Debut designs on day one of KLFW 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Day one of the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week Ready-to-Wear 2014 or KLFW saw a line up of courageous fashion graduates from UiTM's fashion school known as the UiTM8 - Fiq Bah, Fiq Farharn, Nurul Fadhilah, Safira Syukri, Tim Hadriss, Wan Aizat and Zaimi Zulkafli.

The lunch event kick-started the four day fashion extravanganza at Pavillion, Bukit Bintang, aimed at nurturing young talent and pledge support for designers by putting them on a local platform in preparation for the global stage.

Those debuting were Maatin Shakir, who started off as a shoe designer, but this year premiering his modish clothing line that is full of contrast between subdued flows and bold ethnic prints; Kittie Yiyi, renowned Malaysian fashion blogger, with her label XOXO which is full of her quirky take on ready-to-wear with colour bursting polka dots, tartan and bumblebees. Her collection screams fun and chic.

Day one also witnessed the predominantly anticipated names of menswear designer Joe Chia and drafting ace, Silas Liew.

Sticking to his favourite bold and individualistic dark hues - black and gray - Chia’s presentation 'In the Name of Liberty' was military inspired.

More than just his typical structured form, Chia gives great focus on functionality, wearability and smart architecture of fabrication, transformable and reversible detailing.

Silas Liew on the other hand, boldly challenged his comfort zone by exploring a new province (for him at least) called evening wear. Liew presented a different take of his usual masculine, tailored and structured creations by showcasing a more feminine silhouette, equipped with graceful flow and soft romantic hues. His androgynous yet fluid pieces boasted clinical aesthetic and effortless minimalism.

Sleeping Pills, a label formed by three Thai designers Kasama, Chalermkhwan and Patcharanan, was the first regional designer to showcase their collection on the KLFW runway. The collection was soft, sheer yet full of mod that exuded feminine and dreamy flow.

Ghea Panggabean, no stranger to the Asian fashion industry, made a theatrical entrance of her collection with a line of majestic Indonesian songket or fabrics with Indian influence, infused with Eastern and Western cultural elements. Ghea’s sheer kebaya tops with exquisite gold thread embroidery, regal and bold A-line skirts and sheer batik prints with attention to flair were just exhilarating and pleasing to the eyes.

Ghea topped up her imperial collection with her very own design of sophisticated gold accessories and Indonesian songket shoes.

Malaysia’s own seasoned designer Datuk Radzuwan Radziwill presented his signature collection of romantic floral sophistication with adoring lace in a variety of colours to mark the end of day one of the KLFW 2014.