The dazzling Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2024 (KLFW 2024) continues with another stylish display of talent, creativity, and sustainability with a special segment called “Design to Sustain” which coincides with the 6th KLFW Designer Search. With the theme of “Capturing Allure” inspired by the elegance and sophistication of the all-new PEUGEOT 408, these 15 young and aspiring fashion designer finalists showcased their innovative pieces, from sketches and brought to life with recycled materials. It is also the first time KLFW Designer Search is collaborating with an automotive brand.
The atmosphere was electric as the spotlight fell on each finalist as their designs showcased their creative and unique visions that breathed new life into upcycled fabrics, proving that sustainability can be synonymous with style.
Jamie Francis Morais, Managing Director of Stellantis Malaysia said, “Sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s a fundamental pillar for industries such as automotive and fashion to not only survive but thrive. Sustainability is a core value at Stellantis and for PEUGEOT and we are constantly seeking innovative ways to create products that are functional and sustainable. It’s about using high-quality, responsibly sourced materials, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create a lighter footprint on the environment.”
“Our goal is to build a future where mobility and the environment coexist harmoniously, and KL Fashion Week has been an incredible partner in this journey. And we are very excited to see how the alluring design and language of attraction of the 408 managed to inspire and play a role as a muse for these designers. Furthermore, what’s more important is creating a platform for these extraordinary talented designers whose designs have the power to inspire, to change perceptions, and to drive positive change,” added Jamie.
The “Design to Sustain” contest workshop took place on 16th June where a total of 63 artists had to submit three womenswear sketches inspired by the theme ‘Capturing Allure’ and take part in a live fashion pitch. Once narrowed down, the top 15 artists are tasked to showcase two looks each at the grand finale which must include upcycled materials from Life Line Clothing Malaysia (LLCM), one of the country’s largest zero waste textiles collector.
The task of selecting the top three from the extraordinary pool of talent fell to a panel of 7 esteemed judges – Andrew Tan, Founder of KLFW, E-Ling Cheah, Marketing Manager of Stellantis Malaysia, Min Luna, Creative Director of Min Luna Creative Agency, Andrea Wong, Creative Director and Fashion Stylist, Kak Zai, Fashion Critic as well as fashion designers Kit Woo and Syomirizwa Gupta. These judges are fashion industry experts and avid supporters of the local fashion scene.
The three winners of the KLFW Designer Search 2024 are 18 year-old Mei Xuan Tieo with her collection titled “Ephemeral Reverie”, 25 year-old Raja Irfan with “Eternal Allure” and 26 year-old Salahuddin Hilmi with “Rockstar”. They captivated the audience and judges alike with their exceptional creativity, originality, innovation, and technical finesse. As winners, they will have the exclusive opportunity to showcase their full collections at KLFW 2025 and the Lao Fashion Week: Zero Waste this October.
All three winners shared how the PEUGEOT 408 inspired their designs. For Kuala Lumpur native Mei Xuan, her designs fused the technology, aerodynamic lines and sleek style of the PEUGEOT 408’s with traditional Japanese culture and the allure of post-war Geisha, which was evident in her winning collection.
Raja Irfan from Klang, whose visual identity is all about structural design said, “The moment I saw the PEUGEOT 408, I immediately fell in love with the headlights. The silhouettes and sculpted lines of the car also drew my attention.” These elements were featured in his designs where Raja Irfan created structured lines using the corset, belt, and exaggerated shoulder pieces.
Also inspired by the headlights, Kedahan Salahuddin said, “I wanted my collection “Rockstar” to exude ruggedness and mystery. The front and rear lights, the rims, the silhouettes, and the lines of the PEUGEOT 408 inspired my design narrative, and I also incorporated the colors of the French flag – red, white and blue – to pay homage to the brand’s origin.”
Andrew Tan, Founder of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, said, “This year’s Designer Search competition has once again elevated the bar for fashion in Malaysia. The talent showcased tonight reflects the burgeoning level of creativity, individuality and innovation thriving within our industry. By merging style with sustainability, these designers have demonstrated a forward-thinking approach that aligns perfectly with KLFW’s vision. At the same time, we are also fortunate to have a like-minded partner such as PEUGEOT who also place emphasis on sustainability. We look forward to seeing the winning collections take center stage at next year’s fashion week and anticipate the continued growth of these talented individuals.”
To check out more photos of the winning fashion collections, please visit PEUGEOT Malaysia’s official social media channels on Instagram or Facebook.