It was victory unexpected and all the sweeter to savour after months of hard work and headache. Ask * Gan, one of three winners of Lancome Colour Designs Awards (LCDA) Malaysia who will now go on to represent the country at the grand finals to be held in France in May.

*, along with Teh Cheau Huey and Judith Yeoh beat eight others to win in the categories of Innovation, Colour & Texture, and Modern Femininity respectively at the final judging ceremony in KL recently. And now, Paris beckons, with the prospect of international recognition should they outshine participants from other countries.

The challenge in the competition was to come up with designs that best reflect Lancome’s collection Enchantress. Like the name suggests, all things bright and mystical would have to come into play. And * did not fail to rise to the occasion with his four designs inspired by “fairies, elves and flowers”.

“I call the concept Fairy Closet. It’s a fantasy I’ve had for a long time and I’ve translated my thoughts into my designs. I imagined fairies taking on human form but hiding their identity,” * explains.

The result: four garments in hues of red, blue, purple and gold that come complete with heavy accessorizing – reflecting the amount of painstaking work involved and the attention to detail.

“I used a lot of beads, a lot of translucent elements and ended up spending RM6,000. My favourite is the blue evening wear named Fairy Blue Gown. It projects elegance, sophistication and class. The top is knitted while the full voluminous skirt is of polyester chiffon,” * reveals, adding that it took him three months to complete the garments and during that time he was also involved in another competition and school projects.

He recalls reminding himself to remain cool at the finals that saw the panel of judges consisting of such celebrated names as Melinda Looi and Gillian Hung, meticulously going over each entry.

“I thought my friends would win; I wasn’t so confident. I thought every piece was unique, every item attractive in its own way,” he says, adding that he believes he won because of his “boldness in interpretation”.

Like *, Judith Yeoh, who won in the Modern Femininity category, says she did not think she would win. “I thought other finalists would win. Being finalist was enough for me. I was there for the experience. I didn’t spend as much as they did – I spent about RM3,000. And I thought Paris was something unattainable.”

Well, she thought wrong, and now she basks in her victory even as she happily recounts where she gained inspiration for her entry. “I called my garments “Iridescence”. While doing my research, I came across this acrylic painting called Iridescent Reflections. I was intrigued by it - a water lily pond with pastel colours,” she says, adding that she incorporated the concept of translucent attractiveness by using dragonfly wings and pearls.

Ultimately, what materialized for Judith after months of diligence were a tube dress, a long white dress, a purple-peach evening wear of chiffon, and a fourth design inspired by what she refers to as Alfred Hitchcock women. The last one is her favourite – “tapered skirt and thick belt complete the picture of strength, sensuality and sophistication”, she explains.

Describing herself as a non-competitive person, Judith nevertheless looks forward to Paris . “Going to Paris and having the opportunity to be in the Paris Fashion Week, to be next to famous models and designers, it is more than enough.”

Cheau Huey, winner in the Colour & Texture category, shares her sentiments. Thanking her lecturers at Limkokwing for “helping a lot in terms of advice”, and Lancome for the opportunity to compete, Cheau Huey reveals that she had aimed to do well in the Innovation category instead.

“How funny that * should win in that category instead as he had aimed for Colour & Texture. I couldn’t believe it,” she says, adding that the hardest part was the illustration to fabrication stage.

Themed Hidden Secret, Cheau Huey’s garments were inspired by her fascination for tarot cards. “There are 22 main cards in tarot
– I chose four: Magician, Empress, High Priestess and The World.

“The World piece was the most difficult to design because the silhouette is round. It’s rather comical in appeal and that’s because it’s supposed to be playful. I wanted to depict a pregnant woman because a woman is most beautiful when she is expecting.”

The LCDA was first held in London in 2001 but has since gained a worldwide platform, taking place in 10 countries, including Malaysia, last year.