AS brides have slowly grown to dictate the wedding style of their big day, conforming to traditional expectations (among women who identify themselves with New Age aesthetics at least) are long gone.
The modern evolution of the bridal industry certainly provides a much-needed breath of fresh air and designers, above all, are mostly excited about it.
They include designer Tengku Syahmi, who boldly shows off pantsuits in his latest bridal collection.
“I believe that my designs are experimental but I don’t think they are in any way out of touch with what modern brides seek,” said the creative director behind the Tsyahmi label.
“My inspiration comes from my experience working with former clients, taking into account the ideas they envisioned and their style identities in mind.
“Since doing bespoke back in 2015, I notice there is a demand, although quite niche, for bridalwear to be showcased with more contemporary essence. Considering that the ideal Tsyahmi bride (or groom) isn’t restricted by design, I’m glad that this collection has finally been produced.”
There are 12 looks — with designs for both men and women — with satin silk and songket.
The collection capsule also includes elegant dress designs with a mix of traditional and modern elements.
For instance, the traditional kurung is paired with a soft organza skirt to make it appear more youthful.
“I think the appeal of a Tsyahmi creation is in its simplicity. Yes, some pieces may play with volume but they are never heavy, especially on the embellishments. We play a lot with cuts and textures in our fabrication techniques but I think our primary design objective is to accentuate the figure of the bride. It’s all about celebrating her body more than the dress,” said Syahmi.
“For me, designers are style solvers and there is nothing more important than making sure that your client looks his/her best.”
The collection certainly speaks a lot about Tsyahmi’s designer — one who is daring enough to express the unconventional side of bridalwear.
Whether his enthusiasm on modernity is able to attract brides (on a wider scale and not just within the context of urban) is uncertain, but at least it makes the scene exciting for brides, designers and those (like myself) who are keeping tabs.
Visit Tsyahmi at tsyahmi.com or follow him at www.instagram.com/tsyahmikl/ for more updates from the designer.
Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Amalina Kamal is living up to the phrase with no remorse. She has done it all – dress shopping, shower planning, teeth-checking, you name it. Reach her lolamalina.kamal@gmail.com