The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion |
| Posted: 26 Oct 2011 05:30 PM PDT WIN invites to the Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIFW) on Saturdays from Oct 29 to Nov 12. A total of 50 tickets will be given away on every Saturday. All you have to do is catch the MIFW'11 Fashion Force at the following venues in Kuala Lumpur; look out for these striking Peugeot cars (pic). Answer some simple questions to win tickets to the exclusive event as well as goodies from make-up brand MAC. The selected venues are: 12.45pm – 2.00pm: Fahrenheit88, Bukit Bintang 3.30pm – 5.00pm: Maybank, Bukit Bintang 6.00pm – 7.00pm: Bangsar Village 2, Jalan Telawi 8.00pm – 9.00pm: In the vicinity of KL City Walk, Jalan P. Ramlee 9.00pm – 10.00pm: Frangipani at Changkat Bukit Bintang Peugeot is MIFW'11's official car partner. For periodic updates, check out Mifa's facebook page at facebook.com/mifa.malaysia. Related Stories: |
| Posted: 26 Oct 2011 05:30 PM PDT The Malaysia International Fashion Week 2011 is set to take fashion up a notch. IT IS time to raise the glamour stakes again. Yes, the Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIFW'11) is back – and it's bigger than ever. MIFW, hailed as one of the most prestigious fashion events in the region, is an ongoing effort by the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (Mifa) to support the professional development of local couturiers and promote the Malaysian fashion industry in the global market. This year's instalment of the annual event – which started in 2003 – will be held at Zebra Square in Kuala Lumpur from Nov 21 to 27. This year, London-based Singaporean designer Ashley Isham, known for combining big-time glamour with contemporary elements in his signature drape dresses, is among the 170 local and international designers who will be showcasing their collections at the event. MIFW'11 boasts 26 fashion showcases altogether. Among them is the Asia Magic Gala, which will be held at 8pm on Nov 24. The showcase will feature some of the most celebrated designers in Asia. They include the much-revered Ashley, Malaysian Khoon Hooi, and world-famous actress-turned-designer Lee Sinje, who has taken girlish elegance to new heights with her latest collection, Cacac by Sinje. Emerging local labels KLutched and Gallo will also be unveiling their latest collections at the event. The young and young-at-heart may be interested in a fun showcase titled Tribute To Mickey & Friends on Nov 26. At this event, MIFW pays tribute to Mickey Mouse, by featuring past MIFW participants and their personal ode to the classic Disney icon. Meanwhile, notable bridal designers Eric Choong and Carven Ong will add a touch of luxe to the runway with their elaborate gowns. The Bridal Glitz showcase, to be held at 4.30pm on Nov 26, will also feature collections by Celest Thoi, designer labels Nthiran Couture and Allure Couture, and jewellery brand Suhara Jewel Art. Co-hosts for this wedding extravaganza are Signature Weddings (renowned bridal magazine and online portal) and MyDentist (a celebrity dentist who is focused on providing "winning smiles" to customers, including potential brides-to-be). Rising star "Up-and-coming designer Silas Liew is especially one to look out for," says Mifa chairman Heah Sieu Lay. Liew, who won Mifa's Who's Next Designer Search last year, will be premiering his men's wear collection at MIFW'11 on Nov 24. Heah explains that the annual search for budding designers around the country is part of Mifa's efforts to encourage young talents to explore the fashion industry. "It helps us discover young talents and to guide them towards a possible career in fashion. Participants also gain exposure in both local and international markets through the competition," he elaborates. "The winner of this year's Designer Search will get the opportunity to participate in the Who's Next? fashion trade fair in Paris, France in 2012." Heah reveals that Mifa has also been working with local fashion associations such as the Bumiputra Designers Association (BDA), Young Designers' Arena (YODA) and Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) on this year's fashion week. "The associations have invited designers from Indonesia and Vietnam and I'm excited to see how they will present their unique qualities in their creations," he says. To boost the international appeal of the local fashion industry, Mifa also introduced the Global Fashion Inspiration (GFI) programme this year. Heah says the programme aims to acquaint homegrown talents with the international fashion scene. "We are sending local designers to participate in fashion weeks around the world. This year, under the GFI, the Farah Khan label has had the chance to showcase its designs at the Russia Fashion Week." Delectable dozen Mifa also conceptualised The Twelve, a pop-up clothing store at Fahrenheit88 in Kuala Lumpur. Launched last April, The Twelve features a dozen of the nation's most promising designer labels: Benson Chen, Radzuan Radziwill, Key Ng, Sasha Rowena, TAS Iman by Tom Abang Saufi, Shinju Pearls, JKhan, PU3, uREKA, BDA, YODA and Zero To Ten. "The Twelve was formed to provide a platform for local designers to display