It was sweet victory for Limkokwing when the team of Mohd Nizammudin Ambia and Mansor Harun of Kumpulan Nizam LUCT ‘N’ Sutex beat 11 others at the finals to clinch the RM30,000 Grand Prize in the fashion category of the Piala Seri Endon 2004.

Nizammudin, resident artist at Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology, created three batik – infused interpretations of the ‘Nyonya Kebaya’ and ‘Baju Melayu’ for the competition.

“I am inspired by the surrealistic aspect of art and my costumes reflect this. The headgear is outrageous and out-of-the-world type of design with the aim of being stylised and contemporary – very much in line with the thinking at Limkokwing,” says Nizammudin, who was previously a Limkokwing lecturer in the visual and digital arts faculty.

Nizammudin, who entered two formal costumes and one casual outfit for the batik competition, attributes much of his success to his mentor, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing. “Tan Sri Lim recognised my talent and nurtured it by offering the position of Limkokwing resident artist this year, which gave me the time to develop my concepts and ideas. Without a doubt, my win would not have been possible without his guidance. Tan Sri Lim touched my artist’s soul,” says Nizammudin.

Nizammudin says he was inspired by the Indonesian wiron (sarong) and his baju melayu was modelled after the baju kurung Johor, with the theme ‘Bunga Mas’, something born out of our historical links to the former glory of the Malacca Sultanate.

“At Limkokwing, the campus is vibrant and different, the focus is on creativity and innovation and my costumes are also first of its kind, being individually hand-painted using yellowish gold and brown. Unlike other techniques, the costumes were designed, tailored and then painted on, a canvas for my art.”

Nizammudin also takes pride in having helped create a 35ft long sculpture of a phoenix for Limkokwing. The sculpture today has pride of place at the entrance of Malaysia Design and Innovation Centre, the professional arm of Limkokwing.