The Cultural Mosaic of ESMOD’s Fashion

ESMOD International marks another auspicious milestone in their 170-year old history with the ESMOD International Fashion Show 2015 held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night. Over 400 guests were present to witness the fashion gala organised by ESMOD Kuala Lumpur, The One Academy, among them, VIPs from international ESMOD schools, celebrities and respected guests. A plethora of stylish garments provisioned by ESMOD students from 22 schools in 15 countries such as France, Seoul, Istanbul and Tokyo were paraded by 52 slender and alluring models.

This event was held as an annual tradition to bring together ESMOD fashion designers from every culture and walks of life in a mutual exchange of cultural inspiration. It also strengthens camaraderie between the ESMOD schools through reciprocated discussion in their contribution to the global fashion industry. 

“As a multicultural country, Malaysia offers a very rich cultural experience especially from the Chinese, Indians, and Malays,” said Mr. Satoru Nino, President of ESMOD International Group, in an interview. “This could be a very useful muse to foreign fashion students. 

The event commenced with 24 Festival Drums performance as the opening ceremony. Performed by students of Chung Hua High School, Seremban, it exemplifies the beauty of Chinese performance art that is also recognised as a national cultural heritage by the Malaysian government. The roaring drums drew a large crowd surrounding the Main Concourse and conjured thunderous applause from the audience.

More than 180 fashion apparels graced the carpeted ESMOD runway during the ESMOD International Fashion Show 2015. Tunis, Jakarta, Guangzhou, Berlin and other ESMOD schools displayed their latest collections, portraying an array of different elements and techniques. Some of the menswear and female attires feature compelling elements such as animals (Jakarta, Guangzhou), insects (Osaka) and Goth (Jakarta). Other ESMOD designs incorporated a wide range of styles from Couture to streetwear.

One the highlights of the evening include the Modern Batik Fashion Competition 2015 where ESMOD students from 16 schools such as Dubai, Osaka, Rennes and Seoul compete for the best Batik-motif designs. As Malaysia’s national dress, this competition fosters a platform for upholding the country’s culture and promoting it in the global fashion scene. 

The apparels were judged based on the fashion students’ ability to acculturate Malaysia’s Batik trademark into their own style of fashion, and at the same time modernising them for contemporary fashion. The judges Mr. Satoru Nino, President of ESMOD International Group; Christine Walter-Bonini, Paris Fashion Designer; Melinda Looi, award-winning Malaysian designer; and Khoon Hooi, Top 10 Malaysian Fashion Designer, also awarded points based on innovation and creativity.

Among the 16 apparels flaunted, ESMOD Paris emerged as winner, besting all the other schools along with Kuala Lumpur with their ensemble that embodied hints of Batik tailored into green fabric. With the notable arch over the shoulders with metal and also chains courted around the mid-section, Paris stood out from the other ensembles. 

The organisers seized the opportunity to honor one of the Fashion Design & Pattern Making students as a recognition of being the most committed, conscientious and hardworking during the Golden Needle Award prize presentation. ESMOD KL’s student, 21-years old Scott Tian Yung Han, was holding back his tears as he received an authentic golden needle made into a necklace by Mr. Satoru Nino.

“I did not expect to win this award at all,” said Scott excitedly. This proved to be the ultimate motivation for him to become a successful fashion designer abroad. “If you want to do fashion, you need to be passionate about it. You have to be really hardworking and think about fashion night and day,” he advised.

Mr. Tatsun Hoi, founder and principal of ESMOD Kuala Lumpur, also founder and managing director of The One Academy said, “The fashion event is not just critical in fostering shared learning and getting inspired by the study of different cultures but also an opportunity for ESMOD students to experience fashion design at an international level as the objective of ESMOD Schools is to nurture young fashion designers at the international market.”

Another synchronised performance of 24 Festival Drums ended the gala. Mr. Satoru Nino was impressed with the overall procession. “We (ESMOD) hope to see greater creativity, originality, and basically ‘what is new’ for next year’s collection”, he grinned.

As one of the leading fashion design institutions in the country, ESMOD Kuala Lumpur is committed to providing the best education programme and continues to nurture its students passionately through the world class intensive course of ESMOD Fashion Design & Pattern Making. 

For more information, visit www.esmod.edu.my or call +603-5637 5510 or e-mail your enquiries to [email protected] / [email protected]