and sell their creations, and will be available at the shopping mall till April next year," Heah says. "Apart from that, we have also invited foreign trade buyers to attend MIFW'11 to create more business opportunities for our designers. Some designers have actually been invited to fashion weeks overseas or sold their collections to stores all over the world as a result of these meetings." Heah shares his big plans for the local fashion scene. "Ultimately, our target is to propel the local fashion industry to the ranks of renowned fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. "We encourage our designers to come up with ready-to-wear pieces to increase the international marketability and appeal of their designs." That said, Heah admits the industry is not without its flaws. "Our fashion industry is still very young in comparison to our European counterparts. But we believe that continuous efforts and experience will transform the industry over time. "Designers here are actually very creative and innovative but they need some guidance when it comes to marketing and selling their collections." Some of the challenges they face include engaging the proper channels to export their clothes, Heah opines. "We are helping them overcome these challenges by introducing them to Mifa's logistic partners. For example, Logwin Logistics is our official logistics partner this year and they're coming up with a service that will help assist designers who want to export their collections." To learn more about Mifa and MIFW'11, log on to mifa.com.my. The Star is an official media partner. Related Stories: |
| Posted: 26 Oct 2011 05:29 PM PDT Actress-turned-designer Lee Sinje wants to help women look their best with her urban fashion line. FOR some, Lee Sinje will always be the blind girl with the big, bewitching eyes in the 2002 horror hit The Eye. The actress was so convincing in her role as a troubled violinist who gains an eerie ability to see ghosts after a successful cornea transplant, it made her the rising queen of scream. Lee's performance in the film also helped her clinch the best actress awards at the 39th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan, the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards and the Eight Golden Bauhinia Awards in Hong Kong, catapulting the Kedah-born beauty to international stardom. In no time, she became the face that would launch a thousand horror films, lending her quiet charm and charisma to 2004's Koma and 2006's Re-cycle. It seems inevitable that her brand of grief-stricken helplessness would also become a permanent fixture of the genre. In person, though, the talented 35-year-old bears no hint of that poignant vulnerability she so often espouses in her films. Lee is chatty as she is vivacious and radiates a great, positive energy. She is also surprisingly down-to-earth. Dressed simply in a grey off-shoulder dress that flares from the waist, Lee is a picture of understated elegance. Her pixie haircut adds a sassy edge to her soft, girlish demeanour. True to her minimalist style, Lee says that chic, functional everyday looks for the modern woman embody the essence of her clothing line, Cacac. The line defies the traditional Asian concept of elegance. "In the past, Asian women often equate elegance to wearing heavy, dramatic make-up with lots of jewellery. But for me, elegance is all about simplicity and being confident. It's a lifestyle," Lee elaborates. Indeed, the launch of her latest collection, Cacac City Romance by Cacac by Sinje in Kuala Lumpur last month saw an array of simple but elegant ready-to-wear casual and evening pieces in shades of champagne, navy blue and a touch of bubblegum pink. The clothes range from stylish casual wear to flirty cocktail dresses that accentuate the delicate female form – notably the legs, shoulders and waist. Fabrics are mainly silk, satin and chiffon, with a mix of jersey and polyester. There are accessories and shoes available as well. "I picked simple colours because I think they embody the concept of elegance. I also picked soft, comfortable materials that will take a woman from a day at work to a night-out with friends," Lee enthuses. With Cacac, she wants to help women look their best. "Cacac is derived from the Malay word 'kakak', which means 'sister'," she explains. "The brand is all about sisterhood and I want to treat all women like my sisters." Cacac also celebrates femininity, she adds. "It's about rejoicing life, being bold and being proud of one's individuality." Lee, who began the venture with two of her best friends, hopes to make her mark as a fashion designer with Cacac. She admits she has had no formal training in fashion and has learned the trade through trial and error – with swathes of fabrics and a mannequin, of course. Being the creative director and designer of Cacac, Lee oversees the entire clothes-making process, from designing to selecting and sourcing for fabrics, to trying out samples and ensuring the quality of her creations. She launched her first range of clothes with Cacac in May last year and aims to come up with two collections yearly. She also hopes to go to London for a professional fashion course one day. "I'm proud