Page 163 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 155
make things happen. Fortunately, the country is blessed with many expert fashion journalists, bloggers, entrepreneurs, impresarios and industry advocates. The following are particularly notable for the length and scope of their contributions.
Dato’ Leela Mohd Ali
is CEO and Trustee of Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (PENYAYANG), an NGO that leverages
the popular appeal of
the fashion industry to assist the less fortunate. She spearheads the Nyonya Kebaya Travelling Exhibition, featuring the late Tun Endon Mahmood’s vintage nyonya kebaya collection and the
“Malaysia Batik Crafted for the World Movement” devoted to ensuring the growth and progress
of the batik industry.
Andrew Tan is the creator of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) which offers a platform for Malaysian designers to present and showcase their ready-to- wear collections, with the hopes of highlighting the strengths and creativity
of Malaysia’s Fashion Industry to both local and international consumers.
Gillian Hung also
known as MaMa G. After decades in the Design and Fashion Retail industry, she established
W humg.click – under
her company, HUNG, to provide an e-commerce platform for International and local brands to
help one another in business expansion around the world.
Dato’ Raja Rezza Shah is the founder of the Islamic Fashion Festival, which debuted in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 and is now a global phenomenon.
Vicky Fong, a lifestyle journalist and renowned fashion show choreographer from Kuching, Sarawak is the official choreographer for the World Eco-Fiber &
Textile (WEFT) Forum & Fashion Show. She has
also coordinated the presentation of Malaysian fashion in shows across Germany, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and Central Asia.
Fashion Industry Organisations
The Malaysia Official
Designer Association
(MODA), led by its President and prominent designer Melinda Looi, works on behalf of Malaysia’s foremost fashion designers. It represents the interests of fashion designers, providing a platform for them and nurturing the growth of the industry. Other designer bodies include the Malaysian Bumiputera Designers’ Association (MBDA) with more than 200 members.
The Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA) is the recognised national representative body for the textile and apparel industry, working closely with the Malaysian Knitting Manufacturers Association (MKMA), the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association (MFMA) and the Malaysian Retailers Association (MRA).
Event choreographer and craft entrepreneur Vicky Fong at the 2019 World Eco Fiber and Textile (WEFT) International Fashion Show, held in Kuching.