Penang Fashion Week 2015

Introducing  Beautiful Penang, Malaysia

Penang has always been known as a ideal holiday destination where its heritage, beaches, shopping and local delicacies has been enjoyed by many. 

Now it is time for Penang to take a step further... to be the next fashion hub to the world!

2 weeks back Gurney Paragon launched its Penang Fashion Week, promoting local Penangite designers such as Randy Goh, Keith Kee and Samantha Chua to name a few, as well as local brands such as Padini, Bebebutterfly, Logo, My Dream Wedding as well as imported brand Debenhams.

Below is the media coverage in the local newspapers about the event :

http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Women/Fashion/2015/04/08/Penang-Fashion-Week-to-showcase-diverse-styles/

http://www.pocketnews.com.my/2015/02/24/the-inaugural-penang-fashion-will-take-place-in-gurney-paragon-mall/

http://www.star2.com/style/women/2015/04/29/off-to-a-fashionable-start/

It was great to have our very own International model Amber Chia to grace the event together with Dato' Jimmy Choo. Oh if only I could meet him in person!

Amber Chia


Dato' Jimmy Choo

 
Dato' Jimmy Choo hand written note for the event

Theme for Fashion Week - Penang Pearl of the Orient

Here are some pictures of the Padini label taken on Saturday, 18th April ... the fashion show that was held the day before the Gala Evening.

The Fashion show was not too bad but if compared to International standards, there's a lot to improve on I feel. Don't get me wrong - The designs are beautiful as always and being a personal fan/wearer of the label, this collection in particular is vibrant in its colours and love the simple modern cut. This kind of designs are quite practical and cooling to the touch, which is very important in this country where the weather is hot and humid.

But I must say that the models are far below expectations. They didn't seem happy on the runway and they looked like they come from the 'Adam's Family'. Bad enough that their facial expressions are like walking corpses, the way they walked on the runway were like zombies. No life! So it makes me feel like they didn't do justice to the Padini Label which is bright and happy.

Fashion Week Gala Night

The Gala night was filled with excitement and it was a rainy night. The crowd was kind of mixed, and I say that because it was held in the open area of a shopping mall, so can say that there's the fashion enthusiasts like myself, those who are just happen to be there and those die hard shoppers as well as the general public.

For a start, it's a great place to hold Fashion Week in the mall because you do get the right amount of publicity here, but at the same time it can be a little messy in the sense that you do not get the maximum amount of people or the right people in the fashion industry. Like for example as a fashion blogger, it was a real challenge for me to get in between crowds to take photographs, hence please excuse some of my pictures that are not all perfect. Am sure many photographers experienced the same thing.

I particularly liked the entrance to the runway because the sea blue carpet is in line with this year's theme which is the Pearl of the Orient, which Penang island is known as and we are surrounded by the sea. I also loved the idea of the mannequins being lined up with outfits from Kate Spade, though I felt that there should be more mannequins rather than a few as it did make certain areas of the blue carpet a little bare as well as the mannequins should be dressed in various brand outfits rather than just one brand. This will give a better impact on the carpet and at the same time 'market' the other brands.

The Red Carpet, or in this case The Blue Carpet

One of the pieces from Kate Spade

The set was okay only that the stage was a little small in size and a little bare if you compare it by International standards. But it was kept to the theme.

The beautiful emcee for the evening was trying to get the crowd excited but wasn't successful. So I guess its due to either bad emceeing or the crowd just wasn't enthusiastic enough.

The Stage / Runway

The Emcee for the evening

First to showcase is Valiram brand and its high end fashion collection, followed by colourful Logo whose collection is a more cool summer like.

The view of the runway

Collection from Valiram

The Collection from Logo

After that we had a short break and was entertained by a local violinist. It was a nice treat but I feel that there was no 'umphh' in the violinist. She started off with a number from Bond - Viva but it was boring the way she carried out the music.

Entertainment

Once the entertainment was over, which I was so glad that it finally ended, next on display was a collection from British brand Debenhams. 

Collection from Debenhams

Up next was once again Padini label but this time the collection was more to office wear themed. That is why the colours for this collection was more serious, darker colours.

Collection from Padini

Then it was BebeButterfly's turn. I think the theme was also black & white but the brand carries evening wear mostly. I particularly like the black with white striped dress which I think the design is simple and classic.

Collection from BebeButterfly

My Dream Wedding was next and I loved the dress with the frills at the back. The design is simple and the fabric is soft and flowy. Simplicity is elegance!

My Dream Wedding 

Another break came up and once again we were entertained by the violinist. After which, BebeButterfly opened the runway once again...this time with a wider range of their evening wear collection.

Later in the evening we were treated to Amber Chia gracing the runway. Though she isn't my favourite model, I think she showed our models a thing or two!

Amber Chia struts the runway

Finally the night ended with prize giving ceremony.

Prize giving ceremony

The following Saturday we were treated to a Fashion Show by the students from a local college Equator College of Art and Design.

I missed the first 15 minutes but I managed to cover the rest of the show. When I arrived the collection that was on the runway was themed futuristic I think...The high slit dress was sexy and the design is quite interesting. But is this collection practical? I let you be the judge of that!

Overall I think it was a very interesting show but I hope next year if they do participate, they would showcase more pieces. And what is more important is that they do do a Plus Size number!

Teachers and Student Designers of Equator College

Later in the evening another show took place and this time by Emmanuel Haute Couture but unfortunately I couldn't attend but their full collections for the evening can be gotten from their website below :

http://emmanuelhautecouture.com/event/gurney-paragon-mall-penang-fashion-week

Overall I would safely say that it was a great success but I only hope that it will get even better next year and the years to come and more importantly that the organisers would add in Plus Size Fashion next year or in the very near future.  

Till next year ...

Contact : elizaabyrne@gmail.com