to be a Malaysian designer and I hope to create an impression in the local fashion industry. This is a very important chapter of my life," says Lee, who looks to be in a state of such intense excitement that it is hard not to be drawn in by her zesty personality. Her first foray into the entertainment world began in 1996 with the release of her Mandarin album, Under The Same Starry Night. She made her debut as an actress in 1999 in The Sunshine Cops. In 2001, she picked up the best newcomer award at the Berlin Film Festival for her role in Betelnut Beauty. In spite of her successes, Lee has never been the showy, ostentatious type, preferring her books and canvases to the limelight. She likens the designing process to painting a picture and recently held her maiden art exhibition – a collection of abstract oil paintings in Taipei, Taiwan. A fan of bold colours – her favourite being red – Lee developed a passion for fashion when she was just a child. "I bought my first dress when I was 12 in Pekan Langgar, which is a small town in Alor Setar. And it was from that moment, right after I put on that dress that I knew, for the first time, what it was like to feel pretty. "It wasn't even one of those fancy dresses, just a plain one I bought from the market. But that was when I started becoming really interested in fashion. I went on to buy more dresses and I loved them all so much I even wore them for tuition classes," she shares with a laugh. Clearly, her love for dresses hasn't diminished at all. Her latest collection boasts strikingly bright evening pieces imbued with urban pizzazz. Her stand-out piece was a royal blue chiffon knee-length dress with an elaborate train that flows like waves from the waist down to the floor. While Lee may look like a million bucks in that dress, which also fronts her promotional print material, she exudes none of the hauteur inherent in most superstars. Candid and kinetic, Lee has no qualms sharing her personal thoughts and details with the media. Except, maybe, when asked about her age. "I'm not telling you but you'll be able to find out on the Internet," the actress says with a loud laugh. We're guessing that her mirthful candour and compelling presence probably had something to do with her getting discovered by Sylvia Chang, Taiwan's doyenne of film and music at a Kuala Lumpur audition in 1995. Chang became her mentor-manager and changed the young girl's life forever. In 2004, they starred together in drama-comedy 20,30,40, a film that chronicles the intricacies of the female psyche at three different stages of life. Lee's easy likeability also won her the role that made her a world-famous star. The Pang Brothers, Danny and Oxide first saw Lee, then an unknown in Hong Kong on MTV and knew instantly that their long search for the lead actress of The Eye had ended. They were swept away by Lee's performance of her song, Ocean Of Love. A year after filming The Eye in Thailand, Oxide and Lee started dating. The couple tied the knot in February last year in an intimate island wedding in Pulau Pangkor. Now, the power-couple are joining forces again in the upcoming psychological thriller, Sleepwalker 3D. The film, which is due for a Nov 3 release, also stars Lee's good pal Charlie Yeung and Chinese actress Huo Siyan. Lee plays a woman who sleepwalks and her nocturnal adventures may prove shockingly murderous. "My character struggles with her conscience and she may have killed her ex-lover in her sleep. But I wouldn't call this a horror movie, it's more of an abstract way to talk about love," Lee reveals, her dark eyes gleaming. The production is also her first with her husband without Danny. "We have really high expectations for this film and that placed a huge amount of pressure on us," she adds. "We never argued, but we'd looked so serious in our discussions that people thought we were fighting." Lee, who has 18 films under her belt including last year's romantic comedy Ice Kacang Puppy Love (directed by Ah Niu) says she loves all her cinematic adventures. "They're all my babies," the actress professes. Speaking of which, will we be hearing the pitter patter of little feet anytime soon? "I love kids but I'm too busy for that right now. Besides, I love my career and I really just want to enjoy life for now," Lee tells us. Cacac by Sinje is now available at Parkson outlets in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Gurney Plaza in Penang. Cacac's flagship store is located at Sunway Giza in Kota Damansara, Selangor. You can catch a glimpse of Lee at the Asia Magic Gala in Zebra Square, Kuala Lumpur on Nov 24. The gala is organised by the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (Mifa) and co-hosted by Logwin Logistics, and is part of this year's Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIFW). Lee will present a more extensive collection from Cacac at this event, which also features London-based Singaporean designer Ashley Isham, local designers Khoon Hooi and Benson Chen, as well as up-and-coming designer Jonathan Liang and his label Nue. Local labels KLutched and Gallo will also be unveiling their latest collections. Related Stories: |
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