Creativity in Motion graduation fashion show pushes fashion design students forward
Fashion design students from Limkokwing University’s Faculty of Fashion & Lifestyle Creativity held their graduation fashion show in Starhill Gallery recently.
The creativity and talents of 14 aspiring fashion design students from Limkokwing University’s Faculty of Fashion & Lifestyle Creativity was brought to life on the runway in Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur in the recent ‘Creativity in Motion’ graduation fashion show.
Under the theme of ‘Ethnic Soldier’, the show served as a glimpse into the fashion industry for the graduating students, as top fashion and industry brands like Shu Uemura and Miko Galére collaborated with the students in the show.
Among the big names of the fashion industry that turned up at the show to give their support to the designers were Dato’ Farah Khan (Founder and President of Malaysia’s top luxury retailer The Melium Group), Andrew Tan (organiser of KL Fashion Week), Rico Rinaldi (Limkokwing alumni and award winning fashion designer) and other fashion designers and industry experts.
The guests were first treated to the ‘Calico’ collection, a fashion collection from Limkokwing’s second year degree students, which featured hand-painted Ndebele and Ankara designs from South Africa and Zimbabwe. These students’ works and creativity were further enhanced by Miko Galére’s fantastic hairstyling work and Shu Uemura’s unique makeup on the models.
During the intermission, power-packed performances from the Limkokwing Choir and Limkokwing’s dance group kept the guest entertained and delighted while the designers prepared their models and creations for the main show.
The main show of the night is where the theme ‘Ethnic Soldier’ came in play. According to Limkokwing University Vice President and Fashion Club Creative Director Dato’ Tiffanee Marie Lim, the theme was inspired by strong women and men who were icons in histories around the world.
Varying from designs based on ancient Greek and Egyptian Mythology, to the warrior culture of the Samurai and colonial British military style, and even to current cosmopolitan haute couture, the interpretations of the theme by these young student designers were really inspiring.
Dato’ Tiffanee explained that in Limkokwing University, the first thing that was taught to students was that they need to stop thinking of themselves as students, but instead imagine themselves as proper designers.
“We encourage the students to measure themselves based on the benchmark set by their idols, not by the university’s standards.”
“At Limkokwing, we celebrate our background and our diversity, and I wanted the students to dig deep into their inspirations and what they have seen around the world from different places and bring them together.”
Dato’ Tiffanee’s statement was echoed in the students’ works. “I was inspired by ‘Cavalry Regiment of The British Army’, during the time I went to London for Limkokwing Global Classroom and I was amazed by the beauty of it. I thought it could be my best inspiration ever,” said by Mohd Fadhli Ismail from Malaysia.
Fahimeh Naderloo from Iran said she was always inspired by nature. Her source of inspiration for this collection was the ‘fighting fish’. In her opinion, “the fighting fish is a warrior and when it swims, it resembles a strong princess walking.”
Impressed with the fashion collections, prominent fashion journalist Dato’ Kee Hua Chee felt that Limkokwing has some of the best and most promising designers.
Dato’ Kee expressed that for Limkokwing University to hold the ‘Creativity in Motion’ fashion show was really a step in the right direction for pushing these young designers forward.
“This is a very precious learning curve for the students. Because they learn not just how to make clothes, but also to present them and more importantly to market them. This is a very hands-on experience that the students really need.”
For more information on Limkokwing University’s Faculty of Fashion & Lifestyle Creativity courses, click here: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Fashion & Retailing, Diploma in Fashion & Retail Design, and Professional Diploma in Hair Design.
