- Putra with a model showing his shoe design, inspired by the traditional Malay fabric, the 'songket'.
He worked with his classmate Syadza to create the shoe.
Putra's winning shoe design.
He said winning the competition opened up doors of possibilities for him.
Limkokwing University’s Fashion and Retail Design student, Nor Ira Putra Hidayah Bin Mokhter scooped the 1st prize in the ‘Man’s shoe’ category at the recently held Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2014.
The competition was part of the Malaysia International Shoe Festival, which is organized by the Malaysia Footwear Manufacturers Association (MFMA). It is the largest annual shoe design event in Malaysia, and was started as an effort to make Malaysia the “Shoe City of Asia” as well to promote Malaysian shoe industry’s quality footwear to the world. It started late last year, and the awarding ceremony was held at Putrajaya World Trade Centre on the 28th March.
“Our lecturers were behind us all the way, they encouraged and helped us in this project.”
The competition offered Malaysian designers an opportunity to attract traders and manufacturers, who might be interested in buying the design for mass production.
Putra’s design, which he worked on with the assistance of his classmate, Syadza el Sany from Indonesia, was inspired by the traditional Malay fabric known as ‘songket’, that comprises of richly decorative shuttle-woven textiles. He combined the traditional fabric with a western design to make the winning shoe. He said he chose the traditional fabric as a way of incorporating culture into the design.
“I used songket to present the Malay culture in the fashion world.”
He says with Syadza’s help, they carried out a lot of research before they started the design, and their lecturers where only eager to help and encourage them throughout the competition.
“Our lecturers were behind us all the way, they encouraged and helped us in this project.”
The design, which was presented by Putra, won them Prize: RM 5000 and an iPad. He also gets an opportunity to represent Malaysia at shoe competitions in China.
Limkokwing University scooped another win at the competition, with another Fashion and Retail student, Gan Siad Hong, taking the ‘Most Promising Designer’ award. The University is also celebrating yet another fashion student; Yona Yuliani Hutari’s win at the Mercedes-Benz Stylo Fashion Grand Prix 2014 competition. She won the ‘Emerging Designer of the Year’ award, receiving RM15,000 in cash prize, and a chance to showcase her designs at the Mercedes-Benz Stylo Asia Fashion Week at the end of the year.