Socially Conscious Fashion: MDIS Fashion Design Graduates Break Fashion RulesPress Releases
Socially Conscious Fashion: MDIS Fashion Design Graduates Break Fashion Rules to Create Fashion with Social Messages
Singapore, May 6, 2019 – From inclusivity to sustainability, Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) Graduate Fashion Show 2019, featured 10 exceptional design collections informed by powerful social messages. Themed ‘Singularity’, the show is a culmination of the best works created by 10 young designers as part of their graduation showcase on 3 May 2019.
Winner of the Best Academic Award, Miss Nur Ili Binte Norazip, presented ‘Fractals’, a collection inspired by the Shah Mosque in Iran. She hopes to open up more meaningful conversations about the concept of modesty and the lacking representation of Muslim models in fast fashion through her works. She explained, “I aim to challenge stereotypes and show possibilities in modest fashion. I hope this collection can contribute to getting more people to think about greater inclusivity and diversity in fashion.”
‘Shakti’, a representation of divine feminine energy in Hinduism, formed the conceptual basis of Miss Meghna Sharma’s collection. An Indian who grew up in Indonesia, Meghna wanted her design to convey the message of women empowerment in a culture fraught with issues of gender inequality. “My collection draws inspiration from women who have lived valiantly in a society where they are harshly critiqued. The design emphasizes on creating a feminine yet powerful silhouette that celebrates the liberation of women,” she said.
Miss Ng Pei Shi Amanda took home the Best Collection Award for demonstrating excellence in originality, workmanship and techniques used with ‘Genesis’. Inspired by the most primitive art form of cave paintings of Chauvet in southern France, the collection is a contemporary interpretation of the hand painted prints and shadowing in Palaeolithic cave art. Amanda incorporated the concept of sustainable fashion through the intentional layering of scrap fabrics and yarn in her design to mirror the life of prehistoric humans who used basic materials they saw or possessed.
“This collection was one year in the making. The purpose of my design is two-fold: raising awareness for sustainable fashion by giving scrap materials a new lease of life and discovering the depth of historical art. I’m proud of my work but I must say the other designers’ collections are really impressive!” said Amanda.
Three other awards were announced during the Show: Best Styling Award, Special Avant Garde Award and Voters’ Choice Award. Winners of these awards are as follows:
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Award |
Winner |
About the Collection |
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Best Styling Award For collection accompanied by the best accessories to enhance the look and feel of the outfits
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Miss Phan My Linh |
Collection: Nascondere Although optional, My Linh went the extra mile to make additional accessories like hats, shoes and masks that match and accentuate the look of her collection perfectly. |
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Special Avant Garde Award For collection showcasing original, and aesthetically innovative design |
Miss Garalde Kate Ashley Rayos |
Collection: Endless Monochrome Ashley made use of advanced pattern-cutting technique to create 3D looking garments. The collection is inspired by the interior patterns of a Pearl mosque located in the Red Fort Monument, New Delhi.
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Voters’ Choice Award For collection voted as their ‘favourite’ by a select group of audience at the Show |
Miss Phan My Linh |
Collection: Nascondere Voters were impressed with the elaborate and detailed aesthetics of the collection. Inspired by the Carnival of Venice, the collection uses motifs from the shape of masks and rich textural fabric to convey the artistry of the Venetian Carnival. |
More details on the collections presented during the Show can be found in the appendix accompanying this media release.
Concluding the Graduate Fashion Show as a representative of the judging panel, Mr Fabio Panzeri, Creative Director of Braun Buffel, said, “We saw really interesting themes and messages in these 10 collections. The young designers stayed true to their passion. Their creative directions did not blindly follow market trends and demands. Such bravery is important as they continue in their journey to be professional fashion designers. We believe good designs will enjoy following and we hope they continue to develop the immense potential they have demonstrated today.”
The 10 designers behind the MDIS Graduate Fashion Show 2019 underwent 100% coursework curriculum based on project and studio practice. Led by an experienced teaching faculty, they gained their foothold on fashion design through an industry-relevant learning ground.
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