KUCHING, August 16: Borneo Fashion Week will return this Sept 7-9 featuring some of the best designers in the region, including from Iran, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia.
For this second edition, the local and international fashion designers will be showcasing their ethnic-inspired creations. Over 30 exhibitors will also be there with their fashion apparel, accessories, textiles, ethnic crafts and lifestyle products. Workshops will in the mix, too.
State Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said ‘Bringing Borneo to the World’ would put the state on the world map as an idyllic tourist attraction.
“In fact, Sarawak’s landscape with beautiful mountains and beaches, lush forests and rivers makes it a fitting backdrop for Borneo Fashion Week.
“This combination can put Sarawak in the limelight of the fashion industry and (as a) destination at the international stage. It can turn Kuching into a fashion tourism hub,” he said at an event to announce BFW 2018 here today. The ministry’s assistant minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and BFW organiser and founder Stephanie Alcantara were also present.
Alcantara said the spectacle would feature leading Borneo-based fashion designers such as Indu Borneo, WYNKA, Latip’s Collections, De’MIya, Yacutha Borneo, Kumang & Co, Keldreena Bremas, Rozie Khan Couture, Fatin Xivera and Bidwin Molumdim.
Other local designers include Pretty in White, Najla Shoes, JK Homme, Azhar Zainal, Suhaimiey Sahariey, O.F.F by Phoebe Ooi, Uvanes Vary, Amanda Brown, Yan’s Creation, Asen Clothing, Michael Ooi, Melvin Shah, Ashley@Kapas and Suhara Jewel Art.
International designers include Hayden Ng from Singapore, Pitnapat Yotinratanachai from Thailand, Natacha Van from Cambodia and Faramas from Iran.
“We are excited to introduce to the world many talented designers from the Land of the Hornbills for the second time around. Borneo Fashion Week is an integral component in promoting the island’s fashion industry and heritage.
“BFW embodies the true cultural diversity of Borneo through the creative talent of emerging and established designers, catapulting them onto a global platform. It is in our interest how the industry develops and matures, in particular the advantages offered to our designers and brands,” said Alcantara.
In keeping with the youth engagement direction, BFW 2018 would introduce the Limkokwing Fashion Design Scholarship worth over RM100,000.
In addition, six coveted awards will be awarded on the final night. They are BFW Emerging Borneo Designer of the Year 2018, BFW Designer of the Year 2018, BFW Designer in the Spotlight 2018, BFW Most Promising Designer 2018 as well as BFW Model of the Year (Male and Female).
BFW 2018 will also see an on-going CSR campaign by Red Velvet Event & Design, an event company based in Kuching that will place a specially designed giant boxes at BFW 2018’s official venues — Pullman Kuching and Cove 55 — to welcome people to donate their old clothing and redeem fashion or make up vouchers.
The fashion event will also see sample sales of designers’ past and present collections at the exhibition booths throughout the three days. — DayakDaily
