Several fashion designers shared their views on the fashion industry during the Designers Workshop held by Melium Group recently. ZUHAILA SEDEK writes.

Farah said that since the fashion week wasn’t able to bring the international fashion community here, it should then been used as a medium to bring the local designers to them.

THESE days, every industry in the country seems to be heading international just to flatter themselves for being ‘there’.

The global arena is never a bad thing to venture into, but sometimes we should build our brand name locally before venturing out on an international level.

“For local fashion designers to be well accepted internationally, local people should be approached first before other things,” said fashion industry tycoon and chief executive officer of Melium Group, Datuk Farah Khan.

“Apart from that, designers should provide the people a product that is at its highest quality so that the public would actually purchase it. By doing so, it will in a way educate them to appreciate fashion more,” she added.
“Malaysian fashion designers tend to emphasise the ‘shock factor’ to make things different. This in return makes their clothes become ‘too costumed’ and not wearable,” Farah said.

With that being one of the major issues raised at the Designers Workshop by Melium Group recently, several fashion designers gathered to express their views about the fashion industry in Malaysia.

The workshop was organised by Melium Group and Malaysia International Fashion Alliance Sdn Bhd (MIFA).

“A workshop like this will always benefit fashion industry goers as it would provide them a conducive space to get together and talk about their concerns,” Farah said.

With Malaysia International Fashion Week (M-IFW) approaching in November, there has been concern among designers on whether the fashion week has so far been executed well and what its exact objective is.

Renowned fashion designer Rizalman Ibrahim questioned the purpose of M-IFW as no sales was generated from international buyers.

Farah said that since the week wasn’t able to bring the international fashion community here, it should then been used as a medium to bring the local designers to them.

“Fashion weeks are meant to put designers out there. It should be used as a platform to bring local designers to the international level. With the fashion weeks such as M-IFW, these designers will get to be the international ambassadors as there will be coverage on them through the media,” Farah said.

“I know for a fact that MIFA has been doing its best and it’s not an easy task. One of the solutions for the fashion week to flow smoothly is, it should be well categorised,” she said.

She added that designers have to give it some time for the fashion weeks to finally achieve its aim.

“Designers should try to find out who they are exactly and create a brand that can be called theirs. They have to focus and be determined to improve themselves in both local and international level,” Farah explained.

She also said that fashion must not be targeted at only those with privileges, a perception that has been well rooted among everyday people.

“Fashion is considered as a channel to express yourself. One thing all of us have to remember is, fashion is for everyone,” she ended with strong conviction.