Kuala Lumpur, (Wednesday, 12 April 2017) – The Starhill Gallery Fashion Week Kuala Lumpur Spring/Summer 2017 was spectacularly launched in Bukit Bintang’s ultimate luxury fashion and lifestyle retail destination, the Starhill Gallery. The fashion event’s most coveted guests sipped on G.H Mumm Champagne and Absolut Hibiskus cocktails amidst an abundance of glitz and glamour at the opening party. The night of style marked the first out of four days which took place on Wednesday, 12th April and was concluded on Saturday, 15th April 2017.
During the opening event on 12th April 2017, the latest trends of 2017’s Spring/Summer collections were unveiled by exclusive designer labels housed in Starhill Gallery; Valentino, Kenzo, McQ Alexander McQueen, M Missoni, Debenhams, Mita Tam Style Studio and iKarrtini. These leading names in the International and Malaysian fashion industries took to the catwalk, captivating guests at the runway show. The show featured breath-taking and inspiring garments, current trends and this season’s key fashion accessories. From red carpet dresses to runway pieces to the graphic prints on these featured collections, vibrant colours and neon lights are the watchwords for the season.
The runway show started with Kenzo, which celebrated the cultural euphoria portrayed in menswear and womenswear with garments characterizing expressions of freedom. Ponchos, parkas and military jackets, blouses and dresses were deconstructed into feather-light yet voluminous silhouettes. Technical taffetas with metal snaps or drawstrings featured a more industrial feel to the design. M Missoni was second after Kenzo, showcasing a Spring/Summer 2017 collection this season, taking the upbeat and feminine woman as an inspiration for the line. With the theme “Glitter Glam”, the free and youthful spirit of this line was enhanced with vivid colours and bold lines inspired by graphism to modern art to the hippie-folk movement. Next, McQ Alexander McQueen delivered a 90s interpretation of the 70s in its Spring/Summer collection. Pop culture’s infamous icons, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lydia Lunch were muses for this range. McQ translated the era and these enigmatic muses into garments of easy silhouettes, contrasting fabrics and jarring, provocative colours. Then, the runway welcomed Italian fashion mammoth, Valentino, with its Spring/Summer 2017 line. This time, Valentino was inspired by the renaissance painting of Hieronymus Bosch and British designer Zandra Rhodes’s lively prints. Garments evoking historic Venetian textiles and quirky prints were designed on ethereal soft dresses, shirts, and smart trenches for modern daywear. Accents of appliqués and movement of fabrics brought out a sense of sophistication and grace to the collection.
The Spring/Summer 2017 collection by iKarrtini encapsulated true Malaysian culture, in a marriage between the traditional and the contemporary. This collection highlights batik as an art of creating patterns. With the theme “Break Free”, light patterns as well as colourful floral dresses for both casual and formal occasions were a prominence in Mita Tam Style Studio Spring/Summer 2017 collection. Debenhams took the stage, showcasing its Spring/Summer 2017 design, delighting fans who adore British fashion.
This year’s event was further elevated with a special Malaysian debut fashion show by Australian luxe-label ae’lkemi by the award-winning fashion designer, Alvin Fernandez. During the opening, Fernandez featured some 20 beautiful pieces from his latest Spring/Summer Ready-to-Wear and Couture collections. In addition, attendees had the first-time privilege of viewing bespoke pieces from his latest Spring/Summer and couture collections at the ae’lkemi Signature Store with the theme “… turning a raw material into something precious”. The ae’lkemi Signature Store will be opened at Starhill Gallery’s Lot UG17, Adorn Floor until 10 May 2017.
On 14th April 2017, three renowned Malaysia designers; Celest Thoi, Nurita Harith and Syomir Izwa Sen-Gupta have also presented their latest collections. Celest Thoi debuted 12 beautiful pieces from her exclusive Newfangled collection, meaning “new and and often needlessly novel”. For this collection, Thoi collaborated with SARAKICHI, a Japanese label that fuses Tokyo’s traditional dying techniques in garment making. Next, Nurita Harith revealed her Spring/Summer 2017 collection – a range inspired by the elegant Georgia Hamilton, incorporating Nurita’s signature drapes with knots and bias cuts. Last but not least, Syomir Izwa Gupta features his Spring/Summer 2017 Ready-to-Wear collection. This line pays homage to Yoko Ono’s early years. Syomir’s collection comprises of the cross-cultural elements of late 60s London, androgynous 70s suits and the bohemian movement fused effortlessly in creating jumpsuits, dresses and pussy bow blouses.
The launching event was a great success with leading designer brands partnering together for Kuala Lumpur’s most magnificent annual fashion event. Some of the many influencers and fashionistas in attendance include celebrities Dato’ Jimmy Choo, Patricia K, Sabrina Bennet and Yvonne Lee. The guests enjoyed a delightful array of handcrafted canapés prepared exclusively for the event. Luxurious pop-up carts were also serving ice-cream and drinks by Softsrve and TeaLive respectively.
Vice President of YTL Land & Development Bhd, YTL Hotels and Properties, Joseph Yeoh, said “Starhill Gallery epitomises fashion and our portfolio of the best fashion brands is constantly growing. Now, on our seventh year of organising the Starhill Gallery Fashion Week, it gives us pleasure creating a platform for aspiring talents in the fashion industry to be a part of the local and international fashion scene. We aim to make Kuala Lumpur a fashion hub and to be amongst the top destinations in Asia. We are proud to be able to offer such a variety of selection and deliver an exclusive experience which Starhill Gallery Fashion Week offers.”
This glamorous fashion event was organized in partnership with Armani Dolci, BMIC Nail Spa Salon, Lifestyle Asia, Number76, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, TeaLive, Pernod Ricard Malaysia, Softsrve, Volvo Car Malaysia and YTL Info Screen. The event upholds Starhill Gallery’s status as Malaysia’s luxury shopping destination with its exclusive boutiques, international designer collections and fashionable society events. The four-day glitzy fashion event provided invited guests the exclusive opportunity of viewing the latest collections from both international and local designer labels here in Kuala Lumpur.
