry on with your day.
Back to Elegantology, I surfed through their Facebook page the other day, and found quite interesting things that they post!
Check out these illustrations of a recipe, done like a fashion illustration!
If Elegantology has piqued your interest, you’d be glad to know that they’re celebrating their launch event very soon, with invites for you if you’re quick.
Come and experience Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant for yourself,
taste the creations by celebrity chefs Sherson Lian & Johnny Fua,
feel and try the limited edition men’s fashion pieces,
mingle with some of KL’s most fashionable people,
enjoy the showcase of the designers’ collections with a fashion show and celebrity models,
all while being entertained by DJ Nadine Ann Thomas on the decks.
I will be going, and i heard some other personalities like Patricia K and Hansen Lee will be too!
- Venue: 35, Level G2, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, 1 Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 KL
- Date: 17th May 2013
- Time: 8pm
- Dress Code: Smart Elegance
RSVP for the Grand Launch Party on www.elegantology.com.my/RSVP
(limited to first 300 pax)
LIKE Elegantology’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/elegantology
My birthday present from Aunt G was her buying me some tickets to Vogue Festival without telling me. When she finally did send an email while i was still in Malaysia, i was squealing in public when i saw whose talks she got us to attend – Paul Smith with Alexa Chung, Mario Testino, and Donatella Versace!
She couldn’t have picked better personalities for the talks – i LOVE Paul Smith, especially after i read his illustrated biography; i’ve always admired Alexa Chung; Mario Testino is one of my favourite photographers thanks to his long-term stint at Vogue; and Donatella Versace is so iconic, it’d be a treat to see what she’s got to say and is like IRL.
The festival was held all day last weekend and focused on 45-minute talks given by the most luminary individuals in the fashion industry. Besides the talks i went to, there were also sessions including Michael Kors, Vivienne Westwood, Tamara Mellon, Alber Elbaz, Victoria Beckham, Anna Dello Russo, and many many more.
* written by Louise Carmen *
Gathered from her experience of years at local design label PU3, Yasmin Ramli has released a new label called When our eyes met, which translates the punk movement into a more wearable style in current fashion. Min’s style is mainly inspired by her years in London, along with the punk influences of The Sex Pistols and Vivienne Westwood. This label is also defined by the sharp hyper-inspirations set by Margiela and McQueen.
Zardozë is a new Singaporean label that was just founded in August last year, and newly launched in Malaysia just last Wednesday! The brand is inspired by the majestic elegance of Persian culture, along with its royal art of hand-crafted embroidery. Hence, you can expect pieces which have embellishment in high detail on the finest hand-picked fabrics, all designed by a team of culturally-diverse designers.
Their SS13 collection is inspired by American painter Mark Rothko (for his rigorous attention to colour and simplified use of form) and porcelain china (for its beautiful motifs). Elaborate patterns are married with texture; by using embossing, embroidery techniques and the weaving of beads and ribbon. The SS collection will be available for sale from end of this month.
Below are pictures from the RTW Holiday collection, called Resonance. I love this lookbook so i posted more pics heh >>
Since the holiday season is about being all sparkly, you’ll notice a lot of handcrafted sequins, beading and crystals on the pieces.
They’re all such FUN pieces saying “TAKE ME OUT TO PLAY AND PARTY!”
Besides lookbook pix, i took lots of my own pictures at the fashion show they held at Marini’s on 57 last week >>
* Written by SweetEe *
Syomir Izwa is a Malaysian fashion designer who specializes in custom made pieces and bridal wear, and has had the likes of personalities like Mizz Nina, Yasmin Hani, Sazzy Falak, and Marion Caunter wear his designs.
Syomir started his own brand in 2002, and joined partnership with Ms Ena Rusli in 2010 to establish the brand as a private limited company. He has a boutique in Publika Solaris Dutamas and launches two main RTW lines (SS & FW) alongside his Cocktail Raya and Cruise collections every year. His line of apparel blend sophistication with clean lines that suggests elegance in simplicity.
Some runway looks from his latest collection at the Nissan Fashionably KL in Publika last week.
Syomir Izwa also collaborates with Zawara, a company which focuses on Muslim fashion in order to launch more affordable pieces for the public at RM249 per set >