Fashion pieces inspired by Mickey Mouse

Grand prize winner Tan (second from left) with Amit (left) and Yap (right).

TO celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday, a series of worldwide events have been lined up, with a host of activities happening across this year for Malaysian fans to express their adoration for the lovable pop-culture icon and fashion muse.

One such activity is Project Mickey, a nationwide fashion competition jointly organised by Disney and The One Academy. This challenge provided an avenue for rising fashion designers to create ready-to-wear pieces that reflect Mickey Mouse’s light-heartedness, fun and optimism with a uniquely Malaysian twist.

The 10 finalists, seven of whom are from ESMOD KL and three from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology were given a cash allowance and a little over two months to complete their garments.

The finalists from ESMOD Kuala Lumpur are Tan Win Shean, Sia Ya Wen, Shoong Nuo-Wen, Trevor Lorenzo, Wong Man Man, Saragua Sergelen and Cassandra Yap Jie Ying.

The finalists from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology are Karen Kanisha Anthony Raymond, Ngo Thuy Kha and Timothy Yii Chu Ong

The Project Mickey Fashion Show Finale took place last month at the Centre Court in Pavilion KL, and saw 20 Mickey-inspired outfits designed by the 10 finalists.

Tan Win Shean from ESMOD KL was named the grand prize winner. His winning designs will be produced for retail and made available in stores nationwide by local brand GL Design as part of their ready-to-wear collection.

Tan is also entitled to an internship with the Walt Disney Company.

Wong Man Man and Cassandra Yap from ESMOD KL were named first and second runners-up respectively.

“ESMOD KL taught me everything, from processes such as drafting, pattern-making, fabric-choosing and designing,” said Tan.

Wong said the biggest challenge was finding the right colour of fabric, adding that it was almost impossible to find yellow-coloured denim in Kuala Lumpur so he dyed the fabric himself.

“As we’ve already learned many garment styles during our course of study, it was easy to adapt to what we wanted to design.

“We managed to pull it off despite the restrictions and time constraints because it’s similar to what we do at school,” said Yap.

At the same place, a Mickey Figurine Exhibition was held. Visitors could see more than a thousand eye-catching Mickey Mouse figurines on display – a hundred 2-feet-sized and a thousand 6-inch-sized, designed and decorated by The One Academy, as well as Pandora, local celebrities, designers, artists, mall tenants and members of the public.

As part of an effort to in recognise and support local artists, 31 students, lecturers and staff members from The One Academy took part in the designing, painting and decorating of these Mickey figurines.

Also present were Walt Disney Company Malaysia & Singapore country head Amit Malhotra and Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Joyce Yap.