Page 158 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

150 THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Malaysia are especially proud of their traditional costumes, worn on
formal occasions and
major celebrations. Their traditional fabrics such
as songket, batik, tenun and ikat are continuously given new leases of life
as they are assimilated
into contemporary wear, appealing to the younger generation and foreigners as well. The craft heritage of Sabah and Sarawak - covering age-old weaving techniques, rattan work, beadwork, pleating, plant fibres and naturally-derived dyes from the rainforests
– inspires contemporary
designers here in Malaysia and throughout the world.
Fashion Events
To promote Malaysia as a shopping destination, the Malaysian government
and the fashion industry have organised events
such as the annual KL Fashion Week and the Piala Seri Endon Fashion Show. These bring together the brightest and the
most creative designers
in Asia to showcase their collections. The popular KL Fashion Weekend is held in conjunction with the famous Malaysia Year End Sale
and visitors are frequently
of modesty”.
Kuching, the capital of
Sarawak, hosts two notable events that promote indigenous fashion. The biennial World Eco-Fiber
& Textile (WEFT) Forum & Fashion Show, organised by Society Atelier Sarawak, is
a platform for international and local designers to share knowledge of sustainable textiles and raise awareness of clothing’s impact upon the environment. Beadwork is a signature craft of Sarawak’s Orang Ulu peoples, and the biennial Borneo International
Beads Conference (BIBCO), organised by CraftHub, brings beadmakers together from all over
the world to share their knowledge and expertise, concluding with a fashion show centred around beads.
Malaysian Designers – Peninsular Malaysia Malaysian designers have shod the feet of the late Princess Diana, taken the catwalks of
able to purchase ready-to-wear- outfits at very attractive prices. Malaysia is also
a pioneer in Islamic fashion and hosts the Islamic Fashion Festival KL every year under the tagline, “discover the beauty
Kuching’s World Eco Fiber and Textile (WEFT) Forum is a major showcase for traditional
and sustainable fabrics and features local and international designers. Shown here are Edric Ong’s handwoven pua kumbu Ikat textiles woven by Rumah Garie longhouse women.
Elegant hand-crafted Orang Ulu beadwork on display at the 5th Borneo International Beads Conference (BIBCo) held in Kuching in October 2019. BIBCo is the leading bead-related event in Southeast Asia.