Kee Hua Chee Live!: MERCEDES-BENZ STYLOI FASHION GRAND PRIX WILL BE FROM 25 TO 28 MARCH 2015 SO DO ANYTHING---FROM BRIBERY TO SEX---TO GET INVITED OR YOU MIGHT AS WELL MIGRATE AND FLEE MALAYSIA FROM SHAME.

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

MERCEDES-BENZ STYLO FASHION GRAND PRIX 2015

ROLAND FOLGER, PRESIDENT AND CEO AND BIG BOSS OF MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA, PRESENTED THE 'LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT' AWARD TO DATO ZANG TOI, THE KELANTAN DESIGNER BORN IN KUALA KRAI AND NOW LIVING IN NEW YORK!

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From fashion cubes to fashion by the sea, the evolving fashion festival in its 8^th edition

presents the many facets of “Fashion Anarchy”

THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS AND BANKERS OF MERCEDES-BENZ STYLO FASHION GRAND PRIX

The much anticipated annual Mercedes- Benz STYLO Fashion Grand Prix 2015 in its 8th edition, is reshaping fashion and inciting a revolution with its A/W 2015 collection themed “Fashion Anarchy" running from 25th to 28th March 2015 in Kuala Lumpur.

In ultimate fashion defiance and without rules, the fashion festival will open on 25th March at the Red Carpet Avenue @ Encorp Strand Mall with Fashion Anarchy – Rebel Revolution, encompassing individualistic trends and insurgent installations.

Reminiscent of the “Sons of Anarchy” series, the opening night will set the tone of the FGP 2015 with non-conforming fashion shows in the lines of punk, goth, bikers, chains, leather, tattoos featuring not just models but muses handpicked by the line-up of designers for the night; Joyce Wong, Kinslager, Illiza Ho, Azlan Adrian Ariff (AAA), Tangoo, Fairuz Ramdan, Bon Zainal and Hazree Wahid.

Each designer will showcase an individual interpretation of Rebel Revolution, giving the night an interesting twist akin a revolution - fighting for the rights of fashion. It is set to be an exciting opening night of famous faces as muses also take to the runway, some for the very first time.

Datuk Nancy Yeoh, President & CEO of STYLO International and Chairman of MB-STYLO-FGP quoted, “Among the line up, Bon Zainal is our first menswear designer to win the coveted Designer of the Year last year. He will be also showcasing at the AMG Petronas F1 party on the last night of FGP.

"His trademark designs have dressed many celebrities and has evolved to include womenswear recently. We are happy to announce that Bon’s unique designs have now been expanded as part of STYLO’s lifestyle component.”

Also making an appearance at this year’s FGP on 26th March is the annual Emerging Designers Competition 2015 comprising students from leading fashion schools around the country.

Since its inception in 2010, the competition has produced a string of young, creative designers who have taken the local and Asian fashion scene by storm. Past winners have had the opportunity to travel the world with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia‘s World Fashion Exchange with STYLO during its 125th Anniversary 3 years ago, which resulted in the winners winning a showcase at the fashion weeks in Mexico City and Prague.

However since 2013, the luxury automaker and STYLO International previewed the first Mercedes-Benz STYLO Asian Fashion Week (MBSAFW) to showcase designers from Malaysia and Asia where the top 3 winners of the Emerging Designers Competition earned a spot to showcase their designs.

The MB-STYLO-AFW was initiated to moot Asian and local designers with exceptional talent to debut their collection on a larger, cohesive platform. Since then, the MB-STYLO-AFW has grown to form the Malaysia Fashion Week which marked its debut last year as a national and international B2B trade event.

Roland Folger, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia quoted, “Mercedes-Benz as a purveyor of fashion has always encouraged and nurtured young talents but with STYLO International as our partner, we have achieved much success in doing so since the inception of FGP.

"We are happy to continue to cultivate these young designers, who have the potential to be on par with international designers around the world.”

This year’s winners will be announced during the Gala Night at FGP and will be further supported with a prize money by MyCreative Ventures (a government investment arm to spur Malaysia’s creative industry) and a platform to create and showcase their first collection at the Malaysia Fashion Week 2015 later this year.

The annual Mercedes-Benz Gala and Awards night on 27th March will feature Zang Toi's 'Mystique of Venice' which took the recent New York Fashion Week by storm. The inclusion of Zang Toi this year, paves the way in recognising successful Malaysians around the world and a collaborative partnership with MB-STYLO-FGP2015.

Zang Toi’s small town boy made big internationally is a definite inspirational story to every young, upcoming individual in the Malaysian fashion fraternity. Zang Toi was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of his fashion label, House of Toi at the press conference held at Encorp Strand Mall on 12 March 2015.

This is the second time this award is presented to a well deserving Malaysian, with Datuk Jimmy Choo, world renowned shoe couturier as its first recipient in 2010.

This year, although the venue is not at a secret location, in celebrating its 8th year, the fashion festival pays tribute to its original FGP event which was held at a mall.

Encorp Strand Mall’s Red Carpet Avenue will be transformed complete with a giant marquee in STYLO’s signature look. The marquee is set to house the runway shows, after parties and even exhibitions during the week-long festival.

