LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY MAKES BOTSWANA FASHION HISTORY IN LONDON

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

LIMKOKWING, MALAYSIA'S PREMIER UNIVERSITY AND HOTBED OF CREATIVITY AND ONE OF THE PLANET'S FINEST CENTRES OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, ONCE AGAIN BLAZES A FASHION TRAIL IN LONDON, THIS TIME IN CONJUNCTION WITH LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY IN BOTSWANA.

Her Excellency Mabedi Mothlabani, Botswana Acting High Commissioner to United Kingdom at the Limkokwing Fashion in Motion show in London during London Fashion Week


In Malaysia, Limkokwing University's acclaimed 'Fashion in Motion' series is eagerly looked forward to by the forward-looking fashionistas, trendistas and wannabistas and I never miss it unless I am out of town and even then I try to rearrange my glam overseas sojourn to accommodate the fashion show.

The London fashion show, the first time a Conceived-in-Malaysia show was exported to our former colonial master's land, was held on 25th February 2012 at Limkokwing University's London Campus in 106 Piccadilly, London. I have visited this campus on various occasion and cannot still figure out how Tan Sri Datuk Sri Dr Professor Lim Kok Wing manage to get hold of this listed building that looks more like a palace, townhouse, mansion and embassy rather than a school! And the expense of renting it! I am sure he would make more money by turning it into a boutique hotel but now Tan Sri is more concerned about educating the next generation rather than generating money. The lobby, foyer and entrance areas are splendid and quite magnificent, with a grand staircase made for billowy ballgowns ala Scarlet O'Hara rather than faded jeans and t-shirts and even I felt rather nervous sitting inside the headmaster's office as if I was waiting to get six of the best though at my age I might rather enjoy being spanked and getting erotically aroused but I am digressing....

The fashion show is a partnership between Botswana High Commissioner in London with Limkokwing University, which took place during the London Fashion Week.

The garments shown during the show are a combination of designers from Botswana and Limkokwing University's Fashion faculty students.

The event was attended by 300 people and guests of honor included the Malaysian High Commissioner to London, Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong, H.E. Ms. Mabedi Molthabani, the Botswana Acting High Commissioner to London, Allan Saud, CEO of Coffee Mania UK, Ms. Immi Henshaw and Ms. Elspeth Tull, the designers of FUCK, I mean FCUK but what a name like that, this was their intention all along, the same way women in redlight districts wear fishnet stockings, micro-mini skirts, bra-like tops and stilettos instead of nuns' habits.

The Malaysian designers whose dresses were shown are also from Limkokwing University. They were:

1. Lai Shwu Chin with Seaweed inspired dress

2. Shakira Idorah bt Jangir with Shadow as the collection theme

3. Yeap Shu Wen with Androgyny as her theme

4. Nik Amanina with Weddings as her collection's theme

5. Gabrielle Boudville with Abaya theme..

Students from different countries taking part were:

1. Mishalini from India with Lehenga Choli

2. Sheila Tanzila from Indonesia with Water as her theme

3. Azzra Jamil from Kenya with AFRICAN tribe as the theme

4. Shanar Shahramnia of Iran with Gothic

5. Sherly Febriani from Indonesia with Malay traditional weaving

6. Violinawaty Nurmatias from Indonesia with Baroque

7. Astika Suprapto from Indonesia with Matador

Black Trash from Bostwana

Black Trash, the design duo from Bostwana

'Shadow' by Malaysian designer Shakira Idora Jangir

Azzra Jamil's creation was inspired by African tribal lore and traditional designs

'Matador' was the jacket inspired by Spanish bullfighters and designed by Astika Suprapto while the 'Seaweed' bottom was by Lai Shwu Chin

'Gothic' by Shahna Shahramnia of Iran

'Fashion Enigma' by design duo Black Trash from Botswana. Don't we all love the name!

'Wedding' by Nik Amanina of Malaysia

Limkokwing Makes Botswana Fashion History in London

There was nothing like the buzz of London Fashion W fashion week, when fashionistas, stylists, buyers, designers and models rushed all over London around in the highest of heels, bounciest of hair and accompanied by the clinkiest of bling.

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, in Collaboration with the Botswana High Commission UK hosted a fashion show organised by the British Fashion Council, as part of London Fashion Week A/W 2012, in the International Fashion Showcase Emerging Talent Award 2012.

Known as the trendsetter with a habit of pushing the limits against the conventional in fashion, Limkokwing Univcersity is the first Malaysian, and first Botswana University to showcase at London Fashion Week. The show was held at the Limkokwing London university campus, the first Malaysian, first Asian and first Commonwealth university campus in the UK.

Representing Botswana, the ‘Gem of Africa’ were Thato Tlhagwane, Botho Chalebgwa, Beryl Phala, Black Trash and Sela Motshwane. Of course with a name like Black Trash, the designer had the same intention as the creator of the name FCUK. Since he is black, Black Trash is deemed quirky, funky and cute and socially accepted but all hell would have broken loose if the designer was white! Black Trash, what a memorable name! And if the clothes at some point turn out to be less than expected and scraping the bottom of the barrel, critics can always say "Well, it is just Black Trash, so what do you expect?"!

This was the first time a full presentation by Botswana designers was showcased on the world stage, and Limkokwing University was bursting with justifiable pride to be creative partner in such a significant event.

Bringing together the best of 3 continents, in a way only Limkokwing University can, it also showcased a collection from Kuala Lumpur featuring work by students from Malaysia, Iran, Korea, Indonesia, India and others especially chosen to reflect the East’s ethnic heritage, right in the heart of London.

Called ‘Creativity in Motion: Botswana at London Fashion Week’, the show was a spectacle never seen before. According to the Associate Vice President Talent Development of Limkokwing University, Dato’ Tiffanee Lim, “It's exciting to be part of something that is ground-breaking. I’m proud of our Malaysian and Botswanian students who are the first to participate in this historic event and this is something we'll treasure. But it also reminds us how far there is to go and now this is done we can't help but show more! Hopefully this will be an indication of what is to come for the university globally, and I hope this will inspire other students to push themselves to the next level."

Limkokwing University is Botswana’s leading creative university and the only private university with 10,000 students enrolled in their range of innovative programmes.

About Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT)
Limkokwing University has a global presence across three continents with over 30,000 students coming from more than 165 countries, studying in its 12 campuses in 8 countries and receives a quarter of a billion visitors to its website yearly.

For more information, please visit www.limkokwing.net