Students from Limkokwing University competed in the prestigious AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 Grand Finale at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on 18 August 2017.
This year’s finale included twenty aspiring designers from ten Asean countries – Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei – who showcased their creations on the runway. They were judged according to the design creativity, originality, consistency of their collection as well as adherence to the Asean theme.
The Founder of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, Andrew Tan said this year’s AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search was amazing, because it included ten Asean countries. It provided a vast opportunity to be on the lookout for new talent and give them a platform to build their fashion brand.
“Both graduates and students must take advantage of such, so that when opportunities like this come, they would link up to the KL Fashion Week. Whether or not they win they must not give up on their journey and continue to finesse their skills through such competitions,” he added.
Aireen Omar, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia said, “We have seen amazing talent today, and pleased to give twenty designers from ten Asean countries showcase their talents and the necessary exposure to start off their own career in this industry.”
“Three of the finalists came from Limkokwing University, which is great because the University gives them a platform not only to be as creative as ever but also for them to learn the business sense of things that will make it economically viable for them to sell a creation,” she concluded.
Finalist Phynix Tan Pek Han studying Diploma in Fashion and Retail Design, Limkokwing Cyberjaya mentioned that he was happy to take part in a competition with designers from all over Asia.
“I’m grateful for the exposure Limkokwing gives us, because we not only showcase our skills to the public but also to fashion industry professionals, in this way get to network with the industry even before we graduate.”
Kong Sothea studying Fashion Design and Business Innovation at the University’s Cambodia campus acknowledged that he was excited and nervous to have joined a competition of such a calibre.
“It is my first time to join a competition and I’m happy to have made it to the top twenty of promising designers. All the contestants are so talented and this goes on to show my potential. Choosing to study fashion at Limkokwing University was surely the best decision I could ever make, because it teaches what’s relevant in the industry.”
One other finalist from Limkokwing Cambodia is Leach Savuthpenghuy, also studying Fashion Design and Business Innovation.
“This is one of the most exciting days of my life. Having to travel from Cambodia to showcase my designs at the AirAsia Designer Search Grand Finale is indeed a step away from creating my own brand after I graduate,” said Leach Savuthpenghuy.