Borneo Fashion Week back with a bang next month

State tourism minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (seated centre), Borneo Fashion Week organiser Stephanie Alcantara (seated left) and other guests with some of the designers who will be taking part in the event. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star

KUCHING: The Borneo Fashion Week will be back for a second time next month with a bigger line-up of designers.

BFW organiser Stephanie Alcantara said 28 local and international designers will take part in the event, an increase from 18 last year.

“We’re back again this year with a bigger and better BFW. With our tagline ‘Bringing Borneo to the World’, we are excited to introduce the world to many talented designers from this part of the world,” she told a press conference to announce the Sept 7-9 event.

Borneo-based designers participating in BFW include Indu Borneo, WYNKA, Latip’s Collections, De’ Mlya, Yacutha Borneo, Kumang & Co, Keldreena Bremas, Rozie Khan Couture, Fatin Xivera and Bidwin Molumdim.

Other local designers include Pretty in White, Najla Shoes, JK Homme, Azhar Zainal, Suhaimiey Sahariey, O.F.F. by Phoebe Ooi, Uvanes Vary, Amanda Brown, Yan’s Creation, Asen Clothing, Michael Ooi, Melvin Shah, Ashley@Kapas and Suhara Jewel Art, while international designers are Hayden Ng from Singapore, Pitnapat Yotinratanachai (Thailand), Natacha Van (Cambodia) and Faramas (Iran).

Alcantara said BFW aimed to promote Borneo’s fashion industry and heritage through the creative talent of emerging and established designers.

“Our vision in creating BFW is clear - to source designers who use traditional ornaments to create sustainable ready-to-wear lines.

“We found that the talent pool and creative material in Borneo are inspiring. BFW’s long-term goal is to support local designers and fashion talents and catapult them onto the global platform,” she said.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak’s diverse cultures and green environment made a perfect backdrop for BFW.

“We look forward to hosting a bigger and better event this year with more designers and visitors to Sarawak.

“Our ministry pledges to support and assist in ensuring a successful event this year and to establish BFW as an annual event that will continue to promote Sarawak in the coming years,” he said.

This year’s event will introduce six awards - Emerging Borneo Designer of the Year, Designer of the Year, Designer in the Spotlight, Most Promising Designer, Male Model of the Year and Female Model of the Year.

It will also introduce the Limkokwing fashion design scholarship worth over RM100,000.

In addition, BFW is teaming up with Red Velvet Event and Design in a corporate social responsibility campaign for the public to donate old clothing in exchange for fashion or make-up vouchers.