Kee Hua Chee Live!: PART 2---MERCEDES-BENZ STYLO FASHION GRAND PRIX HOLDS EMERGING DESIGNERS' COMPETITION AS EVERY INDUSTRY NEEDS INJECTION OF NEW BLOOD TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AS OLD VETERANS START TO FLICKER AND FADE

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

'INNER STRENGTH' BY HUAH HUI XUAN OF EQUATOR ACADEMY OF ART

'FOSSIL' BY MICHELLE CHIA OF INTI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

MBSTYLOFGP 2015 EMERGING DESIGNERS COMPETITION

FEATURES THEMATIC INTERPRETATIONS ON DAY 2 OF THE FGP

GUESTS DATO WENDDI-ANN CHONG, DOREEN TAN AND DATIN WINNIE LOO

DAVID CHEN AS SOME GALACTIC TROOPER, ISABELLE ZHEN, COERY SIK AND ANDREW WESTWOOD AS DARTH VADER

HAZREE WAHID, PUAN SRI ANITA AQEELA HIONG, AUREEN NONIS, SYAFENAZ WAHID AND IAN NONIS

The 8^th Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Grand Prix 2015 entered its second day with stunning presentations by young, upcoming designers from various leading fashion schools in Malaysia. The Mercedes-Benz STYLO 2015 Fashion Grand Prix Emerging Designers Competition, dedicated for the first time as a stand-alone show at the FGP, witnessed each students’ personal interpretation of this year’s theme, “Fashion Anarchy”.

The much anticipated MBSTYLOFGP 2015 Emerging Designers Competition saw the submission of over 100 entries, with only the 12 best participants shortlisted to enter the semi-finals in a tough selection process.

The Emerging Designers 2015 semifinals kicked off with an intriguing “Metal Armour” presentation by Arun Chee of City University, followed by “L.G.B.T” by Lim Yee Hooi and “Inner Strength” by Heah Hui Xuan of Equator College, Penang. Vinnie Lie of Lim Kok Wing University College put forth the question of global allocation of resources and food wastage in her collection titled “Hunger” whilst Mohd Shafiq Md Karlan of the same institution highlighted dark silhouettes through avant-garde designs in his interpretation of “Fashion Anarchy”.

Muhammad Aizat of Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University (KLMU) raised the issue of civil liberties and human torture in his showcase whilst Yam Yih Hui of Saito created wonderful optical illusions through the art of distortion.

Japanese samurai armour was the core of Ungku Alyssa of SMU’s designs as she crafted wearable art from rubber tyres and polyurethane fabrics.

Inspired by a riot scene and Adele’s hit single, “SkyFall”, Felix of SML created dramatic and elegant designs to wow the audience. Nur Syahira of SMU on the other hand played with the contrasting elements of yin and yang in her collection.

In a twist to “Fashion Anarchy”, Michelle Chia of INTI University College sought fashion inspiration through dinosaur fossils whilst Zoe Fang of SML used varying intricate weaving patterns of the Macrame knot to portray her concept, “Insurgent”.

The night also saw a special showcase by last year’s winner Yona Yuliani Hutari and runner-up Wee Su Gee, who presented a collection featuring a kaleidoscope of colours and prints.

The judges for the night were Datuk Nancy Yeoh (President & CEO of STYLO International), Mr Roland Folger (President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia), Ms Aureen Jean Nonis (Director of Llifestyle Section, Matrade), Mr. Izwan Zainuddin (Chief Investment Officer of MyCreative Ventures), Datin Hjh Sabrina Laila (Head of Encorp Strand Mall), Datin Winnie Loo (Founder and Chief Creative Director A Cut Above Group of Salons & Academy), Bon Zainal (reigning MBSTYLOFGP Designer of the Year & Vice President of the Bumiputera Designers Association) and Ms Judy Raine (wife of Mark Raine, VP Sales & Marketing Mercedes-Benz Malaysia)

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

Mr Roland Folger quoted, “Mercedes-Benz as a purveyor of fashion has always encouraged and nurtured young talents. This competition acts as a springboard for the most promising of design hopefuls. We are happy to continue to cultivate these young designers, who have the potential to be on par with international designers around the world.”

Datuk Nancy Yeoh added, “We, Malaysians are big on talent. Every year, I am amazed by the irrepressible passion and depth of creativity among our young emerging designers. Since we began this annual search some 4 years ago, the competition has leapfrogged to be one of the most anticipated events with fashion design schools across the country.”

This year’s winners were announced at the Gala Night at MBSTYLOFGP 2015 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.