The MBSTYLOFGP 2015 will close the week with a fashion showcase by Bon Zainal and Joe Chia at Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Party at the Simfoni Lake, KLCC Park.

Another interesting tribute this year is to automobiles commemorating its partnership with Mercedes-Benz in relation to its “Fashion Anarchy” theme. From the first age old transportation in the form of boats to bicycles, tricycles and vintage Mercedes-Benz cars, these modes of transport will take centre stage at this year’s FGP.

At the MB-STYLO-FGP2015, the festival will unveil two boats under Reissiger Marine, a subsidiary of STYLO International and its maritime event partner set up to handle boat shows, maritime events and boat trading.

Apart for this, the FGP will showcase a classic motorbike, the first generation Honda C70 by Boon Siew and an original tricyle by Bridgestone.

The tricycles were made famous in the early 80s for women who wanted the freedom of movement complete with a basket dressed up to make a fashion statement. The presentation through the evolution of transportation - boats, motorbikes, tricycles and cars represents freedom of expression tying back to this year’s FGP theme “Fashion Anarchy”

Malaysian Fashion Week 2015

Malaysia is now a proud host of two major fashion events in KL presented by luxury automaker, Mercedes Benz in partnership with STYLO International.

Whilst the FGP serves as the opening act with electrifying A/W fashion shows and lavish parties at secret locations, the Malaysian Fashion Week 2015 (MFW2015) closes the year as a dedicated B2B trade fashion event showcasing the the best in Malaysia and Asia’s S/S 2015 collection.

This year the MFW 2015 will focus on its lifestyle segment under FACIT (Fashion, Art, Cosmetics, Interiors and Textile) introduced at the inaugural MFW 2014 together with the Malaysia Fashion Showcase (MFS) highlighting Malaysian designers and the Mercedes-Benz STYLO Asia Fashion Week (MBSAFW) showcasing Asian designers.

Also taking a bigger share at the MFW 2015 is the Muslimah segment as Malaysia is known as the ideal centre for Muslimah fashion through its moderate Muslim practices. As such, MFW creates a good platform for Muslimah designers and their collections to be showcased and distributed locally and internationally.

The first MFW 2014 was an encouraging collaboration between national trade promotion agency MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) and the country’s leading fashion event organiser STYLO International, supported by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Many designers had undoubtedly made profitable business deals with international buyers through its International Business Meeting sessions (IBM) after their fashion showcases.

Designers like Joe Chia (winner of Asia’s Most Influential Designer at MFW 2014) and Fairuz Ramdan (winner of Best Designer Showcase at MBSTYLOFGP 2014) had successfully secured instant orders to be shipped around the world.

This can be seen as a positive step for Malaysia as some of these young designers were discovered as upcoming designers by STYLO International and groomed within to be recognised as they are now, notably Fairuz Ramdan who is set to dress Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, two tennis greats in Miami later this month.

STYLO International & Reissiger Marine

STYLO International’s subsidiary, Reissiger Marine (RM) with Datuk Nancy Yeoh as its Chairman and Rolv Reissiger as its CEO has also been given the exclusive rights to run Boatshed Asia.

RM has been tasked to bring maritime to Asia in a joint venture with Boatshed, the world's largest yacht brokerage, based in the UK with a presence in over 50 countries around the world.

In pioneering fashion, RM will roll out its first boat, Stylo I at LIMA 2015 (The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) this month.

Reissiger Marine will additionally introduce a lifestyle concept boat, Stylo II at the FGP this year as the highlight to the Fashion Exhibition at Red Carpet Avenue, which will be open to the public.

The multifunctional, leisure boat will be adopted by the FGP’s beverage partner, Glenfiddich complete with a bar.

RM has collaborated with as many as 10 MB-STYLO-FGP designers including Bon Zainal, reigning Designer of the Year MBSTYLOFGP 2014 who designed and fitted the interior with his signature fabric in black and red.

RM has also teamed up with other lifestyle partners to create a comprehensive leisure boat fitted with TV, Ipod panels, sundecks to name a few. During its display at the Fashion Exhibition from 25th to 28th March the boat will be open to guests and to the public, introducing them to its multifunctional concept to theme of “Fashion Anarchy”.

Additionally, there will be an exclusive contest in play whereby budding and seasoned fashionistas stand a chance to win “A day sailing in style on Stylo II”

This lifestyle boat will also be marketed at MFW 2015’s trade segment involving designers, fabric makers and boat makers. The Stylo II is not just about its technical capacity but one that flaunts exclusive designs completely made, assembled and designed in Malaysia.

Other partners present at the signing ceremony were Red Carpet Avenue @ Encorp Strand (official venue), representatives from William Grants & Sons, Chaswood Resources, MYCreative Ventures, Reissiger Marine, The Datai Langkawi, A Cut Above (official hair), Diva Productions (official make-up); ICAD (formerly PJ Cad) for backstage support.

The Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Grand Prix 2015 is a run up to the Petronas Formula One Grand Prix in its 8th edition, running from 25th to 27th of March at Red Carpet Avenue, Encorp Strand and at Simfoni Lake, KLCC Park on 28th March with a list of exciting fashion shows, installations, exhibitions (also open to public) and after parties.