Rizalman for Zalora 2014

Notable Malaysian fashion designer Rizalman has collaborated with Zalora once again to produce a collection for Raya 2014. I wasn't personally there to see the presentation, but a dear friend of mine represented and took some photos for DF. It's good to have a friend who's willing to take an afternoon off to attend such events. Timing is always an issue as typically such presentations are carried out during standard working hours. Shame on me for not allocating more time working during those lunch hours. Now my claimed hours are not easy to come by. Such is the peril of a civil servant...

I'm not going to pretend that I know much about the collection (proper press kits seemly to fleet away from my possession these days). But according to my friend, the collection generally looks good and she would wear most of the lacy dresses in sober midnight blue and neutral hues herself. The Malaysian fashion crowd are already familiar with Rizalman's design and commercial prowess all these years, and judging from the extraordinary response from Rizalman's Instagram account is good enough to prove just that - customers inquire about sold-out stocks at almost every line of his ig comment section...

 The presentation itself is a dramatic affair, starting with a beautifully regal video clip with models clad in his latest offerings, followed by the runway show - spotlight directed towards porcelain doll-esque models in bob haircut is borderline theatrical. The overall feel was augmented by the background music resembling the ones we see in wartime movies. Apologies for the rather rubs photos but blame it all on Awal Ashaari's head which blocks most of the views ;)

Few familiar faces at the show who are prominent persons in local fashion industry. 

I'd love to check out more local designers in the flesh. It's a more realistic approach to experience fashion for me as we all know that the idea of jet-setting to Milan or Paris for 'proper' fashion shows is a rather farfetched one in my current career/financial state. And I think the Malaysian design collective is taking one step at a time towards improvement and innovation. We are seeing a few names who are on the rise and slowly but surely penetrating the subconscious of Malaysian shoppers who are known to hold steadfastly to their European/American labels. But more importantly let's just hope that I can get afternoon off for the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week...

Text by Hafidzudin Zainal

Images by Adilah Aidit