Leading lingerie design and retailer, Neubodi, partnered with Limkokwing University for Malaysia’s first ever 'Be Inspired. Neubodi. A Lingerie Runway Project', a lingerie design competition that asked for Limkokwing fashion design students to create a new fashionable, yet functional lingerie collection to inspire Neubodi's summer collection.

Leading lingerie design and retailer, Neubodi, partnered with Limkokwing University for Malaysia’s first ever ‘Be Inspired. Neubodi. A Lingerie Runway Project’, a lingerie design competition that asked for Limkokwing fashion design students to create a new fashionable, yet functional lingerie collection to inspire Neubodi’s summer collection.

The grand finale judging was held on the 27th November at Limkokwing University’s branding gallery, with Founder of Neubodi, Anne Tan; Limkokwing’s Associate Vice President for Talent & Creativity Development, Dato’ Tiffanee Marie Lim; Miss Universe Malaysia 2010, Nadine Anne Thomas; and founder of image consultancy company, Image Creator, Wendy Liew as the judges. It was also attended by Anushya Sarifa, Marketing and Communications Manager of Neubodi, who was the event coordinator for the day.

The competition, which was in line with the Pink month breast cancer awareness campaign, and the Neubodi’s ‘Cash Your Bra for a Cause’ campaign, was created to introduce students to Neubodi as a brand that strives on educating about the importance of innerwear and its technicality.

The competition was launched on 21 October with a briefing session for students to brief them on the expectations for their designs. After the students submitted their designs, eight winning designs were selected for further judging during the finale.

The eight designs were displayed in the Branding Innovation Centre on campus during the final judging. Students had risen to the challenge in designing the lingerie, showcasing creative ingenuity and innovation. Each student explained their design process and inspiration to the judges before the final deliberation.

“We saw a lot of creativity displayed by the students today, partnering with Limkokwing University was the right move because the students have what it takes to rise to a challenge,” said Anushya.

The grand prize went to 19-year-old second semester Fashion Design student from Kazakhstan, Adilya Botabayeva. Her design was a high-waist batik bikini set, which she says was inspired by Marilyn Monroe. She won RM 500 cash, RM 1,000 worth of vouchers from Neubodi, a private party at Mai Bar, and a night stay in the sweet suite – one of the five modern classy duplex of the exclusive and luxurious Aloft Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, worth RM 2,650.

As a semester 2 student, the design was her first creation, and she said she was grateful for her lecturer’s dedicated support while she did the project.

“This was my first design. I chose to do it because it is sophisticated, yet dramatic,” she said.

She went on to say that winning the project has helped her confidence as a future designer, and she developed great skill through the project.

“Though it was a bit hard to make, it was also exciting, and I have learnt a lot about garment design from this project.”

The first runner up went to fifth semester student, Chui Hei Chun from Hong Kong, who made a streetwear bikini that was modern and casual. He won RM 300 cash, RM 300 worth of Neubodi vouchers, one night’s stay in Aloft Hotel worth RM 1,270, and buffet dinner for two at W XYZ bar, Aloft Hotel.

He said as a fifth semester student who’s about to finish his studies, he was happy to see his designs approved by established industry professionals, because it gives him confidence to enter the industry.

“The prices are great and I am excited about them, but what I enjoyed the most is getting feedback on my design from established industry people,” he said.

He was followed by Lee Lay Chien from Malaysia, and Pu Chen Hong from China in third place for their design, both in semester two, who won RM 100 cash, RM 400 of cash vouchers from Neubodi, and dinner for two at W XYZ bar.

The winning students also got to have their designs paraded on a runway, and after the runway show, all the participants got a chance to learn from industry expert Anne Tan through a question and answer session.

Find us on Facebook or Twitter.