TUARAN: A fashion designer from Sabah won third place at the prestigious International Borneo Fest 2019 in St John Church, Hyde Park, London recently, with his Rungus traditional costume-inspired design.
Ahmad Fikri Gompul, 31, from Kampung Kiadawan Kiulu, here, said his design was made by combining the traditional woven fabric with corduroy (denim) and chiffon material, for a ready-to-wear outfit.
“The competition was based on the concept of producing modern clothing using patterns and colours from traditional ethnic costumes in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Fikri, who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Universiti Teknologi Mara said that it took him two weeks to complete the design.
“This casual dress is suitable for all ages and promotes the culture of Sabah.
“I hope this effort will inspire other local fashion designers to come out with designs that appeal to the younger generation, while ensuring traditional clothes stay relevant despite the rapid changes.”